Play store
The US administration has temporarily suspended visa interview scheduling for applicants worldwide as President Donald Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown intensifies.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the move on Tuesday, saying a global training programme has been launched across US embassies and consulates.
Visa interview scheduling will be adjusted to accommodate the training, the spokesperson said, without providing details about the programme’s content or duration.
The training is intended to help consular officers identify applicants who may potentially become dependent on US government benefits in the future. It also aims to ensure that visa applicants are assessed comprehensively and according to consistent standards, the spokesperson said.
The Financial Times had earlier reported that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews at US embassies and consulates had received emails informing them that their appointments were being changed. They were told that new interview dates would be provided later.
The State Department said the broader immigration crackdown was aimed at improving national security.
The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive immigration policy that has included visa and green card cancellations and the rejection of applications on various grounds. These have included applicants’ political views, opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and participation in pro-Palestinian protests critical of the US ally.
The administration has, however, faced several legal challenges to its immigration policies.
On Friday, a US judge struck down a Trump administration policy that had suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. The judge ruled that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority.
Human rights organisations have strongly criticised the administration’s immigration crackdown, arguing that some of the measures are discriminatory and infringe on freedom of expression and the right to due process.
