US issues pause on visa appointments for applicants worldwide

The administration of President Donald Trump has temporarily halted visa appointments for applicants worldwide as part of an ongoing immigration crackdown during the second term of the Republican leader in the White House. According to a US state department spokesman, the decision was made to allow for a global training initiative across all US embassies and consulates.

The pause on visa services comes amid Trump's aggressive deportation drive and broader immigration crackdown, which has led to the revocation of visas and green cards and rejections of applications based on various reasons, including political opinions and support for Palestine's stance against Israel's actions in Gaza. The crackdown has faced legal challenges, with a US judge recently ruling that a policy suspending immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries exceeded the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The state department has not disclosed details regarding the training or its schedule, but emphasized that it aims to ensure visa applicants are screened comprehensively and consistently to prevent dependency on US public benefits. The news of the visa appointment pause was first reported by the Financial Times, which stated that immigrant visa applicants scheduled for interviews at US embassies and consulates have been notified to reschedule their appointments, with future dates yet to be determined.

Trump's immigration measures have been criticized by human rights groups as discriminatory and violating free speech and due process rights, with concerns raised about the safety of ethnic minorities due to alleged racial profiling. Despite Trump's 2024 campaign promise to curb illegal immigration, his administration has also made legal immigration more challenging, such as by imposing higher fees for specific work visas.