SECRETARY of State James Brokenshire has cancelled his trip to Washington to concentrate on talks to save power-sharing at Stormont.
Mr Brokenshire was due to meet US President Donald Trump as part of the annual St Patrick's Day visit.
However he has decided to pull out of the trip as the north's political parties attempt to strike a deal following the snap election.
If no agreement is reached by March 27 then the north faces yet another election.
A senior British government source said Mr Brokenshire had been due to fly to Washington on Wednesday for two days.
However, he has decided that the talks at Stormont are at a "critical stage".
"He is just focused on getting the right result and getting an agreement by the 27th. The deadline is looming. He will have no other option by law but to call another election if there is no agreement by then," the source said.
Mr Brokenshire recently met acting US ambassador to the UK Lew Lukens to discuss the situation at Stormont.
"The Secretary of State is encouraged by how seriously the Americans are taking this. He would love to go to Washington. Washington has always helped Northern Ireland. But now is not the right time and time is short," the source added.
Political parties are due to resume talks again today in a bid to restore the power-sharing institutions.
They have just over two weeks to come to an agreement or there could be another election.
The Assembly election earlier this month saw an end to the unionist majority at Stormont.
Sinn Féin now holds one seat fewer in the assembly than the DUP.
In a letter to MPs last week, Mr Brokenshire warned that if the DUP and Sinn Féin fail there will be "significant consequences".
"There would be no Executive, no real budget, no Programme for Government and risks to public services," he wrote.
"Ultimately we would also be facing a second election with ongoing disruption and uncertainty for businesses and the people of Northern Ireland that would bring."
However Mr Brokenshire added that he was "not contemplating any other outcome but a resumption of devolved government as soon as possible".
