The administration of United States President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended the scheduling of visa appointments worldwide as US embassies and consulates begin a new training programme for consular officers.
The US State Department confirmed the development on Tuesday, explaining that existing appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the training exercise.
According to the department, the programme is aimed at strengthening the visa screening process and improving national security by ensuring consular officers conduct more thorough and consistent assessments of applicants.
However, the State Department did not provide a specific timeline for the training or indicate when regular visa appointment scheduling would resume.
The development was first reported by the Financial Times, which stated that some applicants with previously scheduled immigrant visa interviews had received emails notifying them that their appointments had been moved.
Affected applicants were reportedly informed that they would receive further communication regarding new interview dates.
The State Department also defended the move as part of efforts to ensure that visa applicants are unlikely to become dependent on public benefits intended for eligible Americans.
The temporary suspension comes amid increased scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, several of which are facing legal challenges in US courts.
On Friday, a federal judge struck down a policy that had suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. The judge ruled that the measure exceeded the statutory authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite the court setback, the Trump administration has continued to tighten immigration controls and visa screening procedures, citing national security concerns and the need to prevent visa recipients from becoming dependent on government assistance.
The administration’s broader immigration policies have drawn criticism from human rights organisations, which have accused it of adopting discriminatory measures and raising concerns over due process and other civil rights.
The latest development is expected to affect visa applicants across various countries as US diplomatic missions adjust their schedules to participate in the consular training programme.
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