Immigrant Visa Appointments Affected as U.S. Embassies Curtail Operations in the Middle East

U.S. embassies and consulates across the Middle East have suspended routine operations amid ongoing strikes and retaliatory activity.

As a result, immigrant visa processing has been disrupted, with many posts cancelling scheduled interviews and limiting consular access indefinitely.

 

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Affected

 

Based on current reporting by AP News, NBC News, and Newsweek, immigrant visa services have been impacted at the following U.S. embassies and consulates:

• U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, UAE
• U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan
• U.S. Consulate General Karachi, Pakistan
• U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Pakistan
• U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan
• U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon
• U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq
• U.S. Consulate General Erbil, Iraq
• U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait

Additional posts across the region may also be operating with minimal staffing or suspended visa services, and conditions remain fluid.

 

Cancelled immigrant visa appointments do not constitute visa refusals, but applicants should anticipate delays once posts begin reopening, including possible reprioritization of cases.

 

Applicants with pending or cancelled immigrant visa appointments should:

• Rely only on official embassy communications for post‑specific guidance
• Monitor the website of the specific U.S. embassy or consulate handling their case
• Prepare for processing delays once services resume

If you have questions about your upcoming embassy appointment, please contact your MU attorney.

DOS Freezes Visa Issuance to Nationals of 75 Countries

On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced a visa freeze for nationals of 75 countries.

The pause applies only to consular Green Card issuances. This means it does not affect temporary visas issued abroad or Changes of Status or Adjustments of Status filed within the US.

Dual nationals who have citizenship in at least one non-paused country are exempt from the pause.

 

Pursuant to its pause, effective January 21, 2026, DOS will not issue immigrant visas to applicants who are nationals of the following countries:

 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen

 

DOS asserts the pause is required to ensure that immigrants from the affected countries do not become public charges in the US.

 

The DOS visa freeze is being enacted in addition to several other policies already in effect to restrict immigration, including the Travel Ban and USCIS's own Travel Ban restrictions.

 

If you are filing benefit requests as a national of one of the countries above, consult with your MU attorney to discuss your best strategies for filing.

DOS Will Now Require Proof of Residence from Green Card Applicants

As discussed in an MU blog post last month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that, effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center (NVC) will only schedule immigrant visa (Green Card) interviews in an applicant’s country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.

Related to the new policy, late last week, many Green Card applicants began receiving notices from DOS requesting proof of their residence.

The notices also explain that applicants may interview outside their country of residence and/or nationality only if experiencing special circumstances, which must be communicated to the NVC in specific terms before an interview can be scheduled. The DOS notices clarify that traveling to or residing temporarily in a third country in order to apply for a U.S. visa does not constitute a special circumstance.

Finally, although the notices request proof of residency, the notices indicate that applicants who interview outside their country of nationality may experience delayed visa processing.

MU is continuing to monitor DOS processes and trends related to its interview policy. If you have questions about your Green Card interview location or the evidence required by DOS, contact your MU legal team for assistance.

Green Card Interviews to be Scheduled in Country of Residence

The U.S. Department of State has announced that, effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center (NVC) will only schedule immigrant visa (Green Card) interviews in an applicant’s country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.

Existing immigrant visa appointments scheduled through the NVC will generally remain in place and will not be automatically canceled or rescheduled based on this new policy.

If you have questions about your Green Card interview location, contact your MU legal team for assistance.

Department of State Shortens Validity of Temporary Visas for over 50 Countries

On July 17, 2025, NAFSA, a nonprofit policy advocate, released a report detailing the Department of State’s (DOS) recent actions to shorten temporary visa validity periods. DOS’s changes will affect multiple temporary visa types for nationals of over 50 countries.  

In most cases, DOS has shortened temporary visa validity to only 3 months and a single entry. In practice, this means applicants receiving a shortened visa must enter the US within 3 months of their visa issuance and will have to reapply for a visa before each entry to the US.

A full list of the more than 50 affected countries can be found in NAFSA’s report; the list includes Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

With some variations, affected visa types include B, F, H, J, M, O, and P visas.

F visas are utilized by international students in the US. The H-1B visa is open to employees filling US positions that require Bachelor’s degrees, which include healthcare occupations such as Medical Technologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and even Registered Nurses.

Although DOS did not make an announcement of its sweeping temporary visa limitations, individual visa validity periods by country are updated on the DOS’s visa reciprocity website. Speak with an MU attorney if you have questions about your visa validity.

SEVIS Report: Record Number of Student Visa Holders in 2024

In June 2025, ICE released its 2024 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by the Numbers Report. This report includes data on international student enrollment at US educational institutions and work authorization for students employed by US companies.

