US State Department Suspends Global Immigrant Visa Appointments

The US Department of State announced a temporary global suspension of immigrant visa interview appointments at all US embassies and consulates. The pause is intended to provide time for training consular officers.

Applicants who had scheduled immigrant visa interviews at US diplomatic missions received email notifications informing them that their appointments have been rescheduled. They will receive further notice of new dates and times at a later stage.

What the State Department said

A State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times: “A more prosperous America means ensuring that a visa applicant is unlikely to become a public charge, as defined by US law and regulations, and will not depend on US public benefits intended for needy, qualified US citizens.”

Global training initiative launched this month

The Department stated it launched a “global training initiative” this month to “ensure all consular staff are fully equipped to assess each visa applicant comprehensively and consistently.”