Visa appointments for applicants worldwide have been suspended by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
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The measure comes as part of the US government’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration policies during the Republican president’s second term in the White House.
According to a US State Department spokesperson, a staff training initiative has begun at all US embassies and consulates worldwide. Visa service appointment schedules will be adjusted to allow employees to participate in the training.
The State Department has not disclosed details about the content of the training or its timeframe. It said only that the aim is to help consular officials screen out applicants considered likely to depend on public benefits in the US and to ensure that visa applications are reviewed “comprehensively and consistently.”
The Financial Times was the first media outlet to report the suspension. According to the newspaper, immigrant visa applicants with interviews scheduled at US embassies and consulates have received emails informing them that their appointments will be rescheduled and that a new date will be communicated later.
Trump’s policy includes deporting immigrants and tightening immigration rules. It provides for the revocation of visas and the visa known as the Green Card, as well as the rejection of applications for various reasons, including political views and participation in pro-Palestinian protests against the military campaign in Gaza by Israel, a US ally.
Trump says the campaign is intended to strengthen domestic security, but some of the US administration’s measures have encountered legal obstacles.
Just a few days ago, a US court struck down the Trump administration’s decision to suspend the issuance of visas to migrants from 75 countries, including Kosovo. The court ruled that such a policy exceeded the legal authority of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
During his presidential campaign for a second term in the White House, Trump pledged to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Since returning to the White House, the administration has taken a series of steps to accelerate deportations and reduce the number of illegal border crossings.
