The United States has paused or adjusted visa appointments at embassies and consulates around the world, just days after a federal judge struck down a separate Donald Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries.
The State Department confirmed that it had launched a global training initiative for consular officers and said visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the exercise. The department did not say how long the disruption would last.
The training is aimed at helping consular officers identify applicants considered likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and at ensuring visa applications are assessed more consistently.
It was reported that some immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews had already received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled, with new dates to be communicated later.
The development comes shortly after U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the administration’s 75-country immigrant visa suspension exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority
That ruling affected a nationality-based policy, while the latest appointment changes are being presented by the State Department as part of a worldwide training exercise.
For Nigerian applicants, the distinction is important. The court decision removed one legal obstacle affecting immigrant visa processing, but the new global appointment disruption could still delay interviews and processing timelines.
Applicants with scheduled interviews are expected to follow instructions issued directly by the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate, particularly where appointments have been postponed or rescheduled.
The State Department has not announced a date for the full resumption of normal visa appointment schedules.
