The past few weeks have brought significant changes for people who are completing immigration processes to the United States through U.S. embassies and consulates.
Two different situations have occurred in sequence—and their proximity has caused considerable confusion.
First, a court ruling struck down the policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries.
A few days later, immigrant visa interviews began to be canceled or rescheduled at various consular posts around the world during a new operational pause.
These are distinct measures.
Understanding this difference is important to know what has actually changed and how each process may be affected.
Situation as of September 3, 2026
Suspension related to the 75 countries: ended since August 21
Immigrant visa interviews: still subject to cancellations and rescheduling
Scope of the operational pause: global
Reported reason: training of consular officers on public charge assessments
General resumption date: not yet announced
Nonimmigrant visas: no indication that they are part of this specific pause
Adjustment of Status in the United States: not subject to the consular interview pause
The 75-Country Suspension Has Ended
In January 2026, the Department of State adopted a policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries.
The list included countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe, and other regions—including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Uruguay, and various other nationalities.
On August 21, 2026, in the case Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. et al. v. Rubio et al., a federal court struck down that policy.
The Department of State subsequently officially confirmed that, as of August 21, the 75-country suspension is no longer in effect.
This is significant because that policy was based directly on the applicant’s nationality.
But the end of that restriction did not mean an immediate return to normalcy for all consular processing.
So Why Are Interviews Still Being Canceled?
This is a second situation.
Immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates have been temporarily canceled or postponed during a global operational pause.
According to reported information about the measure, the Department of State is conducting training with consular officers related to public charge assessments.
As of September 3, no official duration for this pause or a general date for the resumption of all interviews had been announced.
Applicants who had scheduled interviews have begun receiving communications informing them that their appointments would be rescheduled.
Therefore, the current situation can be summarized as follows:
The restriction based on the 75 nationalities has ended, but immigrant visa interviews have not yet fully returned to normal.
Who May Be Affected?
The issue is especially relevant for people who are completing permanent residence through consular processing, that is, outside the United States.
Depending on the case, this may involve processes based on:
- employment;
- family;
- investment;
- immigrant preference categories;
- other classifications that use an immigrant visa for entry into the United States as a permanent resident.
The main point is no longer the nationality included in the old 75-country list.
The current operational pause has been reported as a global measure related to immigrant visa interviews.
Is My I-130 or I-140 Also Paused?
Not necessarily.
An I-130 or I-140 petition is typically processed by USCIS, while the immigrant visa interview abroad occurs later within consular processing.
These are different stages.
Similarly, cases that are still at the National Visa Center (NVC) may continue to undergo administrative activities prior to the interview.
Available information indicates that pre-interview processing should continue, unless specific guidance states otherwise.
Therefore, receiving the news that interviews are temporarily paused does not automatically mean that all stages of the process are also halted.
What About Those Doing Adjustment of Status?
For eligible individuals who are in the United States and are pursuing permanent residence through Adjustment of Status, typically via Form I-485, the situation is different.
This process is administered by USCIS and does not depend on the immigrant visa interview conducted at an embassy or consulate abroad.
As of now, there is no general pause in Adjustment of Status adjudications resulting from this consular pause.
This does not mean that other rules or administrative changes cannot affect USCIS processes.
It simply means they are different systems and should not be confused.
What About Temporary Visas?
The currently reported pause is related to immigrant visas.
Visas such as B-1/B-2, F-1, H-1B, L-1, O-1, and E-2 are nonimmigrant categories, and there is no indication at this time that they are included in this same operational pause.
This does not prevent a specific embassy or consulate from having schedule changes or other policies affecting certain categories.
What Is Public Charge?
The concept of public charge has been part of U.S. immigration law for many years.
In certain situations, authorities must assess whether an applicant may be considered inadmissible based on the likelihood of becoming a public charge in the United States.
This analysis considers the applicant’s circumstances as a whole and may involve factors such as age, health, family situation, financial resources, education, and skills.
The Department of State has also recently implemented procedures that allow, in certain situations, the use of Public Charge Bonds for some immigrant visa applicants.
Therefore, public charge should not be understood as a simple rule based on a single piece of financial information or on the receipt of a particular benefit.
The assessment depends on applicable rules and the specific circumstances of each case.
My Interview Was Canceled. Does That Mean There’s a Problem with My Case?
Not necessarily.
A cancellation or rescheduling resulting from this operational pause does not, by itself, mean that the visa was denied or that there is any specific problem with the case.
Those who receive such a communication should keep the message and closely follow the instructions from the responsible consular post.
While waiting, it is generally prudent to continue monitoring:
- the email used in the process;
- communications from the embassy or consulate;
- messages from the NVC, when applicable;
- validity of documents that may be needed later;
- new official guidance on rescheduling.
It is also important to avoid buying tickets or assuming that a particular interview will take place without updated confirmation from the consulate.
Attention: Diversity Visa Has Its Own Guidance
Applicants for the Diversity Visa (DV) program need to observe a separate rule.
On August 31, the Department of State published new guidance again suspending the issuance of Diversity Visas, although interviews may continue to be conducted and scheduled.
Therefore, DV applicants should not assume that the general rules described in this article fully represent the situation for that category.
Can the Situation Still Change?
Yes.
The court case that struck down the 75-country policy still has ongoing issues, and immigration policies can change through new court decisions, regulations, or administrative measures.
The court decision itself set new procedural steps for September.
Therefore, it is important to always distinguish between:
a court decision;
an administrative policy;
an operational pause;
a regulatory change;
and an individual decision on a particular application.
They can produce very different effects.
What Meridian Global Mobility Is Monitoring
Meridian Global Mobility monitors updates that may interfere with the planning and execution of mobility projects to the United States.
At this time, among the relevant points are:
- the resumption of consular immigrant visa interviews;
- new announcements from the Department of State;
- changes related to the application of public charge;
- procedures of USCIS and the National Visa Center;
- court decisions with potential impact on ongoing cases;
- changes in deadlines and document requirements.
When a change affects a project monitored by MGM, the team can assess its administrative and operational impacts within the scope of the service.
When legal analysis, immigration strategy definition, or representation is needed, these activities are conducted by duly qualified partner attorneys.
Have an Ongoing Process?
In an immigration environment subject to frequent changes, knowing the category of the process is only part of the necessary organization.
It is also important to understand at what stage it is, which agency is responsible at that moment, and whether a particular change actually affects that case.
Meridian Global Mobility assists in structuring, organizing, and monitoring international mobility projects.
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Important Notice
This content is for informational purposes only and considers information available as of September 3, 2026. It does not constitute legal advice or a determination of eligibility or immigration strategy.
When the service requires legal analysis, guidance, or representation, these activities are conducted by duly qualified partner attorneys, according to the scope of each case.