Applicants for immigrant visas to the United States have been facing a wave of appointment postponements at U.S. diplomatic missions over the past several days.
First reported by the New York Times and later detailed by the Financial Times, the measure was confirmed by the U.S. State Department to Reuters overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
At the same time as the administration could revoke as many as 200,000 B1/B2 visas, U.S. officials say a worldwide training initiative has been launched across all U.S. embassies and consulates, requiring temporary adjustments to visa service appointments.
Interviews canceled or postponed, sometimes at the last minute
The effects of the pause are already being felt by many prospective immigrants.
According to the Financial Times, immigrant visa applicants who already had interviews scheduled at U.S. embassies and consulates have received emails informing them that their appointments had been rescheduled, in some cases without immediately being given a new date.
Reports posted since August 24 also illustrate the geographic scope of the disruption. Applicants say they have received notices concerning interviews scheduled in Hong Kong, Manila, Nairobi, Santo Domingo, Ciudad Juárez and Seoul. Other reports have emerged from Ankara, Guatemala City and Dhaka.
In several of these messages, applicants are told that their “Immigrant Visa appointment has been rescheduled.” They are instructed not to appear at the consular section and to wait for an email confirming a new appointment date.
In Hong Kong, for example, an applicant whose interview was scheduled for August 31 said they received the notice on August 25. In Nairobi, another applicant reported that an interview also scheduled for August 31 had been postponed. Similar accounts have been posted by applicants with appointments in Manila on August 27, Santo Domingo on August 28 and Seoul on August 28.
Training focused in part on the “public charge” standard
The pause is intended in part to allow consular officers to undergo more extensive training on application reviews and the U.S. “public charge” standard.
Under U.S. immigration law, an applicant can be found inadmissible if authorities determine that the person is likely to become dependent on certain public benefits after immigrating to the United States.
The State Department says the worldwide training initiative is intended to ensure that visa applicants are assessed more comprehensively and consistently.
The move comes amid a broader tightening of immigration-related screening. On August 5, 2026, the State Department announced a program allowing consular officers to require certain immigrant visa applicants to post a Public Charge Bond.
In some cases, this financial bond can allow an applicant to overcome an inadmissibility finding under Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which covers the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
The State Department says the measure is currently being used as part of a pilot program and that applicants who are required to post a bond will be notified directly by a consular officer.
How long will the pause last?
The State Department has not specified how long the worldwide disruption will continue.
Officials say appointments are currently being adjusted to accommodate the expanded training, but no general date has been announced for normal scheduling to resume.
Initial reports show that several of the postponed interviews had been scheduled for the final days of August. However, there is not yet enough information to conclude that normal operations will resume at the beginning of September.
Applicants with interviews scheduled in the coming days should therefore closely monitor their email and any communications from the U.S. embassy or consulate handling their case before traveling to their appointment.
An appointment pause, not a suspension of all U.S. visas
The scope of the measure should be distinguished from a blanket suspension of U.S. visa issuance.
The Financial Times describes a pause in immigrant visa applications worldwide, while Reuters reports a temporary pause in visa appointments to allow consular officers to complete the training.
In its comments to the media, the State Department has used more measured language, saying visa service appointments are being “adjusted” during the training period.
The measure therefore does not mean that immigrant visas that have already been issued are no longer valid. It does, however, mean postponed consular interviews and potentially longer processing times for applicants who were approaching the final stages of their immigration process.
Travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries, including British, Australian, Japanese and other eligible nationals visiting the United States for short tourism or business trips under ESTA, are not affected by the immigrant visa process currently experiencing these postponements.
VisasNews Take
The “pause” reported by several major international news outlets is now having visible effects on the ground, with immigrant visa applicants reporting cancellation or rescheduling notices from multiple U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. So far, however, the State Department has announced neither a specific end date for the disruption nor a blanket suspension of U.S. visa issuance.
