The Trump administration has temporarily paused and rescheduled visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide with citing a mandatory global training initiative for consular staff.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that visa services are being adjusted across all diplomatic missions to accommodate the training. Officials stated the programme aims to ensure consistent evaluations and assist officers in screening out applicants deemed likely to rely on US public welfare. However the department did not provide specific details on the duration of the training or when normal operations would resume.
The disruptions were first reported by the Financial Times, which noted that scheduled immigrant visa applicants received notices informing them that their interviews had been postponed to a later date.
The move comes amid a wider immigration crackdown during President Donald Trump’s second term. The administration has pursued stricter border controls, increased deportations and tightened legal pathways by raising application fees. Visas and green cards have also faced revocation over political stances including involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests.
While the White House maintains these measures are vital for national security, human rights organisations have condemned them as discriminatory, warning they undermine free speech, due process and protections for ethnic minorities.
The administration’s hardline policies have also met legal resistance. A US federal judge recently struck down a directive suspending immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries also ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his statutory authority.
