The United States has reportedly paused visa appointments for immigrants worldwide, with applicants who had already scheduled interviews being informed that their appointments would be rescheduled.
The reported move comes as the Donald Trump administration steps up its immigration restrictions and tightens scrutiny of visa applicants.
Visa appointments being rescheduled
According to the Financial Times, applicants with interviews booked at US embassies and consulates received emails informing them that their appointments had been postponed. They were told that a new date would be provided later.
The FT, citing a State Department official, reported that the pause was also linked to efforts to limit access to applicants who appear likely to depend on US assistance.
Reuters, meanwhile, reported that a State Department spokesperson said a global training initiative had been launched at all US embassies and consulates worldwide. The spokesperson said appointments for visa services will be adjusted to accommodate the training.
The reports come amid wider changes to the US immigration and visa system under the Trump administration.
H-1B visa fee proposal
The reported suspension of appointments comes a day after the administration proposed a new application fee of $103,265 for H-1B visas.
The H-1B programme allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialised occupations. The latest proposal from the Department of Homeland Security follows Trump’s earlier announcement of plans to raise the H-1B fee to $100,000.
That earlier move was halted by a court in June this year. The new DHS proposal is expected to undergo a 30-day public comment period before further action.
Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
Immigration restrictions have been a major focus of Trump’s second administration since he returned to office in 2025.
The administration has taken steps that have resulted in visa and green card revocations, as well as the rejection of some applications. Such measures have also affected people involved in pro-Palestinian protests at US universities during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Trump has additionally ordered mass deportations, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have carried out raids as part of the broader enforcement drive.
The administration’s immigration policies have faced criticism from human rights organisations, which have raised concerns about discrimination, racial profiling, free speech and due process.
The reported visa appointment pause now adds another layer of uncertainty for applicants awaiting interviews at US diplomatic missions around the world.