US Suspends Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide, Embassies Instructed to Strengthen Screening

Washington: The Trump administration has temporarily suspended or rescheduled immigrant visa interviews and appointments at US embassies and consulates around the world as part of a new training programme aimed at strengthening the screening of visa applicants.

According to the US State Department, consular officers at American diplomatic missions are undergoing training on enhanced procedures for assessing applicants, including their financial circumstances and the possibility that they could become dependent on US government-funded public assistance after entering the country.

The measure primarily affects people seeking immigrant visas to move permanently to the United States. They include family members of US citizens, applicants seeking permanent residency, or green cards, and certain employment-based immigrant visa applicants.

Reports indicate that a number of previously scheduled immigrant visa interviews are being cancelled or rescheduled. The State Department has not yet announced a specific date for the full resumption of normal immigrant visa interview services. Some reports suggest that the new training programme could continue until mid-September, although no final official timeline has been announced.

The suspension does not apply to all US visa categories. Applicants for tourist, business, student and other non-immigrant visas are not covered by the worldwide pause in immigrant visa interviews. However, the United States has already introduced additional screening and security measures for several non-immigrant visa categories.

The Trump administration has also stepped up enforcement of its “public charge” policy, under which the financial circumstances of immigrant visa applicants are examined more closely. In certain cases, applicants may be required to demonstrate that they are unlikely to become financially dependent on the US government after entering the country. Some applicants may also be required to provide a public charge bond.

The latest development comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten US immigration policy. Earlier, the administration imposed restrictions affecting immigrant visa applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan. A federal judge, however, ruled last week that the policy was unlawful and blocked its implementation.

Under the latest measure, the United States has not completely halted visa processing. Instead, immigrant visa interviews and appointments are being temporarily paused or rescheduled while consular officers receive training on enhanced and uniform screening procedures.

The State Department has said the objective is to ensure that US diplomatic missions worldwide apply a more comprehensive and consistent approach when assessing immigrant visa applications.