The administration of US President Donald Trump has resumed processing immigrant visa applications for Hungary and Poland while keeping a temporary freeze on appointments active across the rest of the world. According to sources familiar with the matter, the White House issued a direct directive to prioritize immigrant visas at American diplomatic missions in these two European nations. Although officials did not explicitly provide a reason for singling out Hungary and Poland, the Trump administration has frequently cultivated ties with far-right political figures in both countries, including former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish nationalist President Karol Nawrocki.
Broader Crackdown on Legal and Illegal Migration:
The selective processing resumption unfolds against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s broader push to restrict both legal and illegal migration during his second term. Previous measures introduced by the White House include strict travel bans on dozens of nations, higher fees for work visas, and mandatory social media vetting for all applicants. In January, the State Department suspended immigrant visa processing across 75 countries over public charge concerns. Following a federal court ruling that struck down the ban as unlawful, the administration instituted a global pause on visa interviews to implement a new staff training program.
Global Impact of the Worldwide Visa Suspension:
The ongoing global suspension has disrupted thousands of applicants worldwide who rely on U.S. embassies for permanent residency interviews involving relatives of citizens and permanent residents. While the State Department maintains that global missions are adjusting appointment schedules for staff training on public benefit assessments, the administrative rollout could take months. Consular posts are required to undergo self-training followed by in-person consular officer certifications from Washington, leaving applicants across nations like India, the United Kingdom, and Peru facing indefinite delays and canceled appointments through September.