International students are eligible to study in the US on the F-1 visa. As indicated in the report, most F-1 visa holders at universities major in computer science, information technology, and engineering fields. However, students seeking careers in healthcare may study in associate’s, bachelor’s and even master’s programs in majors like Nursing, Medical Technology, and Physical Therapy.

Both Enrollment and Employment Increased in 2024

Foreign student enrollment in the US increased once again in 2024. Over 1.5 million students held active immigration records at US schools in 2024, a 5.3% increase from 2023.

Work authorization is available to certain F-1 students. SEVIS's report states:

• 381,140 students were authorized to work for US employers in 2024.
• Work authorization participation increased by 21% for students enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is one type of work authorization for students. OPT participation has now increased four years in a row.
• Work authorization participation increased 54% for students enrolled in STEM OPT (an extension of OPT for students studying in qualifying STEM degree fields).

In 2024, Amazon was the top employer among all F-1 students with work authorization, with tech giants Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla also among the companies employing the highest numbers of foreign students.

Conclusion

Though scrutiny of student visa issuance has increased as a result of Trump Administration policies in 2025 (as discussed in an MU blog post earlier this year), US universities and employers demonstrated heavy engagement with international students in 2024.

Student visas remain prevalent in the US, and major US employers continue to seek work-authorized foreign student employees. 

Trump’s Travel Ban will Exacerbate Healthcare Workforce Shortages in the US

On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the first travel ban of his second term. The 2025 version of the President’s travel ban restricts visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries.

Specifically, the ban prevents issuance of both temporary visas and permanent Green Cards to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The ban sets country-specific partial bans on certain visa types for the remaining seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The ban does not apply to existing Green Card holders, dual nationals (if the individual travels on a passport issued by a country that is not included in the ban), athletes, coaches and immediate relatives traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event, and immediate family immigrants with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA).

The ban will take effect on June 9, 2025, and could impact U.S. employers that rely on global talent, particularly in healthcare and technology, as noted by Boundless Immigration’s blog on the Travel Ban’s negative effect on US employers.

As discussed in an MU blog post earlier this year, immigrants are relied upon extensively in the US healthcare workforce. Citing research analysis by JAMA Network:

• 25% of physicians in the U.S. were born outside of the U.S.
• 17% of the total healthcare workforce, or roughly 3.4 million workers, were born outside the U.S.

The Trump Travel Ban will further restrict visa issuance to foreign-trained healthcare workers who are desperately needed to meet shortages in the US. Current healthcare staffing shortages will be further exacerbated, hospitals will face bottlenecks and healthcare facilities will be unable to meet healthcare needs in the U.S.

WEBINAR: Immigration under the Trump Administration

The forthcoming Trump Administration’s proposed immigration policies may have significant implications for employers.  Join our  FREE webinar on Wednesday, November 20th at 2pm EST to explore new regulations, compliance strategies, and best practices for adapting to these changes.

Discussion topics will include:

• Overview of the policies attempted and enacted in Trump’s first term

• Potential Administrative Changes to Employment-Based Visa Programs

• Possible legislative initiatives in 2025

• I-9, E-Verify and Compliance Requirements: What employers can do to ensure compliance?

PLEASE JOIN US!

Department of State Launches AVITS Website for Appointment Scheduling

On September 30, 2024, the Department of State launched Applicant Visa Information Tracking System (AVITS), a new scheduling website for US visa applicants in certain countries.

AVITS will replace the previous scheduling system, US Travel Docs, for visa applicants applying for visas at US embassies located in the following countries:

• Belgium
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• France
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Liberia
• The Netherlands
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone

Appointments scheduled on the previous website will remain on the original date selected. Applicants whose appointment was scheduled on the previous website must create a new account on AVITS using their previously registered email address.

MARCH 2024 VISA BULLETIN: ANALYSIS

The Department of State has just issued the March 2024 Visa Bulletin, which is the sixth of the 2024 US fiscal year.  This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

Employment- based	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
1st	C	15JUL22	01OCT20	C	C
2nd	22NOV22	01JAN20	01MAR12	22NOV22	22NOV22
3rd	08SEP22	01SEP20	01JUL12	08SEP22	08SEP22

Table B: Dates of Filing

The USCIS is expected to use the Table a Final Action chart for I-485 employment-based filings. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

Philippines and All Other EB-3 continued slow, although uninspiring, progress by one week to September 8, 2022. China and India EB-3 remained at their February Visa Bulletin dates, September 1, 2020 and July 1, 2012, respectively.  

