The Trump administration has temporarily paused all immigrant visa applications as it implements new policies aimed at restricting immigration and revoking certain visas for asylum seekers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. State Department has announced a temporary pause on all immigrant visa applications while it briefs consular officials worldwide on a new policy designed to exclude individuals deemed potential burdens on public resources. This decision also includes plans to revoke business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum, marking what could become the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history, a move likely to face legal challenges.
The Trump administration has primarily focused its immigration enforcement efforts on individuals who have entered the United States illegally, particularly from Mexico and other countries. However, it is now intensifying its scrutiny of those who enter the country legally.
Julia Gelatt, associate director of the U.S. immigration policy program at the Migration Policy Institute, stated, “The thing linking them is a general philosophy that immigration is bad for the United States and that the Trump administration is looking for all of the ways it can to button down our immigration system to allow in fewer people.”
The pause is expected to be temporary and is specifically related to new rules concerning a “public charge” requirement, which has raised numerous questions among consular officers at U.S. embassies globally. An anonymous State Department official indicated that the pause began in early August and is not anticipated to extend beyond early to mid-September. Most individuals affected by this pause had interviews scheduled for August, but these have not been canceled; instead, they will be rescheduled for September, October, and November.
Experts suggest that anyone applying for an immigrant visa outside the U.S. may be impacted by this pause, particularly those seeking to immigrate based on family ties, such as parents, spouses, children, or siblings of U.S. citizens. However, Gelatt warned that rescheduling a visa appointment could prove challenging, noting, “They’re hard to get, and so having to reschedule is a big challenge for people.”
Other categories of immigrant visas, such as those for workers with employer sponsorships, are not affected by this pause, as these applicants can demonstrate sufficient earnings and would not be classified as a “public charge.”
Gelatt expressed concern about the potential duration of the pause, stating, “We need to see how long this pause lasts. It sounded like it would be short, just to make time for training, but if it does last longer, I imagine we’ll see litigation.”
This pause follows a previous policy that halted visa issuance to immigrants from 75 countries, which was in effect from January until mid-August when a court struck it down. This precedent may influence the current situation.
In conjunction with tightening public charge rules, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has revived a regulation that could deny green cards to immigrants who utilize public benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.
Unless challenged or revised, the State Department is expected to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for holders who have sought or are currently seeking asylum. This action will be coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
While the State Department has not disclosed the exact number of visas to be revoked, experts and immigration lawyers have noted that this measure will not impact individuals already in the United States who have applied for asylum.
Gelatt explained, “The goal is instead to send a message that this administration is focused on enforcement and that people who want to live in the United States should not think about coming on a tourist visa and then seeking asylum. For people who already have a tourist visa that’s being revoked, it really is not going to affect them because they already have lodged their asylum application and are waiting in line for that asylum adjudication. The temporary visa really doesn’t matter anymore.”
Asylum claims can take years to resolve, while tourist and business visas typically allow for stays of about six months. If visa holders request asylum, their ability to remain in the U.S. depends on the status of their asylum cases rather than their visas.
For years, applicants for tourist or business visas have been required to demonstrate their intent to return home before their visas expire. Any indication of a desire to stay permanently can lead to visa denial.
The plans to revoke visas align with Trump’s long-standing belief that asylum claims are often misused. Christopher Landau, a deputy secretary of state, stated, “People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration laws.”
In April, the administration announced that consulates would deny visas to applicants who express fear of returning to their home countries.
According to The Associated Press, this pause in immigrant visa applications and the planned revocation of certain visas signify a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration.