U.S. Immigrant Visa Interviews Rescheduled Worldwide: What Applicants Should Know
- ARCFE U.S.
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
U.S. immigrant visa interviews are being rescheduled at embassies and consulates worldwide while the State Department conducts a global training initiative for consular officers.
According to Reuters, the training focuses on consistent visa screening, including whether an applicant may become a public charge. The State Department has not announced how long the training will last or when affected interviews will resume.
A canceled or rescheduled interview does not, by itself, mean that the underlying petition or visa application has been denied.
Who Is Affected?
The immediate impact falls on applicants completing the Green Card process outside the United States through consular processing. This may include family-sponsored and employment-based applicants, including EB-5 investors scheduled for immigrant visa interviews abroad.
The current change does not represent a blanket suspension of visitor, student or temporary work visas. It also does not directly affect Form I-485 adjustment-of-status applications processed by USCIS inside the United States.
ARCFE’s guide to adjustment of status and consular processing explains how these two Green Card routes differ.
What Applicants in India Should Watch
Immigrant visa processing in India is handled through the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai. Applicants should monitor their registered email address, CEAC account and any notice from the National Visa Center or consulate.
The Mumbai immigrant visa instructions should be reviewed before attending an interview. If an appointment has been moved, applicants should not travel based on the original date.
This distinction may be especially important for families whose members are in different locations. An investor living in India may use consular processing, while an eligible family member already in the United States may follow a different procedure. Immigration counsel should review each person’s eligibility and timing individually.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
Follow official notices. Check email, spam folders and CEAC regularly. Use the State Department’s NVC contact page if clarification is needed.
Keep travel plans flexible. Avoid nonrefundable flights, hotels or other major expenses until a replacement date is confirmed.
Continue preparing documents. Keep civil and financial records current, but confirm the timing of medical examinations with the consulate or immigration counsel.
A Separate USCIS Public Charge Update
Separately, USCIS issued new public charge guidance on August 18, 2026. It takes effect September 18 and applies to certain Form I-485 applications postmarked or electronically submitted on or after that date.
USCIS may consider an applicant’s age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and other relevant evidence. Certain means-tested public benefits received on or after September 18 may also be considered. Decisions will continue to be based on the applicant’s overall circumstances rather than one factor alone.
The USCIS guidance and the State Department’s consular training are separate developments. One concerns adjustment of status inside the United States; the other affects visa processing abroad.
Where EB-5 Fits
For Indian and other international families considering EB-5, the appropriate route depends on where each applicant lives, current immigration status, visa availability and individual eligibility.
The latest interview changes do not make one route universally better than the other. They do reinforce the importance of reviewing consular processing and adjustment-of-status options before making major education, employment or travel plans.
ARCFE can help qualified investors understand the EB-5 investment process, available project structures and current investment opportunities. Immigration counsel should determine the appropriate legal and filing strategy.
To learn more about ARCFE’s experience and investment approach, or to evaluate whether EB-5 may fit your family’s immigration plans, request a confidential consultation with the ARCFE team.
Speak with our EB-5 specialist and learn how the program can help you achieve permanent residency. Complete the form and our team member will give you a call back.
Related ARCFE Resources
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax or investment advice. Visa procedures and government guidance may change.
