US visa pause threatens to extend Asian applicants’ ‘years-long’ wait

Asian workers and families already waiting years for US visas could face even longer delays after Washington paused global immigrant visa appointments, experts warn. The US State Department said Tuesday it had launched a worldwide training program for consular officers at all US embassies and consulates. As part of the initiative, immigrant visa appointments will be rescheduled to make room for the training. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration tightens legal immigration through new screening procedures and higher application fees. “This could have real consequences for Asian applicants,” one expert said, noting that many in the region already face multi-year backlogs. The pause affects all countries, but analysts say Asian applicants—who make up a large share of family-based and employment-based visa seekers—are among the most vulnerable to further disruption. No timeline has been given for when normal appointment scheduling will resume.