There is a similar story in EB-2.  China and India EB-2 remained at their February Visa Bulletin dates, January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2012.  Philippines and All Other EB-2 advanced one week to November 22, 2022.

MU Law expects similar progress in the next few months, followed by a slowdown and we get closer to the end of the fiscal year. 

BILL INTRODUCED TO INCREASE VISA NUMBERS FOR NURSES AND PHYSICIANS

US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and US Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bill, known as the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, on November 2, 2023, to address the nation’s shortage of physicians and nurses.

If passed, this bill will recapture 25,000 unused immigrant visa for nurses and 15,000 unused immigrant visas for physicians, from previous years. These visas would not be subject to the per country numerical limit that has led to lengthy waits for green cards for nurses and physicians from several countries.

Spouses and children that are accompanying or following to join these nurses and physicians, would be eligible for immigrant visas as part of this bill too. The spouses and children’s visas would not be considered as part of the 25,000 and 15,000 allocated visas for the nurses and physicians.

The nurse and physician cases would be required to be adjudicated by USCIS under USCIS’s premium processing program. There will be no additional fee for the premium processing.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF THE VISA BULLETIN

 The Visa Bulletin is a vital tool for any applicant who is qualified to receive an immigrant visa (green card) because the Visa Bulletin notifies applicants as to whether they are eligible to receive a visa number in a particular month.

Here are the top 10 things one needs to know to understand the Visa Bulletin:

1. The employment-based (EB) visa has its own section on the Visa Bulletin where it is divided into its 5 preference categories. Every EB visa applicant falls into 1 of the 5 preference categories.

2. There are four markings on the EB visa chart to know:

a.    C: The category is current, and every eligible applicant is eligible for a visa number.

b.    Final Action Date (FAD): Only those with priority dates before the FAD will be approved and issued an immigrant visa or green card.

c.    Dates of Filing (DOF): Those with priority dates before the DOF may be able to file their I-485 or submit their civil documents to the NVC in preparation for becoming current on the FAD.

d.    U: The category is unavailable, and no applicants may receive a number.

3. No country may receive more than 7% of the annual worldwide visas available.

4. Some countries have their own FAD because they are in danger of going over the 7% limit.

5. Retrogression is when a FAD moves backwards chronologically on the next month’s Visa Bulletin, making less visa numbers available for a specific category in the coming month.

6. The EB visa and its preference categories all have annual caps that cannot be exceeded. 

7. The Department of State (DOS) cannot allocate more than 27% of the total EB visa numbers available for the entire year in one quarter of the year. There is also a 10% limit on each month.

e.    EXAMPLE: There are 140,000 EB visa numbers for the year, then 14,000 may be given out in a month and 37,800 may be given out in a quarter.

8. The 7% per country limit may be set aside if demand for an EB preference category is less than the visa numbers available for that quarter. This only lasts until the end of the quarter.

9. If an EB preference category has a “C” marking for every country, then that is an indication that the DOS is issuing visa numbers regardless of an applicant’s country for that quarter.

10. If the DOS runs out of a category before the end of the year, then the DOS will stop honoring requests for visa numbers. The category will become unavailable on the Visa Bulletin until the next government fiscal year begins. 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE RAISES NONIMMIGRANT VISA CONSULAR FEES

 Beginning May 30, 2023, consular fees required for certain nonimmigrant visas will be raised according to an updated Schedule of Fees published in the Federal Register.

The fee changes to be put in effect are:

• The application processing fee for non-petition based nonimmigrant visas (such as B-1/B-2 and F-1 visas) will be raised from $160 to $185.
• The application processing fee for H, L, O, P, Q, and R nonimmigrant visas will be raised from $190 to $205.
• The fee for E category nonimmigrant visas will be raised from $205 to $315.
• The processing fee for Border Crossing Cards for Mexican citizens age 15 and over will be raised from $160 to $185.

STUDENT VISAS CAN NOW BE ISSUED UP TO 365 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE PROGRAM START DATE

 The Department of State has updated its webpage on Student Visas to reflect that it will now issue new students their F or M visas up to 365 days in advance of the start date for a course of study as listed on the I-20.

However, students may not enter the United States on the issued student visa more than 30 days before their program start date.

Previously, visa interviews could be scheduled only up to 120 days before the program start date.

SIGN THE CHANGE.ORG PETITION FOR FOREIGN EDUCATED NURSES

Today, there are thousands of high-skilled international nurses who have already qualified for visas but their issuance has stalled amid unprecedented delays at US embassies and consulates, which have effectively de-prioritized green card approval for essential healthcare workers under US State Department rules.

Will you join thousands of people and sign a Change.org petition demanding the State Department fast-track nurse visas? 

