Immigrant Visa Interview Pause: What You Need to Know as of September 2026

The State Department’s worldwide pause on immigrant visa interviews has extended beyond its projected mid-September restart date, leaving many applicants in uncertainty. As of September 26, 2026, only U.S. missions in Hungary and Poland have officially resumed immigrant visa processing. This pause, implemented for a global training initiative on public-charge screening, has affected thousands of individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States.

Status of Immigrant Visa Interviews

The State Department announced the pause on August 25, 2026, stating that consular officers were undergoing training to ensure consistent application of public-charge standards. Initially, an official indicated that the pause would not extend past early to mid-September. However, as of late September, no worldwide restart date has been published, and only Hungary and Poland are confirmed to have restarted processing. While some law firms report anecdotal evidence of individual embassies resuming interviews, the department has not officially confirmed these.

The 75-Country Ban Ruling and Appeal

This training pause is distinct from the earlier 75-country visa ban, which was vacated by a federal judge on August 21, 2026. The government has appealed this ruling and stated that over 43,000 immigrant visa refusals fall under the vacated policy. The government filed a notice of appeal on September 10 and has requested a stay of the judgment. This legal battle adds another layer of complexity to the immigrant visa process.

What Has Changed and What Remains Unknown

Several facts are clear: the pause specifically targets immigrant visa interviews at overseas consulates and does not affect nonimmigrant visas like H-1B, F-1, or B-1/B-2. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to process Form I-485 adjustment of status applications within the United States, though these are now subject to a new DHS public-charge rule effective September 18. A canceled interview is not a denial, and applicants are not required to refile petitions or DS-260 forms.

However, much remains unknown. The duration of the training, the specific posts that have resumed interviews, the order in which the backlog will be processed, and the impact of the new training on interview outcomes are all unclear. Additionally, the outcome of the government’s stay request and the ongoing appeal of the 75-country ban ruling are yet to be determined.

Who is Affected by the Pause

The immigrant visa interview pause most significantly impacts family-based immigrants, including spouses, parents, children, and siblings of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Employment-based applicants opting for consular processing and Diversity Visa (DV) selectees are also affected.

Key Applicant Groups and Considerations

• Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (Consular Processing): These applicants should monitor for rescheduling notices from their respective consulates. Special attention should be paid to child age-out dates, as delays can affect eligibility.
• Family Preference (F1 to F4, Consular Processing): For these applicants, their priority date must remain current according to the Visa Bulletin when their rescheduled interview eventually takes place.
• Employment-Based (Consular Processing): The movement of priority dates in the October Visa Bulletin will be critical for these applicants once interviews resume.
• Diversity Visa DV-2026 Selectees: A critical deadline looms for DV-2026 selectees. All DV visas must be issued by September 30, 2026, as unused numbers do not carry over. Those with canceled interviews should contact their consulate in writing immediately.
• Form I-485 Applicants at USCIS: These applicants are not directly affected by the overseas interview pause but must comply with the new DHS public-charge rule for filings made after September 18.
• Nonimmigrant Visas (H-1B, F-1, B-1/B-2): These visa categories are not impacted by the pause, and normal post scheduling continues.

Critical Deadlines

Two deadlines are particularly urgent for certain applicants:

1. DV-2026 Visas: As mentioned, DV-2026 visas must be issued by September 30, 2026. Any DV-2026 selectee with a canceled interview should proactively contact their consulate in writing and retain proof of their communication.
2. Children Approaching Age 21: Derivative children who are nearing their 21st birthday risk “aging out” and losing eligibility. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may preserve their eligibility, but this often depends on when a visa number became available and the petition’s processing time. Families in this situation should seek legal advice and document all efforts to pursue the visa.

Additionally, the validity of supporting documents like medical exams and police certificates can expire. Applicants should review the expiration dates of their documents and plan for potential renewals if interviews are significantly delayed.

Navigating the Rescheduling Process

Typically, the National Visa Center (NVC) manages document collection and case qualification before an interview is scheduled, either by the NVC or the embassy. When an interview is canceled due to the pause, the case remains in the queue. New appointment notices are usually sent via email and appear in the applicant’s online case record. These notices can sometimes arrive with short lead times, making it essential for applicants to check their communications regularly. Missing a rescheduled appointment can result in losing a slot that may take a long time to reappear.

Steps to Take While Waiting

While the restart date is beyond an applicant’s control, proactive preparation can be beneficial:

1. Monitor Case Status and Email Daily: Regularly check the Consular Electronic Application Center case record and the email address associated with the DS-260 form, including spam folders, for new appointment notices.
2. Review Post-Specific Updates: Embassy and consulate websites often provide local scheduling updates that may differ from general announcements.
3. DV-2026 Selectees: Act Before September 30: Contact the consulate in writing about canceled interviews and keep records of all communications.
4. Address Imminent Age-Out Risks: Consult with an attorney to calculate CSPA age and meticulously document all actions taken to pursue the visa. Inform the consulate if a child is close to aging out.
5. Check Document Expiry Dates: Review the validity of medical exams, police certificates, passports, and financial evidence, and replace any documents nearing expiration within the next few months.
6. Strengthen Public-Charge Evidence: Prepare a robust Form I-864 affidavit of support, including current tax returns, employment verification, and proof of assets, to address potential public-charge concerns.

In urgent situations, such as for DV-2026 selectees or children nearing age 21, inquiries made through congressional offices can sometimes prompt a response from the State Department or a consulate, though this does not guarantee an appointment.

Future Developments

The resumption of immigrant visa interviews will be influenced by several factors. These include any official announcement from the State Department regarding the completion of training and the worldwide restart of scheduling. The court’s decision on the government’s stay request in the CLINIC v. Rubio case will determine whether over 43,000 refusals under the 75-country policy must be reviewed. Finally, the October 2026 Visa Bulletin will dictate which preference categories are eligible for interviews once scheduling resumes.

Frequently Asked Questions