US Suspends Processing of Immigrant Visas Worldwide

Web Desk
August 28, 2026

The US administration has temporarily suspended the processing of immigrant visa applications from around the world, in a move aimed at tightening screening procedures for potential applicants.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the current Trump administration wants to conduct more stringent background checks on immigrant visa applicants to prevent individuals who could potentially become a financial burden on the US government from entering the country [citation:5].

Interviews Rescheduled, No Timeline for Resumption

The report states that some applicants who already had scheduled interview dates at US embassies and consulates worldwide have been notified via email that their interviews will be rescheduled. They will be informed later of the new dates and times [citation:5].

The US State Department has not specified when the processing of immigrant visa interviews and applications will resume. US officials have said that visa officers stationed at US embassies around the world are being retrained to ensure they are equipped to conduct comprehensive and uniform screening of every visa applicant [citation:5].

Impact on Applicants and Existing Visa Holders

Immigration experts in the US have warned that this decision could affect applicants who have already spent thousands of dollars on visa interview preparations and completed their travel and other arrangements [citation:5].

The US government has also announced that visas of foreigners who entered the US for tourism or business but later applied for asylum for permanent stay could be revoked [citation:5].