The United States has temporarily paused visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide as the Trump administration begins a global training programme for consular officers. Applicants with scheduled interviews have received notices that their appointments are being cancelled or rescheduled, with no clear timeline for when new dates will be offered.
The State Department said the training initiative is intended to help consular officers evaluate visa applications more comprehensively and consistently. It includes screening applicants who could potentially become dependent on US public benefits. The department has not specified how long the training will last.
The pause comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration policy. The administration has increased scrutiny of visa applicants and green-card seekers and has pursued measures aimed at reducing both illegal and legal immigration. A federal judge recently struck down a separate policy that had suspended immigrant visa issuance to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the Secretary of State had exceeded his authority.
The administration has also proposed a major increase in the cost of hiring foreign skilled workers. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed an additional $103,265 fee on cap-subject H-1B petitions, including petitions eligible for the advanced-degree exemption. The fee would be paid by the employer filing the petition and would come on top of existing H-1B fees. The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days.
The proposal could have a significant effect on Indian professionals. Indians make up the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries, while the H-1B programme is heavily used by US employers to recruit workers in specialised fields, including technology and finance. A six-figure additional fee could therefore make companies more cautious about sponsoring new foreign workers.
Taken together, the worldwide visa appointment disruption and proposed H-1B fee point to a broader shift in the US immigration system. Legal immigration remains possible, but the process is becoming more heavily screened, more expensive and less predictable for applicants and employers.
