US Pauses All Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide

The State Department canceled immigrant visa interviews at every US embassy and consulate in the world in early August 2026. Applicants who already had scheduled appointments received emails saying their interviews were rescheduled — with no new date given. The agency confirmed the pause is part of a global training initiative to teach consular officers how to screen applicants more strictly.

Why the government says it's doing this

State Department officials say the goal is to make sure visa applicants will not become a "public charge" — meaning someone who relies on US government assistance like Medicaid or food stamps. Officers are being trained to evaluate every applicant "comprehensively and consistently," according to the agency. But immigration lawyers say the real-world cost falls on applicants who already paid for flights, took time off work, and arranged childcare — only to have their appointments pulled at the last minute. Brian Simmons, an attorney at immigration law firm Fragomen in Washington, told the Financial Times that many applicants "spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their lives to attend scheduled interviews, only to have their appointments cancelled at the last minute."

Part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration

This pause is not happening in isolation. The Trump administration also announced this week plans to revoke visas from asylum seekers who originally entered the US on tourist or business visas. Up to 200,000 people currently in asylum proceedings could be affected — which would be the largest mass visa revocation in US history. That action is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security. Separately, a federal judge struck down a related policy on August 22, 2026, that had suspended immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, ruling it exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's legal authority. Joanna Cuevas Ingram, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, said after that ruling: "The court made clear that immigration laws cannot be used to justify discrimination." Visa applicants have also faced new social media reviews and higher processing costs under the current administration, according to the Associated Press.

What to do

• Check the email address you used for your visa application — the embassy will send rescheduling information there. Do not assume your interview is still on.
• Keep all receipts for flights, hotels, or other costs you paid for a canceled interview. Lawyers say documenting these expenses may matter if legal challenges succeed.
• Do not rebook travel until you receive a confirmed new interview date directly from the embassy or consulate.
• Consult an immigration attorney, especially if your visa application involves a family reunification petition (Form I-130) or you are close to a deadline tied to your current status.

What to do, step by step — see our guide “H-1B Visa: From Application to Approval”.