The United States has paused immigrant visa appointments at embassies and consulates around the world as the administration of President Donald Trump carries out a broader immigration crackdown.
A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that the department had launched a global training programme for consular staff and that visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the training.
Applicants who already had immigrant visa interviews scheduled have reportedly received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled, with new dates to be communicated later.
The State Department did not give a specific timeline for the training or explain how long the disruption to appointments would last. It said the programme was intended to help consular officers assess applicants comprehensively and consistently, including determining whether they were likely to become dependent on US public benefits.
The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement, including visa and green-card revocations and tougher scrutiny of applications.
The administration has faced legal challenges to some of its immigration measures. On Friday, a US judge struck down a policy that had suspended immigrant visa issuance to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his legal authority.
The latest pause was first reported by the Financial Times.
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