A newly released diplomatic cable from the United States Department of State outlines how U.S. consular posts worldwide have been instructed to process cases affected by a pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries.
According to immigration attorney Akua Poku, the directive clarifies procedures for handling visa applications following the policy change that took effect on Jan. 21, 2026.
The visa issuance pause remains in place “until further notice” while U.S. authorities review screening procedures tied to the Public Charge Rule, which assesses whether a visa applicant may become primarily dependent on government assistance.
Interviews to Continue Despite Pause
Under the guidance in the cable, consular officers have been told not to cancel scheduled immigrant visa interviews for applicants from the affected countries. Instead, interviews may proceed as scheduled while officers review applicants for potential grounds of ineligibility.
During the process, consular officers must evaluate all applicable eligibility standards, including whether an applicant could be deemed a “public charge.” If officers determine that an applicant is likely to become a public charge, the visa may be refused under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(a)(4).
However, if no other grounds for ineligibility are found, officers must refuse the application under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 221(g) and place the case into administrative processing while additional screening tools are developed.
Overlap With Existing Travel Restrictions
The cable also addresses cases involving applicants from countries subject to both the immigrant visa pause and the existing travel ban affecting 39 nations.
In those situations, consular officers are instructed to apply the travel restrictions first under Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(f). If an applicant does not qualify for an exemption, the visa is refused under that authority.
If the applicant qualifies for an exception to the travel ban, the immigrant visa pause still prevents the case from moving forward. Officers must then issue a refusal under Section 221(g), placing the application into administrative processing.
Impact on Pending and Approved Visas
The cable further clarifies that immigrant visas already issued before the pause remain valid for travel. However, visas that were approved but not yet printed must be reopened and refused under Section 221(g) until the pause is lifted.
Poku noted that the guidance effectively means some applicants may pass one stage of eligibility only to encounter another procedural refusal while the visa pause remains in effect.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the immigrant visa issuance pause may be lifted. Until then, affected cases are expected to remain in administrative processing as federal authorities continue reviewing screening policies.
