U.S. State Department Halts Immigrant Visa Applications Worldwide

Why it matters locally: This nationwide halt will directly affect Maryland residents who have family members or employees seeking to immigrate to the United States, potentially delaying family reunification and workforce development efforts across the state.

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The U.S. State Department has announced a worldwide halt to processing immigrant visa applications. This action impacts individuals seeking to obtain permanent residency in the United States. Officials indicated that the pause applies to all immigrant visa appointments. This measure follows previous efforts by the administration to modify immigration regulations. Earlier, a federal judge blocked a separate visa restriction. That previous ban would have impacted individuals from 75 countries.