Washington: The United States has paused or rescheduled visa appointments at embassies and consulates worldwide as the Donald Trump administration steps up its immigration crackdown.
The US State Department said it has launched a global training programme for consular officers, with visa appointment schedules being adjusted to accommodate the training. Applicants whose interviews had already been scheduled have reportedly been informed of cancellations and told that they would receive new dates.
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The move comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policies, including tougher visa screening and proposed measures affecting business, tourism and skilled-worker visas.
The Trump administration is also preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the US. If implemented, the measure could become the largest mass visa revocation in US history.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed an additional $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B applications. The proposed fee would come on top of existing charges and could have a significant impact on companies seeking to employ foreign skilled workers. Indian professionals are expected to be among those most affected because of India’s large share of H-1B beneficiaries.
The administration says the new screening measures are intended to ensure visa applications are assessed more comprehensively and consistently, including whether applicants could become dependent on US public benefits.
However, the immigration crackdown has triggered criticism from human rights organisations and legal challenges over concerns about discrimination, due process and the scope of executive authority. A federal judge recently struck down a separate Trump administration policy that had suspended immigrant visa applications from nationals of 75 countries, ruling that the measure exceeded the Secretary of State’s statutory authority.
The latest pause adds to uncertainty for international applicants, including Indians seeking to travel, study, work or settle in the United States, as Washington continues to introduce stricter immigration and visa controls.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
