Immigrant Visa Interviews Suspended for Two Weeks — Visa Officer Training and Public Charge Screening

Beginning August 24, immigrant M visa interviews at U.S. consulates worldwide have reportedly been suspended for approximately two weeks.

The current situation appears to be as follows:

• This adjustment primarily affects immigrant M visa interviews.

• Recently, the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou canceled a number of immigrant M visa interviews that had already been scheduled. Applicants who received cancellation notices will need to wait for the Consulate to reschedule their interviews.

• The likely reason is increased scrutiny of the public charge requirement and tighter review of immigrant M visa applications.

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This is because many applicants—for example, parents of U.S. citizens who immigrate to the United States—may subsequently apply for certain public benefits, such as food assistance or government-funded health insurance. As a result, the United States appears to be significantly increasing its scrutiny of the public charge issue.

Previously, public charge review primarily focused on whether the U.S. sponsor had sufficient income and had properly filed tax returns. Going forward, applicants may also need to demonstrate that their own financial and personal circumstances are unlikely to make them a public charge.

For example, applicants may need to demonstrate:

• Sufficient assets and financial resources;

• Stable income or employment;

• That they are unlikely to rely on public assistance or government-funded benefits.

Visa Categories Commonly Affected

The categories that may commonly be affected include:

• CR1 / IR1 — Spouse of a U.S. citizen

• IR5 — Parent of a U.S. citizen

• Other family-based immigrant visa categories

• EB-1 / EB-2 / EB-3 — Employment-based immigrant visas

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The statement currently circulating online that immigrant visa interviews have been “canceled for two weeks” appears to refer to the fact that the interview dates being canceled have generally covered approximately the most recent two-week period.

However, it is important to note that this does not mean that all visa interviews at the Guangzhou Consulate have been suspended for two weeks.

Nonimmigrant Visas Are Not Currently Included

F-1 student visas, B1/B2 visitor visas, H-1B visas, L-1 visas, and other nonimmigrant visa categories do not appear to be subject to this broad suspension at this time.

In Summary

👉 Recently, a number of immigrant visa interviews in Guangzhou have indeed been canceled or postponed.

👉 Based on the information currently available, the impact appears to be concentrated primarily on interviews scheduled within the recent two-week period.

👉 However, the U.S. government has not officially stated that the suspension will last only two weeks, nor has it clearly announced when regular scheduling will resume.

👉 F-1 student visa applicants do not currently appear to be included in this concentrated suspension. 

If you are scheduled to attend an interview in Guangzhou, particularly for an immigrant visa, it is advisable to check your email, spam/junk folder, and appointment status regularly. Do not rely solely on your original Interview Letter.

We will continue to provide updates if the Guangzhou Consulate announces a specific date for the resumption of interviews.

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