US halts immigrant visas worldwide for 'public charge' training

The Trump administration has suspended immigrant visa applications worldwide to facilitate comprehensive training for consular officers on evaluating public-charge risks, affecting applicants who received sudden cancellation notices from US embassies and consulates without immediate prospects for rescheduling, according to the Financial Times.

Applicants with scheduled interviews have received emails informing them that appointments are being rescheduled and that new dates will be communicated later, the newspaper reported on Tuesday.

'Public charge' screening priority

A State Department spokesperson told the FT that the department launched "a global training initiative" this month to ensure officers are fully equipped to evaluate applicants consistently. "A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge, as defined under US law and regulation, and not likely to become dependent on US public benefits reserved for qualified Americans in need," the spokesperson said.

The pause reflects the administration's focus on preventing immigrants from becoming dependent on public benefits, a central theme of Trump's immigration policy since his return to office.

Applicants face costly disruptions

The State Department did not specify when normal operations would resume, stating only that appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the in-depth training. Brian Simmons, an attorney at immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, said many affected applicants had "already spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their lives to attend scheduled interviews, only to have their appointments cancelled at the last minute".

Simmons noted that the sudden cancellations have left applicants in limbo regarding their immigration status and travel plans.

Broader immigration crackdown

The suspension aligns with President Donald Trump's broader efforts to tighten immigration controls, including recent restrictions on visas and green cards and the termination of most refugee resettlement programs. The policy shift comes as the administration seeks to prioritize applicants unlikely to require government assistance.

The move follows a federal judge's ruling last week striking down Trump's separate attempt to pause immigration applications from 75 predominantly low-income countries whose nationals the administration believes could need assistance.