US Immigrant Visa Pause and Interview Freeze: Status in 2026
From January 21, 2026, the State Department stopped issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries. A federal court in New York vacated that policy on August 21, 2026 (CLINIC v. Rubio), and the government has appealed. Four days later, on August 25, 2026, the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews worldwide for all nationalities to train officers on public charge guidance, and as of September 22, 2026 no official restart date had been announced.
On this page
- 75-country pause
- Began Jan 21, 2026; vacated Aug 21, 2026
- Court case
- CLINIC v. Rubio, Southern District of New York; on appeal to the Second Circuit
- Worldwide interview pause
- Since Aug 25, 2026, all nationalities
- Reason given
- Training consular officers on public charge guidance
- Restart date
- None announced as of Sept 22, 2026
- Not affected
- Temporary visas (B, F, J, H-1B, L-1) and green cards filed with USCIS in the US
- Separate restriction
- Travel ban on 39 countries still applies
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 21, 2026 | The State Department pauses immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, citing concern that applicants could rely on public benefits |
| Aug 21, 2026 | Judge Jeannette A. Vargas (S.D.N.Y.) vacates the 75-country pause in CLINIC v. Rubio, finding it exceeded the Secretary of State's authority |
| Late Aug 2026 | The government appeals to the Second Circuit; some embassies begin reprocessing cases refused under the pause |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Immigrant visa interviews are paused worldwide for public charge training; scheduled interviews are cancelled |
| Late Aug to Sept 2026 | The plaintiffs ask the court to enforce its ruling, arguing the worldwide pause works as a substitute for the vacated policy |
| Sept 18, 2026 | The DHS public charge rule takes effect for green card cases in the US |
| Mid-Sept 2026 | Scattered reports of individual posts resuming interviews; no official announcement |
The 75-country pause
The pause covered immigrant visas (family and employment green cards processed at US consulates) for nationals of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and Thailand. It did not cover temporary visas.
The court vacated the policy, meaning it was set aside as a whole, not only for the plaintiffs. The court reasoned that the law requires officers to decide each immigrant visa case on its own facts and bars nationality-based discrimination in issuing immigrant visas. The ruling stays in effect unless a higher court stays it. See our news on the ruling.
The worldwide interview pause
On August 25, 2026, the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews at embassies and consulates worldwide, for every nationality, so that consular officers could be trained on public charge guidance. Applicants with scheduled interviews received cancellations, with new dates to be set later.
- Still moving: pre-interview steps at the National Visa Center (fees, forms, and documents) and temporary visa interviews.
- Not affected: green card applications filed with USCIS inside the US (adjustment of status), although a May 2026 USCIS memo makes those more discretionary.
- K-1 fiancé(e)s: many posts process K visas in their immigrant visa units, so check with your consulate. See K-1 visa.
- DV-2026 selectees: diversity visas must be issued by September 30, 2026, so the pause cuts into a hard deadline. See DV lottery status.
What it means
- The 75-country pause can no longer be the reason for a refusal while the vacatur stands.
- In practice, few immigrant visas can be issued anywhere until interviews resume.
- When interviews restart, expect a stricter public charge review in line with the new DHS rule.
- Nationals of the 39 travel ban countries remain blocked by the proclamation, which is a separate legal track.
What to do now
- Watch your email and the consulate website for a new appointment. Do not travel to the consulate without a confirmed interview.
- Keep documents current. Medical exams, police certificates, and financial documents can expire while you wait.
- Strengthen your financial evidence and the Affidavit of Support. Our I-864 income calculator helps.
- If you are already in the US in valid status, ask a lawyer whether adjustment of status is possible for you.
- For urgent medical or humanitarian cases, ask the consulate about an expedited appointment.
- Talk to a licensed US immigration lawyer about your case, since the appeal and the pause can change quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Are US embassies processing immigrant visas right now?
Immigrant visa interviews have been paused worldwide since August 25, 2026. Pre-interview steps continue, and some posts reportedly resumed individual interviews in September, but no official restart date had been announced as of September 22, 2026.
Is the 75-country immigrant visa pause still in effect?
No. A federal court vacated it on August 21, 2026. The government has appealed, so this could change.
Does the pause affect tourist, student, or work visas?
No. Temporary visa interviews continue. The travel ban still limits some of them for nationals of 39 countries.
Does the pause affect green card applications inside the US?
No. Adjustment of status with USCIS is separate, though it is now more discretionary under a May 2026 USCIS memo.
I was refused because of the 75-country pause. What now?
Watch for messages from the consulate and National Visa Center. Some embassies began reprocessing those cases after the court ruling.
Official sources
- State Department: Visas Newstravel.state.gov
- State Department: The Immigrant Visa Processtravel.state.gov
- CLINIC: Federal Court Decision Vacating the 75-Country Visa Bancliniclegal.org
- Fragomen: State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwidefragomen.com
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.