U.S. consulates worldwide are undergoing heightened vetting and increased security reviews, which are directly impacting the scheduling of visa appointments. Interview dates are being canceled, moved, or significantly delayed — even for applicants who already had confirmed appointments on the calendar. Consular posts continue to adjust operations in response to new screening protocols, and these changes are being reported across multiple regions. Because of this instability in consular operations, we strongly recommend that foreign nationals avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary, particularly if obtaining a new valid visa stamp is required for return.
USCIS has likewise announced increased review for certain applicants. Under the agency’s December 2, 2025 memorandum, immigration benefit requests filed by individuals who are citizens of, or were born in, one of the 19 countries identified in the recent presidential proclamation are subject to additional scrutiny. Even previously approved benefits may be re-reviewed or paused, which can lead to further delays, new Requests for Evidence, or updated background checks. This is consistent with broader government efforts to expand security vetting and interagency review.
Applicants should expect that additional documentation may now be requested, including proof of current residence, updated biographical information, or social-media identifiers, consistent with the State Department’s expanded vetting procedures. For applicants in certain visa categories — including H-1B, F-1, J-1, and H-4 — consulates are requiring social-media accounts to be switched to “public” several days before the interview to allow full vetting. Processing times may lengthen substantially, and cases that once moved predictably may now require more flexibility. These delays are not limited to any one visa category, and they are affecting both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processing at consular posts worldwide.
Finally, for immigrant-visa cases, even when the National Visa Center (NVC) has already deemed a case “documentarily complete,” consulates may not be able to schedule an interview for several months due to reduced capacity and increased vetting. Applicants should be prepared for long wait times for interview availability and should adjust travel plans or expectations accordingly. Please check back here for additional information and updates.