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Global visa pause
The Trump administration paused all immigrant visa appointments worldwide as it launched a global training initiative at all U.S. embassies and consulates, with visa services appointments adjusted to accommodate the training.
“launched a global training initiative at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide”
Reuters reported that a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that the training was aimed at helping consular officers screen out applicants deemed likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and to ensure evaluation of visa applicants "comprehensively and consistently."
The Financial Times reported that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews received emails that their appointments were being rescheduled and that they would receive future notice of a new date.
The pause was described by the Guardian as a move to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants who the state department deemed could end up relying on U.S. assistance, with the initiative launched in early August and appointments adjusted for "in-depth training."
Screening focus and backlash
The State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times that "A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge" and that the department launched “a global training initiative” to ensure consular officers could evaluate applicants "comprehensively and consistently."
NDTV and Reuters both tied the pause to the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, including revocations of visas and green cards and rejection of applications over reasons including political opinions and pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza.
The Guardian quoted National Immigration Law Center attorney Joanna Cuevas Ingram saying, "The court made clear that immigration laws cannot be used to justify discrimination," as it described the pause following a federal judge overturning a policy blocking applications on a “public charge” basis from 75 countries.
Brian Simmons, an attorney at immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, told the Financial Times that many applicants had already spent thousands of dollars and changed their lives to attend scheduled interviews, only to have appointments cancelled at the last minute.
H-1B fee fight and asylum
The visa pause came a day after the Trump administration proposed a new $103,265 application fee for H-1B visa petitions, following Trump’s plan to hike the fee to $100,000 that was halted by a court in June.
“proposed a new $103,265 application fee for H-1B visa”
Reuters said the State Department did not specify details on the training and its timeline beyond the goal of screening for applicants likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits, while the Economic Times said the State Department had not said when visa appointments would resume.
The Guardian reported that this week the Trump administration announced plans to revoke visas from asylum seekers who initially entered the country for tourism or business, with up to 200,000 people seeking asylum potentially impacted.
The New York Times reported that the State Department began reviewing visas of foreign citizens who came to the United States temporarily for tourism or business but sought to stay longer by applying for asylum, and quoted Tommy Pigott saying, "we are making clear that a visa is a privilege — not a right."