Immigrant Visa Interview Pause Continues as Consulates Issue New Public Charge Guidance

By John W. Lawit and Madeline Carles, Paralegal 

Authors’ Note: John W. Lawit is an attorney at law. Madeline Carles is a paralegal and not a practicing attorney. This article is written for educational purposes and informational purposes, and does not constitute legal advice.

Key Summary:

• The U.S. State Department’s worldwide pause on immigrant visa interviews, which began in August 2026, remains in effect with no official resumption date announced.
• The temporary halt was implemented to allow consular officers to complete mandatory training on updated public charge inadmissibility standards
• While interviews remain paused, some consulates have begun issuing an “Immigrant Visa Interview Preparation Addendum” to provide applicants with guidance on the forthcoming public charge questions.
• The new, fact-intensive review process will apply to all applicants, including EB-5 and employment-based categories, which are not exempt from the scrutiny.

Interview Delays Persist

Two months after the State Department first directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to pause and reschedule immigrant visa interviews, the delays are still firmly in place. The global halt was initiated in August 2026 to ensure that all consular officers undergo comprehensive training on the public charge ground of inadmissibility, which aligns with recent changes to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) framework. The new DHS rule, which rescinded the 2022 public charge regulations, officially took effect on September 18, 2026.

Consulates Share New Interview Preparation Addendum

While the State Department has not announced an exact date for when normal scheduling will resume, some consulates are proactively sharing an “Immigrant Visa Interview Preparation Addendum” with practitioners and applicants. This guidance outlines the types of highly fact-intensive public charge and financial self-sufficiency questions that consular officers may ask during their interviews.

According to the addendum, inquiries will primarily cover seven areas:

• Housing: Details on where the applicant will reside, who will live with them, and plans for securing housing if it has not yet been arranged.
• Employment and Career Plans: The intended type of work, the applicant’s qualifications, required licensing or certification, projected first-year income, and how the family will be supported if the applicant does not begin working immediately.
• Health Insurance and Medical Care: Coverage plans for each family member, anticipated monthly premiums, and how ongoing treatments for any existing medical conditions will be financed.
• Household Circumstances: The number of individuals the applicant supports, other working adults within the household, and any dependents requiring long-term care.
• Income, Assets, and Obligations: A review of savings, investments, real estate, debts, and the overall strategy for covering living expenses in the United States.
• Public Benefits: Any past or current receipt of public assistance, as well as any history of institutionalization at the government’s expense.
• Joint Sponsors: Information regarding joint sponsors (applicable exclusively to family-based cases).

The addendum explicitly notes that these sample questions are strictly illustrative. Depending on the specific circumstances of each application, consular officers maintain the discretion to ask different or additional questions.

Preparation Strategies and Ongoing Requirements

Because answers provided during the interview must be entirely truthful and consistent with the DS-260, the underlying petition, and supporting documents, applicants are encouraged to use this extended pause to prepare meticulously for these new inquiries. Applicants may wish to identify and explain any material changes or inconsistencies ahead of time. It is also recommended to gather current evidence of assets, income, housing plans, and expected health insurance premiums to directly address the specific topics outlined in the consular addendum.

For those currently waiting for an appointment, cases will eventually move forward under these updated case-specific adjudication standards. While the pause continues, applicants remain subject to all other statutory criteria and should expect:

• Heightened scrutiny regarding financial self-sufficiency and the credibility of joint sponsors.
• Continued monitoring of communications from their specific consular post.
• Recommendations to avoid making permanent travel or relocation plans until a confirmed interview date is set.
• Mandatory background checks, updated medical examinations, and security screenings once processing resumes.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies can change, and individuals should consult with a qualified immigration attorney regarding their specific circumstances. If you have questions, please call John W. Lawit, LLC at 214-609-2242.