The US has temporarily suspended visa appointments for applicants worldwide due to the Donald Trump administration's increasingly strict immigration policies. A global training initiative has been launched at US embassies.

US visa appointments suspended

The United States has temporarily suspended visa appointments for applicants worldwide. This significant move comes in response to the Donald Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown. A State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that a global training initiative has been launched at all US embassies and consulates worldwide, and visa services appointments will be rescheduled to accommodate this training. Applicants whose appointments have been rescheduled will be provided with a new date at a later date.

The Trump administration is now waging an aggressive campaign to deport people from the US and tighten immigration. This includes revoking visas, green cards, and rejecting applications for a variety of reasons, particularly political views and pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's assault on Gaza.

Trump administration officials have already received a setback from the court.
They say this crackdown is aimed at improving national security. However, it has also faced legal hurdles. On Friday, a US judge struck down a Trump administration policy that banned the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. The judge ruled that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's legal jurisdiction.

Appointment time changed
According to a Reuters report, the US State Department did not provide any specific details about the training and its timeline, except to say that the training is intended to help consular officers identify applicants who are likely to rely on US government facilities and to ensure that visa applicants are evaluated in a consistent manner.

According to a report in the Financial Times, people who had made appointments for immigrant visa interviews at US embassies and consulates have received emails informing them that their appointments are being rescheduled and they will be informed about the new date later.