Trump immigration crackdown: US pauses visa appointments worldwide, new dates unclear

Washington: The United States has paused visa appointments for applicants worldwide as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up scrutiny of immigration, according to Reuters.

A US State Department spokesperson said a global training programme had been launched across American embassies and consulates, requiring visa service appointments to be adjusted to accommodate the sessions.

Applicants who already had interviews scheduled were informed by email that their appointments had been cancelled. They will be notified of new dates and times, the Financial Times reported. The State Department has not said when visa interviews will resume or when fresh appointments will be available.

The training programme, launched this month at US diplomatic missions worldwide, is intended to strengthen how consular officers assess visa applications.

“A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge,” a State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times, referring to US laws and regulations governing dependence on public benefits.

The spokesperson said the global training initiative would ensure consular officers were equipped to assess every visa applicant “comprehensively and consistently”. Visa service appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the in-depth training, the official added.

The latest development is expected to create further uncertainty for immigrant visa applicants, particularly those who must complete their processing outside the US.

The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement since returning to office in 2025, introducing tougher scrutiny of visa and green-card applications alongside an expanded deportation campaign and changes to refugee admissions.

Since last year, immigrant visa applicants have generally been required to process their cases in their country of citizenship, even if they are legally residing and working in the US or have American spouses or children.

Trump returned to the White House after campaigning on a pledge to curb illegal immigration. His administration has since expanded scrutiny of legal immigration, including visa and green-card applications. Some immigration actions have also been linked to political activity and pro-Palestinian activism.

The administration has defended its immigration measures as necessary to strengthen domestic security. However, the policies have faced legal challenges and criticism from human rights groups, which have alleged discriminatory practices and violations of free speech and due process.

The administration has also made legal immigration more difficult through measures including tighter visa screening, higher fees and restrictions affecting foreign workers and other visa applicants.

In a setback for the administration, a US judge on August 21 struck down a policy that had suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the measure exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority.