The United States has temporarily suspended visa interviews for visa applicants worldwide.
According to Reuters on the 25th local time, a U.S. State Department Spokesperson said the department started enhanced visa screening training at all U.S. embassies and consulates around the world that day, and that schedules related to visa interviews would be adjusted accordingly.
A U.S. State Department official said, "The purpose of this training is to enable consular officers to screen out applicants deemed likely to rely on U.S. public benefits and to review visa applicants comprehensively and consistently." However, specific training details or plans for visa interview schedules were not disclosed.
Earlier, the Financial Times (FT) reported that visa interview schedules for applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates were being changed one after another.
The move is seen as an extension of the hard-line immigration policies pursued by the Donald Trump administration. The Trump administration has carried out stringent measures, including restricting visa issuance, canceling green cards, and cracking down on undocumented immigrants, to strengthen domestic security.