In late August 2026, the U.S. Department of State began postponing immigrant visa interviews at embassies and consulates around the world. The reason is a global training initiative for consular officers on how to assess "public charge," meaning whether an applicant is likely to depend on government benefits after arriving in the United States.

 

If you or a family member has an immigrant visa case abroad, here is what we know and what we recommend.

 

Who is affected

The postponements affect applicants who are completing their green card process at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad (consular processing), including many family-based and employment-based cases.

 

This is not a shutdown of all visa services. Tourist, student, and temporary work visas are not part of this pause, and green card applications filed inside the United States with USCIS are handled separately.

 

Why it is happening

According to Reuters, the State Department began the training in early August. A department official has said the goal is for officers to evaluate applicants comprehensively and consistently, with particular attention to public charge.

 

Public charge is not new. It has long been a ground for denying an immigrant visa. What the training signals is that consular officers will likely look more closely at each applicant's financial situation, including the sponsor's Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), once interviews resume. This comes as DHS's new public charge rule took effect on September 18, 2026.

 

How this differs from the 75-country pause

Earlier this year, the State Department stopped issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, and others, citing public charge concerns. On August 21, 2026, a federal court ruled that the Department could not suspend visas on that basis, and the State Department has confirmed that the 75-country pause is no longer in effect.

 

The current interview postponements are separate. They are not based on nationality. They apply worldwide while officers complete the training.

 

When will interviews resume?

The State Department has not announced a single date. In recent federal court proceedings, the Department indicated that each embassy or consulate generally cannot resume immigrant visa processing until its officers complete the training. As a result, posts are likely to reopen at different times.

 

What we recommend

• Don't panic if your interview was canceled. A postponed interview does not mean your case was denied or closed. Your case remains active, and a new date should be issued.
• Watch for notices from the National Visa Center (NVC) and the embassy or consulate handling your case, and forward any message you receive to our office right away.
• Don't buy non-refundable travel for an interview until the new date is confirmed.
• Keep your documents current. Medical exams, police certificates, and financial documents can expire while you wait. We will let you know if anything needs to be updated.
• Strengthen the financial evidence. Because public charge will be a focus, we recommend reviewing your Affidavit of Support now. That may mean updated tax returns, proof of employment, evidence of assets, or adding a joint sponsor.
• Avoid fraud. No one can "buy" you an earlier interview date. The U.S. government will never call you asking for payment.

We're monitoring this closely

 

Our team is following every update from the State Department and the courts. If you have a pending consular case, or are wondering how these changes may affect your family, contact GPV Immigration Law to schedule a consultation to review your case. 

 

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This alert is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every case is different. Please consult with us about your specific situation.