US visa interviews suspended worldwide

US President Donald Trump's administration has suspended scheduled visa interviews at US embassies and consulates around the world, a move that comes amid a crackdown on immigration during Trump's second term.

The US State Department has announced that it has changed the visa interview schedule for a global training program at US diplomatic missions around the world.

The department said visa service interviews will be rescheduled to coordinate with training activities, but did not provide a specific timeframe for how long the change will last.

The US State Department said the training aims to make consular officers more adept at identifying applicants who may become dependent on US government benefits, while also ensuring a more comprehensive and consistent assessment of visa applicants.

The Financial Times previously reported on the postponement or rescheduling of visa interviews. The newspaper reported that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews at various US embassies and consulates have received email notifications that their interviews have been rescheduled. They were also told that new dates will be announced later.

Trump's tough immigration policy

Since taking office, the Trump administration has ramped up its crackdown on immigration, including revoking visas and green cards and denying applications for various reasons. Some applicants have also been targeted for political views or participation in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration began reviewing a proposal to make major changes to the H-1B visa program, which allows thousands of foreign professionals to work in the United States each year. The proposal is classified as economically significant, meaning it could have an economic impact of at least $100 million per year or significantly change the economy, employment, productivity, competitiveness, or a major economic sector.

In addition, the Trump administration is planning to revoke the visas of nearly 200,000 foreigners who have traveled to the United States for tourism or business purposes and then sought asylum and tried to stay in the country.

Trump claims that the goal of this strict immigration policy, which is facing legal challenges, is to increase the country's internal security.

But last week, a US judge struck down a Trump administration policy that had suspended immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his legal authority to take such action.

The Trump administration's immigration policies have been widely criticized by human rights groups, who say they are discriminatory and violate the rights to freedom of expression and due process. Activists also say they have increased the risk of racist surveillance or identity-based harassment, especially among ethnic minorities.

Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration during his 2024 election campaign. However, since returning to power, his administration has also tightened restrictions on legal immigration, including imposing new and costly fees for applicants for certain employment-based visas.

Source: NDTV