United States has suspended the processing of all immigrant visa applications as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to restrict immigration and tighten scrutiny of people seeking to enter the country.
The suspension, confirmed by a US State Department official, on Tuesday, affects immigrant visa processing at US embassies and consulates worldwide.
According to the official, the initiative began in early August, with visa appointments adjusted to allow consular officers to undergo what the department described as “in-depth training”.
The training is aimed at ensuring officers can assess visa applicants “comprehensively and consistently”, as the administration seeks to prevent immigrants from entering US if they are deemed likely to depend on government assistance.
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 they would receive new dates once the process resumes.
The latest move is part of a broader immigration crackdown by Trump’s administration targeting both lawful and undocumented migrants.
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The administration, this week, also announced plans to revoke the visas of asylum seekers who initially entered US on tourist or business visas. The measure could affect up to 200,000 people and would represent the largest mass revocation of visas in US history.
The action is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump’s administration has also introduced additional scrutiny for visa applicants, including reviews of their social media activity 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. That policy was recently overturned by a federal judge.
Joanna Cuevas Ingram, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Centre, said the court had made clear that immigration laws could not be used to discriminate against applicants.
She said the organisation would continue to challenge the administration and seek 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 timing for rescheduling the cancelled appointments remains unclear.
