The US State Department has halted new immigrant visa applications across all embassies and consulates to introduce enhanced vetting procedures, as the Trump administration seeks to prevent immigrants who may need public benefits from entering the country. The pause, which began in early August, forced the postponement of scheduled visa interviews so consular officers could undergo "in-depth training" intended to ensure every applicant is assessed thoroughly and consistently. The move forms part of a wider crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration, coinciding with plans to revoke visas from up to 200,000 asylum seekers accused of entering the US under false pretences.

Officials say applicants who obtained visas as tourists or business visitors before claiming asylum committed fraud, providing grounds for revocation, in what the White House has described as potentially the largest mass visa cancellation in US history. Since Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, around 175,000 foreigners have already had visas revoked for reasons ranging from criminal offences to comments praising the killing of activist Charlie Kirk. The administration is also expanding social media vetting of applicants, though some measures have faced legal setbacks, including a federal judge's recent decision to strike down a visa ban covering nationals from 75 countries. Human rights groups have criticised the broader crackdown as discriminatory and damaging to due process protections.