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Washington Freezes Green Card Interviews
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Nearly 200,000 tourist visas face cancellation in the weeks ahead
The Trump administration has paused immigrant visa interviews at every US embassy and consulate in the world. The move came days after a federal judge struck down its policy blocking visas for nationals of 75 countries.
The State Department says the pause allows a global training programme for consular staff. Officials say the training will ensure officers assess every applicant 'comprehensively and consistently', with a focus on whether applicants are likely to depend on American state benefits, the Seattle Times reported.
Applicants with booked interviews received emails cancelling their appointments. They were told new dates would follow, but none have been given. There is no confirmed end date, though reports suggest the pause may not run beyond early September at many posts.
The court ruling that came days before the pause
On 21 August, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas struck down a January 2026 policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, and Yemen.
The judge ruled the policy was 'contrary to law'. She found it exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's legal authority and forced officers to refuse applicants based on nationality rather than individual circumstances, PBS reported. Refusals made solely under the policy must now be reviewed case by case.
The administration called Vargas a 'rogue judge' and said it would keep fighting for the policy. The worldwide interview pause was announced days later. Training materials had reportedly not been fully distributed to embassies when the pause began.
Up to 200,000 tourist visas set for cancellation
Separately, the administration is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 tourist and business visas issued between 2016 and 2026, the Associated Press reported, citing State Department documents and officials. The targets are people who entered as short-term visitors and then applied for asylum.
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Trump returned to office. That is roughly four times the pace of the final Biden year.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the government would revoke visas of those who 'came to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently'. He called the practice fraud.
The AP described it as the largest single mass revocation in American history. It is expected on a rolling basis in the coming weeks and will likely face legal challenges. Cancellation does not automatically mean deportation for those with pending asylum claims.
175,000 visas already revoked since Trump returned
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to its 10 August announcement. That is roughly four times the pace of the final Biden year, when about 40,000 were revoked, The Guardian reported. The rate passed 10,000 a month in 2026.
Most revocations came from law enforcement encounters, with assault, drink-driving, theft, and drug offences the leading causes. Others were for overstays and fraud. Some targeted political speech, including people who celebrated the killing of Charlie Kirk and pro-Palestinian activists.
There is a precedent for what happens next. When the administration paused student visa interviews in May 2025, issuances fell about 36% in the months after processing resumed, Forbes reported.
No resumption date has been announced. Internal estimates suggest the pause will last weeks.
