EB-3 Visa Interview Suspended 2026: USCIS Vows to Cut Consular Green Card Backlog

USCIS has issued a response to USA Today confirming its awareness of the growing backlog in consular green card processing, particularly for I-130 petitions. While the agency expressed commitment to addressing the delays, the statement offered limited specifics on timelines or concrete remedies, leaving many applicants uncertain about when relief might materialize. The backlog has had real human consequences, with USA Today highlighting cases of couples being separated across borders due to stalled consular processing. The situation has been compounded by broader disruptions to visa interview scheduling that have affected applicants worldwide throughout 2026. For EB-3 applicants in the consular processing pipeline, this development underscores the importance of ensuring all documentation is complete and up to date while awaiting interview scheduling. Applicants should monitor the National Visa Center (NVC) portal for status updates and be prepared for continued delays. Immigration attorneys advise that applicants experiencing unusually long waits may consider submitting a case inquiry through the NVC or contacting their congressional representative's office for assistance. Keeping contact information current with NVC is also critical to avoid missing scheduling notifications. The acknowledgment from USCIS, while lacking specifics, signals that the agency is under public pressure to address the backlog. Advocacy groups and affected families continue to push for more transparent timelines and systemic solutions to the consular processing crisis.