August 26, 2026
- Immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are being cancelled due to a temporary pause imposed by the State Department. The pause applies only to immigrant visa interviews. Non-immigrant visa applicants (F, J, H-1B for example) are not affected.
- Green card applicants who are already in the U.S. in a non-immigrant status typically do not apply for an immigrant visa sticker as part of the application process. Instead, they complete the process by applying for an Adjustment of Status with USCIS. There is no pause on the adjudication of adjustment of status adjudications.
- The worldwide pause in immigrant visa interviews follows an August 21 federal court decision vacating a separate State Department policy that had suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries based on public charge concerns.
- We will continue to monitor developments and will update this announcement as needed.