US cancels all visa interviews globally until September for training

The US State Department has ordered all embassies and consulates worldwide to cancel nonimmigrant visa appointments and reschedule no earlier than 1 September 2026. The move comes as consular officers undergo training this week on a more restrictive policy, specifically on denying immigrant visas to applicants likely to rely on government aid. Applicants for student, work, and tourism visas reported receiving cancellation emails from posts in multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, causing widespread panic.

The cancellations echo a similar rescheduling in December 2025 that created severe backlogs after the introduction of social media vetting for H-1B holders. Separately, the Trump administration is reviewing B1 and B2 visas issued to foreign nationals who entered the US for tourism or business and later applied for asylum. The State Department estimates up to 200,000 people could be affected if a large-scale revocation programme proceeds, though immigration status would depend on individual asylum proceedings.