**U.S. State Department Temporarily Halts Immigration Visa Appointments**
The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday that it is temporarily suspending all appointments for immigration visas. The pause is intended to allow embassy and consulate staff to undergo additional training.
The suspension applies solely to immigration‑related visas, which generally require an in‑person interview. It does not affect visas issued for tourism, study, business travel, or temporary work, which will continue to be processed as usual.
The department did not specify a timeline for when the immigration visa appointments will resume. Existing appointments for immigration visas have been cancelled, and applicants are expected to receive further instructions from the relevant U.S. missions.
The move follows the department’s ongoing efforts to improve the handling of immigration cases at U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide. No other changes to visa policy were reported.
Article and image source: qcostarica.com
