WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of immigrants could be facing fresh uncertainty as the Donald Trump administration has reportedly paused immigrant visa applications while US authorities introduce tougher screening measures.
A US State Department official confirmed the development on Tuesday, saying the new measures were launched at American embassies and consulates in early August.
According to the department, some visa appointments were cancelled to allow consular officers to undergo “in-depth training” aimed at strengthening the assessment of applicants.
Applicants who had already secured interview dates were reportedly notified by email that their appointments had been cancelled and that fresh dates would be communicated later.
The administration says the move is designed to prevent immigrants from becoming dependent on US public benefits, as part of President Trump’s broader immigration crackdown.
The latest development comes amid a series of tougher immigration measures introduced by the administration, including increased scrutiny of applicants’ social media histories and higher processing costs.
The Trump administration has also announced plans to revoke the visas of some asylum seekers who initially entered the United States on tourist or business visas. The move could affect up to 200,000 asylum seekers and potentially become one of the largest mass visa-revocation exercises in US history.
The immigrant visa pause follows an earlier attempt to restrict applications under a similar “public charge” policy. That measure, which affected applicants from 75 countries, was recently overturned by a federal judge.
Immigration advocates have strongly criticised the administration’s approach, arguing that immigration laws should not be used to discriminate against applicants.
The latest visa restrictions could also leave applicants counting significant financial losses after spending thousands of dollars on travel, accommodation and other preparations for interviews that have now been cancelled.
For now, it remains unclear when the affected appointments will be rescheduled, leaving many applicants uncertain about their plans to relocate to the United States.
The development adds another dramatic chapter to President Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, with several of his administration’s policies already facing legal battles in US courts.
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