U.S. State Department Halts Immigrant Visa Applications Worldwide

Why it matters locally: The halt in immigrant visa processing will affect individuals in Washington State seeking to bring family members to the U.S. or those here on temporary visas hoping to adjust their status to permanent residency.

---

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.