The United States Department of State has halted scheduling for immigrant visa interviews at consulates and embassies worldwide for an indefinite period. The measure targets foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent residency in the country. According to reporting by the Financial Times and corroborated by Poder360, the agency stated that the global freeze is required to conduct specialized training for consular personnel.

The training focuses on enforcing "public charge" provisions, a regulatory standard that denies visas to individuals deemed likely to rely on government assistance programs. Applicants with existing appointment dates have started receiving official notices stating that their interviews are postponed until further notice. This procedural move allows the administration of President Donald Trump to slow legal migration flows without requiring legislative action from the United States Congress.

For Brazil, the pause disrupts thousands of pending applications for family reunification and employment-based immigration processed through consular posts in Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Porto Alegre. The worldwide halt comes days after United States District Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York struck down a previous directive by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which had halted immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 nations, including Brazil. By pausing appointments globally under the banner of staff training, Washington has effectively reinstated processing delays through administrative channels.

The consular freeze coincides with wider restrictions planned by Washington, including the potential revocation of up to 200,000 visitor and business visas (categories B1 and B2) held by individuals who entered the country and subsequently filed asylum claims. Governments across Latin America and the European Union are monitoring the policy shift closely, as it introduces severe delays and uncertainty for foreign nationals who have already paid consular fees and completed preliminary documentation.