The United States has suspended visa appointments for applicants around the world as President Donald Trump intensifies his immigration crackdown during his second term in the White House, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The report states that a US State Department spokesperson announced the launch of a global training initiative for all American embassies and consulates, adding that visa service appointments will be adjusted to accommodate the training.
At the same time, applicants with previously scheduled interviews were emailed to inform them that their appointments had been cancelled and that they would be contacted with a new date and time, Financial Times reported.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the interviews will resume or when fresh appointment dates will be issued, FT reported.
The department stated that the training program was introduced this month at U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide to improve how officers evaluate visa applications.
A State Department spokesperson told The Financial Times that fostering greater prosperity in America requires confirming that visa applicants are unlikely to become a public charge, as defined by US laws and regulations, and are not expected to rely on US public benefits designated for eligible Americans in need.
The spokesperson noted that the department has introduced a global training program to ensure that all consular officers are thoroughly prepared to assess every visa applicant in a comprehensive and consistent manner.
To make room for this extensive training, the schedule for visa service appointments will be modified," the spokesperson stated.
The latest development comes as Trump’s second administration escalates its immigration enforcement agenda, featuring stricter vetting of visa and green-card applicants, a more forceful deportation drive, and a restructuring of the refugee admissions system.
The new suspension further heightens uncertainty for immigrant visa applicants, especially those who must finalize their processing outside the United States.
Since last year, the administration has generally required immigrant visa applicants to handle their cases in their home country, even if they are lawfully residing and working in the United States or have American spouses or children.