SIGN THE PETITION

FAQ REGARDING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RECENT VISA BAN

President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation stop the issuance of H-1B, L-1, J-1, and H-2B and dependent visa stamps at Embassies until December 31, 2020.  For a detailed analysis of the visa of the Proclamation and the visa classifications impacted, please review our previous blog post.

On our June 30, 2020 webinar we reviewed several situations in which visa holders may now find themselves due to the Proclamation.  Below is an FAQ to help employers and employees navigate travel and visa issues under the Proclamation.

Q: My employee is in the US on an H-1B right now.  The employee does not have a valid visa stamp in her passport.  Can the employee leave the US?

A: NO – H-1B workers who are in the US and do not have a valid visa stamp should not travel outside the US.  Without a valid visa stamp, the worker will not be allowed back into the US.

Q: I have a valid visa stamp in my passport.  Can I travel overseas?

A: YES – Those who are in the US and have a valid visa stamp can travel abroad, provided they return to the US before the expiration of their visa stamp.

Q: My employee is overseas and had an appointment at the Embassy to get a visa stamp in July 2020.  Will my employee be able to return to the US?

A: NO – Visa stamps in the effected categories will not be issued until after January 1, 2021, or perhaps later.

Q: My employee’s spouse and child are outside the US for their regular summer visit to their home country.  The spoues and child were able to visit the Embassy in May and obtain new visa stamps.  Will my employee’s spouse and child be able to return to the US?

A: YES - The spouse and child can enter the US if they have valid visa stamps in their passports.

Q: My employee is abroad right now and does not have a valid H-1B visa stamp in his passport.  However, he does have a valid B1/B2 tourist visa stamp in his passport, can he travel to the US on his B1/B2 stamp?

A: MAYBE - but this is not recommended.  The employee cannot work in tourist status so a change of status to H-1B would have to be filed once the employee enters the US.  The employee cannot return to work until this change of status is approved by the USCIS.

Q: My employee currently holds a green card.  She is outside the US and plans to return in July 2020.  Can she return on her green card?

A: YES – the April Proclamation exempts US Legal Permanent Residents from the ban.

Q: My company has filed a green card case for our future employee who is a nurse.  We are a staffing company and do not yet know at which of our client sites the nurse will be assigned to work.  Can the nurse enter the US?

A: MAYBE – Under current interpretation, the nurse may enter the US on a green card for any reason.  Later this summer, the Trump Administration may narrow the ban and require nurses to be treating patients who are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.

Q: My employee is currently in the US working for my company on OPT as an F-1 student.  My company has filed an H-1B for this employee which was selected in the H-1B lottery and is currently in process with the USCIS.  Will the H-1B be impacted by the ban?

A: NO – because this is a change of status from F-1 to H-1B, the employee will not be impacted.  However, the employee should not travel outside the US, as he will not be able to get an H-1B visa stamp and return.

Q: My employee is in the US on an H-1B and has no plans to travel.  Can I sponsor this employee for a green card?

A: YES – the there is no prohibition against filing green card cases from inside the US.  Employees can still “adjust status.”

Q: My employee holds an H-1B that will expire later this year.  Can I file an extension of the employee’s H-1B status?

A: YES – the there is no prohibition against filing for an extension, amendment, or transfer of an H-1B.

TRUMP ISSUES WIDE RANGING EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING NEW LEGAL EMPLOYMENT BASED IMMIGRANTS UNTIL 2021

Last night, President Trump updated and expanded his April Presidential Proclamation that had banned legal immigrant visas for 60 days.  Last night’s ban extends the April legal immigration ban through December 31, 2020 and adds many temporary employment-based nonimmigrant visas, including H-1Bs, L-1s, J-1s, and H-2Bs. 

It seems certain that the President will be sued and so any information contained here is subject to the outcome of the lawsuits.

The ban effects many types of employment-based immigration, such as:

Green Cards (Immigrant visas) Consular Processing. 

All Consular Processing green cards continue to be banned, as they have been since April.  There are a few exceptions:

• Permanent Residents of the US;
• Healthcare workers and their immediate family members (including those family members traveling with the healthcare worker and those family members coming to the US at a later date);
• Other individuals coming to the US to perform work essential to combating, recovering from, or alleviating the effects of Covid-19 and their immediate family members (including those family members traveling with the healthcare worker and those family members coming to the US at a later date).
• Spouses and children of US Citizens;
• EB-5 investors;
• Individuals who are entering to assist law enforcement or who are members of the US Armed Forces;
• Special Immigrants in the SI or SQ Class and their family members; and
• Any person whose entry is in the national interest of the US as determine by the Secretary of State or Secretary of Homeland Security.

