The U.S. State Department has paused processing of immigrant visas (the pathway to permanent U.S. residency) while it retrains consular officers on new financial-eligibility guidance, delaying green card issuance for spouses, parents, siblings, and employer-sponsored applicants of U.S. citizens.
Applicants with interviews scheduled at U.S. embassies and consulates are being notified by email that their appointments are postponed, per The Wall Street Journal. The pause does not affect nonimmigrant visas for tourists, students, and temporary workers, and officials have not said how long the pause will last.
The new guidance falls under the administration’s “public charge” policy, which directs visa officers to weigh applicants’ net worth, education, English proficiency, and other factors to confirm new arrivals won’t need public benefits. London-based immigration attorney Melissa Chavin said she expects the pause to be temporary, though applicants from developing countries could face steeper hurdles under the revised standards.
The move echoes a similar pause the department imposed in January on immigrant visas from 75 countries, which lasted nearly eight months until a federal judge in New York ruled it unlawful earlier this month.
IAM Member Impact: Members supporting relocations tied to family or employer-sponsored U.S. immigrant visas (including relocating spouses, dependents, and sponsored professionals such as healthcare workers) should expect scheduling delays and advise clients to confirm interview status directly with their embassy or consulate. Nonimmigrant visa-based moves (work, study, tourism) remain unaffected for now, but members should watch for further guidance given the administration’s expanding use of financial and nationality-based screening.
Source: The Wall Street Journal