Washington, August 26 (TNA) The Trump administration has paused visa appointments for applicants around the world as part of its wider immigration crackdown in the president’s second term, according to Reuters and other reports. The move affects U.S. embassies and consulates globally, where visa service appointments are being adjusted to make room for a new training initiative.
A State Department spokesperson said the department had launched a global training programme across all overseas posts, and that visa appointments would be rescheduled to accommodate it. Reports said applicants who already had interviews scheduled received emails saying their appointments had been cancelled or moved, with new dates to be announced later.
The pause comes as President Donald Trump intensifies restrictions on both lawful and undocumented immigration, including tighter screening of visa applicants and broader efforts to reduce access to U.S. entry. According to reports, the training is aimed at helping consular officers identify applicants who may become dependent on U.S. public benefits and to ensure visa decisions are made consistently.
The State Department has not given a timeline for when appointments will fully resume, leaving applicants worldwide in uncertainty. The development follows an earlier ruling by a U.S. judge striking down a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries.