The Trump administration has temporarily suspended immigration visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, according to a report by the Financial Times on August 25, citing sources.
The U.S. State Department plans to conduct "in-depth training" for embassy and consulate staff to filter out "ineligible" immigrants who may rely on government support. The visa application timeline will also be adjusted accordingly.
Immigration visa applicants who had interviews scheduled have reportedly received emails notifying them that their interview dates will be rescheduled. However, the State Department did not specify when interviews would resume. A State Department spokesperson stated, "The visa processing schedule will be adjusted due to this training schedule," adding that for the U.S. to prosper, visa applicants must not become a public charge and should not rely on public assistance intended for eligible Americans.
Earlier this month, the State Department announced the launch of a global training program to ensure that all consular staff can adequately and consistently evaluate all visa applicants.
This move is part of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policy, following a court ruling that invalidated a recent suspension of visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. Since taking office last year, President Trump has made immigration enforcement a key policy goal, implementing strict anti-immigration measures. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to formalize a fee of $103,265 for H-1B visa applicants.
However, the Trump administration faces increasing criticism for aggressively pursuing anti-immigration policies despite judicial pushback. Brian Simmons, an attorney at the immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, noted that many immigration visa applicants have already spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their livelihoods to attend interviews, only to have them canceled.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.