US embassies and consulates are rescheduling interviews while officers receive training on screening applicants for possible reliance on public benefits
The Trump administration has paused visa appointments for applicants worldwide while consular officers undergo training intended to strengthen and standardise the screening process.
The US State Department said on Tuesday (August 25) that the global initiative covered every US embassy and consulate. Visa-service appointments would be adjusted to allow officers to complete the training.
No details were provided about the programme or how long the scheduling disruption would last.
The training will help consular officers identify applicants considered likely to become dependent on US public benefits and ensure that applications are assessed “comprehensively and consistently”, the department said.
Interviews being rescheduled
Immigrant visa applicants with interviews already scheduled at US embassies and consulates have received emails informing them that their appointments are being rearranged, the Financial Times reported.
Those affected were told they would be notified of their new interview dates later.
The State Department did not specify whether different visa categories or locations would be affected for different periods.
Immigration restrictions face legal challenges
The disruption comes during an extensive immigration and deportation campaign in President Donald Trump’s second term.
His administration has revoked visas and green cards and rejected applications for reasons that have included political opinions and participation in pro-Palestinian protests over Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Trump maintains that his immigration policies are intended to strengthen US domestic security.
Human rights organisations have condemned the administration’s wider immigration policies as discriminatory and alleged that they violate freedom of expression and due-process rights.
The groups have also argued that the crackdown has made conditions in the United States less safe, particularly for ethnic minorities concerned about racial profiling.
Trump campaigned in 2024 on stopping illegal immigration. His administration has also made legal immigration more difficult, including by imposing new and substantially higher fees on applicants for certain employment visas.
