The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has paused immigrant visa processing for many applicants due to overlapping travel bans and policy reviews. This situation affects nationals from 75 countries and individuals holding Palestinian Authority documents, leading to uncertainty about whether to proceed with scheduled interviews.
Key Details:
- Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective January 1, 2026, suspends immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries.
- DOS’s pause on immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries began on January 21, 2026, while reviewing public charge policies.
- Despite the pauses, DOS continues to schedule interviews for applicants deemed “documentarily complete” at the National Visa Center (NVC).
- Mixed outcomes reported at interviews include INA §212(f) refusals, 221(g) refusals, and some approvals for National Interest Exceptions.
The ongoing confusion impacts families and their attorneys as they navigate whether to attend interviews now or delay further action. Maintaining activity with the NVC is crucial to avoid termination of applications.
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Source: Jennifer Bade, Esq.