Green Cards (Immigrant visas) Adjustment of Status

No effect whatsoever.  Many Adjustment of Status interviews, of course, have been delayed because of COVID-19, although we have seen that the USCIS is approving some employment based green cards without an actual visa interview.

H-1B, L-1, J-1, and H-2B visas

• Beneficiaries approved for H-1B and L-1s will not be allowed to enter the US unless they currently have a valid visa stamp, even if they have an approved I-797.
• H-1B and L-1 visa stamps cannot be granted at embassies or consulates unless the H-1B or L-1 is for one of the exemption categories below. 
• If you have an H-1B or L-1 approval and you are in the US, you should not travel outside the US unless you already have a valid H-1B visa stamp in your passport and you intend to return to the US prior to the expiration of that visa stamp.
• H-1B and L-1 amendments, extensions, and transfers continue to be permissible.
• H-1B cap petitions that are based on a change of status (e.g. F-1 to H-1B) should be approved with a new I-94 card for the H-1B status.  The ban does not prohibit or effect the change of status, however, individuals changing status to H-1B should not leave the US after October 1 as they will not be able to return without a valid H-1B visa stamp.  
• Similar prohibitions apply to J-1 and H-2B visas, although the J-1 visa ban is limited to interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs, and summer work programs.  Other J-1s may obtain visas and enter the US.
• The ban also applies to the H-4, L-2, J-2 dependent classifications.  Spouses and children in the US as dependents should not travel abroad unless each family member has a valid visa stamp in their passport.  Dependents who are currently abroad will not be allowed to enter the US unless they currently have a valid visa stamp.

 Exemptions to the H-1B, L-1, J-1, and H-2B nonimmigrant visa ban

The visa ban does not apply to:

• any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
• any alien who is the spouse or child of a United States citizen;
• any alien seeking to enter the United States to provide temporary labor or services essential to the United States food supply chain; and
• any alien whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security.

National Interest Entry Requests

The Proclamation allows for exemptions to the nonimmigrant visa ban if the Beneficiary is one of several categories deemed by DOS or DHS to be “in the national interest”.  It is expected that the DOS and DHS will issue details about these exemptions and the process to request an exemption.  The Proclamation’s named categories include those who:

•  are critical to the defense, law enforcement, diplomacy, or national security of the United States;
• are involved with the provision of medical care to individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and are currently hospitalized;
• are involved with the provision of medical research at United States facilities to help the United States combat COVID-19;
• are necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States; or
• are children who would age out of eligibility for a visa as a result of the visa ban.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WITH AN APPROVED IMMIGRATION PETITION SHOULD CONTACT THEIR NEAREST US EMBASSY OR CONSULATE

The US Department of State has issued a statement that all medical professionals, particularly those working to combat Covid-19, should contact their nearest US Embassy to request a visa appointment.  If you are a medical professional and have an approved I-129, I-140 or other immigration petition, you should contact the US Embassy or Consulate nearest to you to schedule a visa appointment as soon as possible.  Even if the Embassy is currently closed to routine interviews, an interview may be granted for a medical professional. 

The medical professional with an approved I-140 must have a current priority date.

IMMIGRATION CLOSURES AND UPDATES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of closures and suspensions of immigration services.  Below is a summary of all closures and suspensions at this time.  This list is subject to change as new updates become available. 

US Citizenship and Immigration Service: As of March 18, 2020 the USCIS has suspended all in-person services until at least April 1, 2020.  This cancellation includes interviews for green card cases and biometrics appointments. USCIS will send notices to all applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by this closure and all appointments will be automatically rescheduled when services resume.

USCIS will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public.  Petitions will continue to be accepted for filing and adjudicated by the USCIS.

Emergency appointments and services will be provided by the USCIS in limited situations. 

Department of State: Most US Embassies have also suspended interviews in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19.  You can find country specific information from the US Department of State about Covid-19 here.

Travel Restrictions:  Travel bans have been issued restricting travel to the US for individuals who have traveled to: Austria, Belgium, Mainland China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, United Kingdom, within in the last 14 days.

The following individuals are exempt from the travel ban:

• US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
• Spouses of US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
• Parents or legal guardians of US Citizens of Lawful Permanent Residents, provided that the child is unmarried and under the age of 21;
• Siblings of US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, provided both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
• Children who are under the legal custody of US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents; and
• Other certain foreign government and health officials. 

On April 11, 2020 officials will reassess COVID-19 travel bans.

Stay Safe and Healthy and Please Remember to Wash Your Hands Regularly.