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US temporarily suspends immigrant visa appointments worldwide for new training Image: ATON (archivo)
🇨🇱 Chile /Economy & Trade

US temporarily suspends immigrant visa appointments worldwide for new training

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The U.S. has temporarily halted all worldwide immigrant visa appointments.
  • The pause is to train consular staff on new procedures ensuring visa recipients won't rely on public benefits.
  • The State Department did not specify when appointments will resume.

The United States has temporarily suspended all worldwide appointments for immigrant visas. This pause is necessary to train consular personnel on new procedures, a State Department spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

"As we work to accommodate this thorough training, visa services appointments will be adjusted," the spokesperson told EFE. The department has not yet clarified when these services will resume. Applicants worldwide have reportedly begun receiving notifications about suspended appointments, a situation that aligns with the spokesperson's statement that embassies and consulates will communicate any changes directly to applicants.

As we work to accommodate this thorough training, visa services appointments will be adjusted.

— State Department spokespersonExplaining the reason for the temporary suspension of visa appointments.

The training focuses on new procedures designed to ensure that recipients of these visas do not become a burden on public funds. The goal is to prevent them from becoming dependent on U.S. public benefits, which are intended for qualifying Americans.

According to the State Department, this new training for consular officers and employees began globally in early August. Consequently, these temporary cancellations apply uniformly across the entire network of U.S. consulates. The training material was made available after a federal judge declared a ban on visas for citizens of 75 countries illegal, citing the Trump administration's perceived risk of individuals from these nations becoming public charges.

When there are changes to visa interview appointments, embassies and consulates communicate any changes directly to applicants.

— State Department spokespersonAssuring applicants that they will be informed of any changes to their scheduled appointments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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