2026 Ebola Alert: U.S. Visa Services Suspended at Embassies in South Sudan, DRC & Uganda

Effective May 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has temporarily suspended consular processing at American embassies and consular posts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. The suspension is a direct response to an active Ebola outbreak in the region and is intended to protect both embassy staff and visa applicants. The pause covers all visa categories — both nonimmigrant and immigrant — that require an in-person appointment at an affected post. This includes employment-based immigrant visas such as EB-3, which require a consular interview for applicants who are not already in the United States pursuing adjustment of status. For EB-3 applicants currently in these countries awaiting a consular interview, this means appointments will not be scheduled or honored until the State Department lifts the suspension. No official timeline has been given for when normal operations will resume, as it is dependent on the public health situation on the ground. Importantly, USCIS domestic processing — including I-485 adjustment of status petitions filed by applicants already in the United States — is not affected by this suspension. Applicants in the U.S. pursuing adjustment of status can continue to expect normal processing timelines. Applicants with pending visa appointments at the affected posts should monitor official U.S. Embassy websites and the State Department's travel advisories for updates on when services will resume. Contacting an immigration attorney is advisable for those facing time-sensitive immigration deadlines.