The U.S. Department of State paused immigrant visa interview appointments worldwide around 25 August 2026. Consular officers now undergo in-depth training on updated public-charge screening. Officers assess whether an applicant is likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits. Your overseas green card interview sits on hold under family-based, employment-based, or Diversity Visa consular processing.
The State Department said a global training initiative launched in early August at all U.S. embassies and consulates. Appointments for visa services will be adjusted while officers complete the new screening instruction. The pause targets immigrant visa interviews abroad. Your case falls inside the hold if you seek an immigrant visa through overseas consular processing.
Pause covers these immigrant interviews
Family-based immigrant visa interviews abroad now wait for new slots. Employment-based immigrant visa interviews abroad also wait. Diversity Visa immigrant visa interviews abroad wait as well. Overseas green card consular processing sits inside the same pause.
Applicants with scheduled interviews received cancellation or postponement emails. Your embassy or consulate will issue a replacement date later. No firm public restart date appeared in late August or 1 September coverage. Plan for uncertainty on timing until your post sends new instructions.
Services still open
Nonimmigrant visas keep moving. F-1 student visa interviews continue. H-1B specialty occupation visas continue. L-1 intracompany transfer visas continue. B-1 and B-2 visitor visas continue. USCIS petition adjudications continue. Form I-485 adjustment of status inside the United States continues under separate procedures.
If you hold a pending I-485 inside the United States, the overseas interview pause does not stop your case. If you hold an approved immigrant petition and wait for a consular interview abroad, the pause does affect your next appointment date.
Next steps after a cancellation email
- Keep every email from your embassy or consulate in one folder.
- Do not discard your prior interview notice or DS-260 confirmation.
- Watch for a new appointment message from your post. No central public calendar lists restart dates yet.
- Confirm your contact email and phone remain current in the Consular Electronic Application Center profile.
- Prepare civil documents, police certificates, and medical exam materials so you stand ready when a new date arrives.
- Avoid booking nonrefundable travel until your post confirms a firm interview date in writing.
Your post controls the reschedule. Reach out only through channels your embassy or consulate already published for immigrant visa units. Flooding general visa unit contact lines slows responses for everyone.
Public charge factors officers review
Updated public-charge screening asks whether you appear likely to rely on U.S. public benefits after entry. Officers weigh age. Officers weigh health. Officers weigh family size and household composition. Officers weigh finances and assets. Officers weigh education. Officers weigh skills and work history. Bring clear evidence on each factor when your interview returns.
Strong financial sponsorship documents help. Recent employment letters help. Proof of education and licensed skills help. Medical records ready for review help. Organize packets by factor so the interviewing officer finds each item fast.
Separate from the 75-country court ruling
A federal court on 21 August 2026 struck down a different State Department policy. The struck policy had suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. The present worldwide pause stems from public-charge training. The pause does not flow from the 75-country suspension. Treat the court case and the training pause as two distinct events.
Related public charge dates ahead
DHS rescinded Biden-era public charge policy on 20 July 2026. USCIS released new public charge standards on 18 August 2026. New DHS public charge policy for adjustment of status takes effect on 18 September 2026. Form I-485 filers inside the United States should track the 18 September date for the adjustment path. Overseas immigrant visa applicants should track training completion and new interview notices from their posts.
Your next move depends on where your case sits. Abroad, wait for a replacement interview date and keep documents current. Inside the United States on Form I-485, follow USCIS public charge standards and the 18 September DHS rule for adjustment of status. Nonimmigrant applicants continue under normal visa appointment systems.
MigrantIQ will watch for a public restart announcement from the State Department. Until then, treat canceled immigrant visa interview dates as postponed, keep your file complete, and respond quickly once your post sends a new appointment.
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