US pauses immigrant visa applications worldwide

The United States has halted all immigrant visa applications globally as part of efforts to tighten restrictions on applicants deemed likely to depend on US public assistance. This decision was announced by the Trump administration and came into effect at all US embassies and consulates in early August. The State Department explained that the move is aimed at ensuring consular officers are thoroughly prepared to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently.

Applicants who had already booked interviews were notified that their appointments had been cancelled, with new dates to be communicated subsequently. The decision is part of a more extensive crackdown on immigration, both for lawful and undocumented immigrants. This comes shortly after the administration announced plans to revoke visas for asylum seekers who initially entered the US for tourism or business purposes.

According to the White House, up to 200,000 visas might be affected, which the State Department described as the largest mass visa revocation in history. However, the exact number remains under dynamic review. The latest move follows a prior attempt by the Trump administration to limit visa applications based on the "public charge" criteria, which was later overturned by a federal court.

Critics, including immigration advocates and lawyers, expressed concerns that the cancellation of scheduled interviews could pose immediate difficulties for applicants who have already invested significant time and resources into their applications.