Washington – The Trump administration has suspended or rescheduled visa appointment interviews for applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a new global training program, according to Reuters.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that a worldwide training program had begun across American diplomatic missions. Visa service appointments are being adjusted or rescheduled to coordinate with the training, the spokesperson said.
The development comes as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to pursue tougher immigration policies, including visa and green card cancellations and the rejection of applications on various grounds. The administration has also taken action against some applicants over their political views and participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The administration has said such measures are aimed at protecting U.S. national security.
However, some of Trump’s immigration policies have faced legal challenges. A U.S. judge last Friday struck down a policy that had suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. The judge ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his legal authority in implementing the policy.
The State Department has not provided details on the duration or full scope of the new training program. It said the training is intended to help consular officers assess whether visa applicants are likely to become dependent on U.S. government benefits and to ensure that applications are evaluated in a “coordinated and consistent” manner.
The Financial Times was the first to report the suspension of visa appointments. According to the report, immigrant visa applicants with interviews scheduled at U.S. embassies and consulates received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled. Applicants will be given new appointment dates at a later time.
The State Department has yet to announce a specific timeline for when the rescheduled appointments will take place.
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