US Suspends Visa Interviews Worldwide 2026: EB-3 Applicants Face Delays as State Dept Trains on Public Charge Rules

The U.S. Department of State has temporarily suspended immigrant visa interview appointments at embassies and consulates worldwide as consular officers undergo enhanced training on new public charge screening guidance. The pause affects applicants across family-based, employment-based (including EB-3), and Diversity Visa categories. Nonimmigrant visa categories such as H-1B, L-1, F-1, and B-1/B-2 remain unaffected, as do pending adjustment of status applications filed within the United States. Applicants with previously scheduled interviews are receiving email notifications that their appointments have been postponed and will be rescheduled, though the State Department has not provided a timeline for when interviews will resume or how quickly cases will be rebooked. This uncertainty creates challenges for EB-3 applicants who are at the consular processing stage of their green card journey. The pause follows a series of significant policy shifts in 2026. On July 20, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded the Biden-era public charge policy. On August 18, USCIS released updated public charge standards. Then on August 21, a federal district court vacated the State Department's earlier suspension of immigrant visa issuance to nationals from seventy-five countries—a ruling that may have contributed to the need for new consular training. Under the public charge ground of inadmissibility, consular officers may deny an immigrant visa if an applicant is deemed likely to become dependent on government benefits. Officers weigh factors including age, health, finances, education, skills, employment prospects, and English proficiency. The State Department has also begun piloting public charge bonds in select cases, though details on updated adjudication standards have not been publicly released. EB-3 applicants and their sponsoring employers should monitor consular communications closely and assess how interview delays may affect overall case timelines. Those with time-sensitive situations—such as expiring job offers, visa status deadlines, or travel obligations—should consult with immigration counsel to evaluate available options, including whether adjustment of status within the U.S. may be a viable alternative to consular processing.