Recent federal court decisions have led the State Department to resume case-specific adjudication of certain immigrant visa and Diversity Visa applications.
State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide as Consular Officers Undergo New Public Charge Training
The Trump administration has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to temporarily pause and reschedule immigrant visa interviews while consular officers undergo mandatory training on enhanced screening procedures, including the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
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Federal Court Suspends State Department’s Immigrant Visa Ban Affecting 75 Countries
On Aug. 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a decision in Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), et al. v. Rubio, striking down a Department of State policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries based on generalized public charge concerns and vacated the policy.
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Missed Biometrics Appointments May Result in USCIS Denial of Immigration Applications
USCIS may deny an immigration benefit request as abandoned when an applicant fails to appear for a required biometrics appointment.
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D.C. District Court Addresses State Department Immigrant Visa Pause Affecting 75 Countries
In De Moura Gomes v. Rubio, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia addressed the State Department’s immigrant visa processing pause tied to public charge determinations.
State Department Final Rule Reinstates Passport Requirement for Diversity Visa Lottery Entries Beginning with DV-2027
The U.S. Department of State published a final rule implementing changes to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program to strengthen security, improve vetting, and combat fraud.
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Congress Passes $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Funding Law
The legislation provides multi-year funding for federal immigration enforcement agencies and related operations.
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Changes to Premium Processing: What Petitioners, Applicants Should Know
Premium processing is now available for some student applications, and different fees and timeframes apply to different petition and application types.
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Federal Lawsuit Challenges 2026 State Department Immigrant Visa Pause: Examining Administrative Procedure Act Claims and DS-260 Considerations
On Feb. 2, 2026, a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups and individual plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit challenging the State Department’s freeze on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. The complaint also contests newly implemented consular directives that reportedly expand the application of the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
Continue Reading Federal Lawsuit Challenges 2026 State Department Immigrant Visa Pause: Examining Administrative Procedure Act Claims and DS-260 Considerations
U.S. State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries – What Applicants and Businesses Need to Know
The U.S. State Department has announced a temporary halt on immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, effective Jan. 21, 2026. This pause comes as the department reassesses its vetting procedures under existing immigration law, specifically focusing on the public charge rule — a determination of whether an applicant is likely to require long-term