The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to postpone immigrant visa interviews while consular officers complete training on new public charge guidance. Applications that have reached the interview stage are now paused.
The Department of State told diplomatic posts to reschedule immigrant visa interviews until officers finish training on how to evaluate whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge.
"In early August, we launched a global training initiative at all of our embassies and consulates worldwide. To accommodate this in-depth training, appointments for visa services will be adjusted," a State Department official said in a statement to Financial Times. The official added that the training is intended to ensure evaluations of visa applicants are made "comprehensively and consistently."
For most posts, the training sessions are expected to take place this week. The Department did not say when affected applicants would be told their new interview dates.
Applicants received emails telling them their interviews had been cancelled. The emails did not include rescheduling instructions or a timeline for when a new date would be communicated.
There is no published start date, no published end date, and no stated criteria for who is rescheduled first. The pause is being implemented through instructions to posts and emails to applicants, not public notice.
According to the State Department, a public charge is a person who becomes primarily dependent on the government for sustenance. In practice, this means relying on public cash assistance for basic income or needing long-term institutional care paid for by the government.
Consular officers are directed to consider all aspects of an application, including age, health, family status, financial status, education and skills, and current or past use of U.S. public benefits.
First, the pause affects immigrant visa applicants processing through consular posts abroad. Anyone with an approved Form I-140 who is applying overseas rather than adjusting status in the U.S. is affected.
This includes EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) and EB-2 (National Interest Waiver) applicants. Because the pause applies across all immigrant visa categories, self-petitioned or cap-exempt pathways are not exempted.
Second, consular officers must review an applicant's education and skills as part of the public charge evaluation. Employment-based applicants usually have strong backgrounds in these areas, which works in their favor.
Here is our take on what this means behind the scenes, different from official statements.
First, timing is critical with the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Unused visa numbers do not roll over. The September 2026 Visa Bulletin warned about limited availability, especially for EB-2 visas. Pausing interviews during the final five weeks cuts consular capacity right when these visas must be issued. The Department of State has not made this connection, but the timing is hard to ignore.
Second, this training comes as broader policy changes are taking effect. A DHS rule reversing the 2022 public charge regulations takes effect on September 18, 2026. The timing of this global staff training suggests U.S. posts may be preparing for changes in how these rules are applied, even though officials describe it as a consistency measure.
Third, self-petitioners face a different challenge. EB-1A and EB-2 NIW applicants generally cannot submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, because they lack a sponsoring relative or family-owned business. Unlike family-based applicants, who can use a sponsor to address financial concerns, self-petitioners must rely on their own circumstances and eligibility.
If your interview was cancelled or you are approaching the interview stage, we recommend reviewing your financial evidence with immigration counsel now while waiting for a reschedule notice.
It remains unclear whether nonimmigrant visa appointments are affected.
Most reports focus specifically on immigrant visas, while official statements mention visa services more broadly without clarifying the scope. Although some outlets have reported cancellations of nonimmigrant appointments, official sources have not confirmed these claims.
This uncertainty directly impacts O-1 and L-1 visa holders who need consular appointments to renew or get their visa stamps. If you fall into this category, check directly with your local embassy or consulate for updates on your appointment status.
