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US immigrant visa appointment training pause reschedules interviews
The U.S. State Department said the consular training is intended to support more consistent screening for applicants likely to depend on public benefits.
Asian workers and families facing years-long waits for U.S. visas could see additional uncertainty after the U.S. State Department adjusted immigrant visa appointments for consular officers training, according to a report by SCMP Economy. The change comes as the Trump administration tightens legal immigration through new screening and higher costs, experts warned.
The State Department said on Tuesday it launched a global training initiative for consular officers at all U.S. embassies and consulates, and immigrant visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the training. The department did not specify the scope or duration, but said the effort is meant to help officers screen out applicants deemed likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and evaluate cases “comprehensively and consistently.”
SCMP Economy reports that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews have started receiving notices that their appointments are being rescheduled, with new dates to follow. The disruption has also raised concerns about whether documents linked to the original appointment dates, including police clearances, medical checks, and financial records, may need updating.
Experts cited by SCMP Economy said the impact could be especially acute for Asian applicants in countries with large visa pipelines and crowded consular calendars. Russell A. Stamets, a partner at the New Delhi-based law firm Circle of Counsels, said it is unclear whether the change is handled embassy by embassy or centrally, adding that the Asian countries with the largest number of pending applications are likely to be hit hardest.