US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide under Trump’s New Immigration Policy

US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide: According to Reuters, the United States has paused visa appointment processing for applicants worldwide as President Donald Trump intensifies his immigration crackdown in his second term.

A spokesperson from the US State Department stated that the department has begun a global training programme across all its embassies and consulates and added that visa appointments will be adjusted to accommodate this training.

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US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide: US Visa Applicants Facing Cancellations Amid New Consular Officer Training

US Cancels Visa Interviews Worldwide: People with booked interviews were emailed that their appointments had been cancelled.

According to a media report, they will be given details of the new date and time later.

The State Department has not given any information regarding the training or its duration, and it stated that the aim is to enable consular officers to identify applicants who might rely on US public benefits and to ensure that visa applications are reviewed "comprehensively and consistently."

Trump Administration Immigration Policy: U.S to Cancel the B1 and B2 Business & Tourism Visas; Targets 200,000 Asylum Seekers

US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide: The pause in visa appointment scheduling is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to tighten American immigration rules.

The United States intends to cancel the B1 and B2 business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are seeking asylum.

This detail has been obtained from State Department documents examined by The Associated Press and has been confirmed by two American officials.

This would represent the biggest mass cancellation of visas in the history of the United States.

US B1 B2 Visa Revocation: Losing Visas Does Not Mean Immediate Deportation

US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide: The proposed cancellations concern B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have sought asylum, with the State Department cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security.

It should be noted, however, that losing their visas does not always mean that people will be deported immediately; those with asylum applications still pending could have their cases reclassified but would lose their business or tourism status.

New H-1B Visa Fee: US Proposes $103,265 Additional Charge for Cap-Subject Applications

The Department of Homeland Security has also proposed introducing a new fee of USD 103,265 (approximately Rs 99 lakh) in addition to the existing fees for H-1B applications that are subject to the annual cap.

This could significantly increase costs for US companies seeking to employ skilled foreign workers, particularly Indian professionals, who constitute a large share of H-1B visa applicants.

The fee would cover cap-subject petitions, including those which benefit from the advanced degree exemption, but would not apply to certain cap-exempt petitions from universities, research organisations, and government research agencies.

US Visa Pauses Latest News: DHS Invites Public Comments on The Proposal for 30 Days

The DHS (Department of Homeland Security) has requested that the public provide comments on the proposal for 30 days before deciding whether to finalise the rule.

He has stated that his immigration enforcement measures are designed to enhance security in the United States.

Yet, his policies have come under legal challenge and have been criticised by human rights organisations, which claim that the administration is discriminating and infringing on free speech and due process rights.

US Visa Restrictions for Foreign Workers: Trump’s Administration Tightens Legal Immigration Rules

US Visa Appointments Paused Worldwide: Since becoming president in 2024 with the aim of reducing illegal immigration, Trump’s administration has also made it more difficult to obtain legal immigration status by tightening visa checks, increasing fees, and imposing additional regulations on foreign workers and other visa applicants.

Previously, the Trump administration suffered a blow when a US judge nullified a policy on August 21 that had halted the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, stating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio lacked the legal authority to enforce it.

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