US Freezes Immigrant Visas Worldwide as Trump Administration Tightens Immigration Rules

(US President Donald Trump. Photo by Punch News)

The United States has stopped processing all immigrant visas worldwide as the Trump administration tightens rules on applicants it fears will need government assistance.

The State Department confirmed the pause started at US embassies and consulates in early August.

The agency said the move allows time for "in-depth training" so visa officers can evaluate applicants more thoroughly and consistently.

People with scheduled interviews received emails cancelling their appointments, with notification of new dates to come later.

The pause aims to prevent visa holders from relying on US public benefits and is part of the administration's broader crackdown on immigration.

It came just days after the administration announced plans to revoke visas of asylum seekers who initially entered the US as tourists or business visitors before applying for asylum protection.

The State Department said obtaining a visa under false pretences to later claim asylum amounts to fraud and grounds for visa cancellation.

The White House claimed up to 200,000 visas could be affected, calling it the largest mass visa revocation in history.

The State Department didn't confirm the figure, saying the number remains unclear and will be carried out gradually.

This pause follows an earlier Trump administration attempt to restrict visas on public charge grounds affecting 75 countries, which a federal judge recently overturned.

Immigration lawyers warned the pause creates hardship for applicants who spent thousands of dollars preparing for and travelling to interviews, only to have them cancelled without notice.

The rescheduling timeline remains unknown.

The administration has also added other restrictions including reviews of applicants' social media accounts and increased processing fees.