The Trump administration has temporarily suspended visa appointment scheduling for applicants worldwide as US embassies and consulates adjust services to accommodate a global training programme. A US State Department spokesperson announced the change on Tuesday, but the department did not say how long appointments would remain suspended or provide further details on the training.

The State Department said the programme is intended to help consular officers identify visa applicants who may become dependent on US government public benefits. It also aims to ensure that applicants are assessed comprehensively and consistently. Financial Times first reported that immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews at several US missions were informed by email that their appointments would be rescheduled, with new dates to be announced later.

The move follows broader immigration policy changes under President Donald Trump’s second term, including intensified action against illegal immigration and stricter treatment of legal immigration. A US judge last Friday struck down a policy that had suspended immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his legal authority. Human rights groups have criticized the administration’s measures as discriminatory and harmful to free expression and due process.