U.S. State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Applications
It couldn’t be immediately determined how long the pause will last, as officers receive training on guidance for vetting applicants
By Gareth Vipers and Michelle Hackman Updated Aug. 26, 2026 10:04 am ET
The Trump administration has paused processing of immigrant visas, which allow recipients to move permanently to the U.S., to train visa officers on new guidance ensuring that applicants have enough financial means to support themselves after they arrive.
Immigrant visa applicants with interviews scheduled at U.S. embassies and consulates have been notified by email that their appointments are being postponed. Applicants for immigrant visas most commonly include spouses, parents and siblings of U.S. citizens, as well as some people sponsored by U.S.-based employers, such as foreign nurses to work at underserved hospitals. Foreigners on immigrant visas are granted green cards upon arrival.
