U.S. pauses visa appointments worldwide amid Trump's immigration crackdown: Report

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President Donald Trump speaks during a back to school event in the Rose Garden of the White House. File | Photo Credit: AP

The U.S. has paused visa appointments for applicants worldwide as President Donald Trump steps up his immigration crackdown during his second term in the White House, Reuters reported on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the department had launched a global training initiative across all U.S. embassies and consulates, adding that visa service appointments will be adjusted to accommodate the training, according to the report.

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Meanwhile, applicants with interviews already scheduled were emailed that their appointments had been cancelled and that they would be informed of a new date and time, The Financial Times (FT) reported.

“The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the interviews will resume or when fresh appointment dates will be issued,” FT reported.

The department noted that the training initiative was launched this month across U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide to strengthen how officers assess visa applications.

“A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge, as defined under U.S. law and regulation, and not likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits reserved for qualified Americans in need,” a State Department spokesperson told FT .

The spokesperson added that the department had launched “a global training initiative” to “ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently”.

“To accommodate this in-depth training, appointments for visa services will be adjusted,” the spokesperson said.

The latest move comes as Mr. Trump’s second administration intensifies its immigration enforcement agenda, which has included tougher scrutiny of visa and green-card applicants, an aggressive deportation campaign, and an overhaul of refugee admissions.

The latest pause adds another layer of uncertainty for immigrant visa applicants, particularly those who are required to complete their processing outside the U.S.