The United States has suspended the processing of all immigrant visa applications worldwide as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration restrictions and scrutiny of people seeking to enter the country.
A US State Department official confirmed the suspension on Tuesday, saying it affects immigrant visa processing at US embassies and consulates around the world.
According to the official, the initiative began in early August, with some visa appointments adjusted to allow consular officers to undergo what the department described as in-depth training.
The training is intended to help officers assess visa applicants comprehensively and consistently, particularly as the administration seeks to prevent immigrants considered likely to depend on government assistance from entering the country.
The Financial Times reported that some applicants who already had interviews scheduled received emails informing them that their appointments had been cancelled. They were told that new dates would be provided when processing resumes.
The latest development is part of a wider immigration crackdown by the Trump administration targeting both lawful and undocumented migrants.
The administration also announced plans this week to revoke the visas of asylum seekers who initially entered the US on tourist or business visas. The measure could affect up to 200,000 people and would represent the largest mass visa revocation in US history.
The action is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
The Trump administration has also introduced additional scrutiny for visa applicants, including reviews of their social media activities and increased processing costs.
The latest suspension follows an earlier attempt by the administration to restrict immigration on “public charge” grounds by blocking applications from 75 countries. A federal judge recently overturned that policy.
Joanna Cuevas Ingram, a senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Centre, said the court had made it clear that immigration laws could not be used to discriminate against applicants.
She said the organisation would continue challenging the administration and seeking relief for people affected by the earlier restrictions.
The administration has faced other legal setbacks over its immigration policies. In February, a federal judge overturned Trump’s attempt to suspend the US refugee system entirely.
Immigration lawyers warned that the latest suspension could create significant difficulties for applicants who had already invested substantial time and money in the immigration process.
Brian Simmons, an attorney with immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, said many applicants had spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their lives to attend interviews, only to have their appointments cancelled at short notice.
The timeline for rescheduling the cancelled appointments remains unclear.