The US State Department has temporarily suspended all immigrant visa appointments at embassies and consulates worldwide. This pause affects appointment scheduling for visa applicants across all countries.
Training to Enhance Visa Screening
The interruption aims to provide a global training program for embassy and consulate employees. The training focuses on improving the ability of officials to identify applicants who might become dependent on US public benefits. It also seeks to ensure that visa applications are reviewed comprehensively and consistently.
Rescheduling of Visa Appointments
Applicants scheduled for immigrant visa interviews have received notifications that their appointments will be rescheduled. Currently, no new immigrant visa interview appointments are being set until
after the training is completed.
Context of US Immigration Policy Changes
This pause aligns with a broader effort by the Trump administration to strengthen US entry rules. Recently, a federal judge invalidated a policy that suspended immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority in instituting the suspension.
In addition, the administration plans to revoke business and tourist visas from an estimated 200,000 foreign nationals seeking asylum in the United States, a move that would represent the largest visa cancellation on record.
The US government also proposed a fee exceeding $100,000 for new
H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. Indians comprised 71% of all H-1B visas issued during the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Official Statement
The State Department said visa appointments are being adjusted to facilitate this global training initiative. Reuters noted that the department emphasized the training’s purpose to ensure visa applications are evaluated thoroughly and consistently across all locations.
