US Government Suspends Global Immigrant Visa Interviews; Media Report Many Applicants Blocked

According to reports by New Tang Dynasty Television and The Epoch Times, the Trump administration has suspended immigrant visa interview appointments globally. The US Department of State stated on August 26, 2026, local time, that the move aims to train visa officers on the new rules assessing applicants' financial capacity, while non-immigrant visas are unaffected.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, immigration agents disclosed on social media that the US Consulate General in Guangzhou suddenly canceled all immigrant visa interviews for that week on August 25. Some applicants who had already arrived in Guangzhou or at the consulate site temporarily received rescheduling notices. The agent stated that cancellations on this scale are relatively rare.

According to an AFP report, a US State Department spokesperson confirmed that existing immigrant visa interview appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the training schedule. Although officials did not give a clear resumption date, an anonymous official disclosed that resuming interviews could take several weeks, with specific progress depending on the location of each embassy or consulate.

The Wall Street Journal reported that London-based US immigration attorney Melissa Chavin expects the suspension to be temporary. However, Chavin also pointed out that under the new rule, applicants from developing countries may face more difficulties in advancing their visa process in the future, and screening standards could be stricter.

The report also mentioned that refusal rates for various US visas have shown an upward trend in recent years. Data shows that the refusal rate for the F-1 student visa in the non-immigrant category reached a ten-year high of about 35% last year, while H-1B skilled worker visa applicants also face more frequent additional screening and delays during consular interviews.

Currently Known

• The US Department of State announced the suspension of all global immigrant visa interview appointments on August 26, 2026.
• The main reason for this suspension is to train visa officers on the new rules related to "public charge".
• Non-immigrant visas (such as tourism, study, business, and temporary work visas) are not affected by this suspension.

Not Yet Confirmed

• The exact dates for US consulates worldwide to resume immigrant visa interviews have not yet been announced.
• The scale of the cancellation of all immigrant visa interviews at the US Consulate General in Guangzhou and the specific number of affected applicants have not been independently confirmed.
• The specific impact of the new policy on visa refusal rates for applicants from developing countries remains to be seen.

Sources

• New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) — Original Report: US halts global immigrant visas, Chinese applicants talk about their experiences
• 2026-08-27 00:00 UTC

• The information in this case originates from reports translated by New Tang Dynasty Television and The Epoch Times, and cites content from the South China Morning Post, AFP, and The Wall Street Journal.
• Some specific details about the Guangzhou Consulate General canceling interviews come from anonymous agent posts on the Chinese social media platform "Xiaohongshu" (Little Red Book) and have not been independently confirmed by US officials.

Last updated: 2026-08-27 16:24 UTC