US temporarily suspends tourist and business visa appointments worldwide

According to OnCuba, which reported on August 26, 2026, the US government has paused the scheduling of visa appointments worldwide for tourist and business visas (categories B1 and B2). The temporary measure aims to train consular staff to identify and reject applicants who may be considered likely to depend on public benefits in the United States.

The suspension is aimed especially at foreign citizens who obtained their visas between 2016 and 2026 and who subsequently applied for asylum on US soil. According to international press reports cited by OnCuba, the measure could potentially affect some two hundred thousand people. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott justified the decision by saying that obtaining a visa is a privilege, not a right.

Since the start of Donald Trump's second term in early August 2026, the State Department has already revoked more than one hundred and seventy-five thousand visas. Although the press warns that the Cuban community could be particularly affected by these new provisions, authorities have not yet provided specific figures on the impact by nationality.

For its part, the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo has reported on the complex situation facing the US economy. While consular and immigration control decisions are handled independently of the macroeconomic situation, these restrictions add uncertainty to the international flow of people.

The suspension of categories B1 and B2 (designed for tourism and business) interrupts key channels for international trade and consumption. In practice, the inability to travel to close deals or attend trade fairs weakens cross-border economic activity, an aspect that analysts suggest watching in the coming months.