Weekly Immigration News Roundup: March 23 – Consular Closures Continue

Multiple U.S. consulates continue to suspend operations due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, significantly impacting visa processing timelines for applicants worldwide. The U.S. embassy in Muscat, Oman has partially resumed operations, offering limited immigrant and emergency nonimmigrant visa services, but all other affected locations remain paused. For EB-3 applicants who have cases pending at impacted consulates, this disruption means continued delays in immigrant visa interviews and issuance. Those awaiting consular processing — rather than adjustment of status — face an indefinite hold on their final steps toward permanent residence. Applicants are advised to monitor the U.S. Department of State's travel and consular services website for updates on when specific embassies and consulates may resume normal operations. Those with urgent humanitarian or emergency travel needs may still be able to seek limited services at select locations. This situation underscores the importance of understanding whether your case is proceeding through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status within the United States, as the latter remains unaffected by consulate closures.