For many families, the email arrived just days before the trip: your immigrant visa appointment has been rescheduled, do not come to the consulate, wait for a new date. After years of waiting, a canceled interview in Ciudad Juárez can feel like the case is falling apart. It is not.
This guide explains what happened in 2026, what a canceled interview does and does not mean, and what you should do while you wait. It was written by Lozano Law Firm, whose managing attorney, Alfredo Lozano, is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has guided Texas families through Juárez for more than 20 years.
What Happened in August and September 2026
In late August 2026, the State Department paused most immigrant visa interviews around the world while consular officers completed new training on public charge screening, the question of whether an applicant may come to rely on public benefits. Applicants with interviews in Ciudad Juárez, along with many other posts, received notices telling them not to appear and to wait for a new appointment.
On September 10, the State Department instructed embassies and consulates to resume immigrant visa processing. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico says the consulate in Ciudad Juárez schedules thousands of immigrant visa interviews each week in every category. If your appointment was canceled, the case is waiting to be worked back into that schedule.
Who Feels the Delay Most
The pause hit some families harder than others. Relatives living in Mexico simply wait longer at home. Applicants inside the U.S. with an approved provisional waiver had planned their departure around the interview and must now hold off. Families who had already arranged time off work, school changes or a move need to rebuild those plans. And families with a child close to 21 face a real deadline, which we cover below.
What a Canceled Interview Does Not Mean
- It is not a denial. Your approved petition and your place in line remain.
- Your DS-260 is not erased. The application you filed through the National Visa Center stays in the file.
- An approved waiver still counts. A provisional waiver approved before the pause remains valid for the interview.
- You do not need to start over. Do not withdraw anything or file a new petition because an appointment moved.
What to Do While You Wait
- Do not travel without a confirmed appointment. Showing up at the consulate without a current appointment letter will not get you seen.
- Keep your contact information current. Make sure the National Visa Center has the right email and mailing address for the applicant and the petitioner.
- Watch for the new appointment letter. Read every message carefully, including spam folders, and check that names and case numbers are correct.
- Check the medical exam timing. Exams are valid for a limited time, usually six months. Confirm the new interview date before repeating an exam.
- Update the financial evidence. If the new date falls after tax season or a job change, prepare current tax transcripts, pay stubs and an employer letter.
- Keep documents ready. Originals of birth, marriage and police records should stay together and travel with the applicant.
If the Applicant Already Left the U.S. for the Interview
Some applicants who were living in the U.S. had already traveled to Ciudad Juárez when the notices arrived. If that applicant was ever in the U.S. without status, the departure itself may have triggered a bar on returning, and a provisional waiver only takes full effect when the visa is issued. In most cases, the applicant should not try to come back until the interview happens and the visa is in hand. If someone is stuck in Juárez under hardship, such as a medical emergency, talk to a lawyer about requesting an expedited appointment.
Keep Every Document Current
A delay of weeks or months can quietly expire key paperwork. Check that the applicant’s passport will remain valid well past the new interview date, that the medical exam will still be valid and that tax and income documents reflect the latest year. If a police certificate or court record was required, confirm it will still be accepted. Fixing these items now avoids a second delay at the window.
Why the Affidavit of Support Matters More Now
The pause was about training officers on public charge screening, and that focus will follow applicants into the interview room. The affidavit of support is the U.S. sponsor’s legal promise to support the immigrant, and sponsors generally need household income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. If income has dropped, or if the sponsor changed jobs, consider a joint sponsor and stronger evidence. Read more about the public charge rule in 2026.
Children Close to Turning 21
A delay can matter a great deal for a child who is about to turn 21. In some family categories, a child who ages out moves into a category with a longer wait. The Child Status Protection Act can protect some children, but only if the family acts within its deadlines once a visa becomes available. If a delay is pushing a child toward 21, talk to a lawyer now.
Getting Ready for the New Date
When the new appointment arrives, the steps are the same as before. Applicants generally register the appointment online so the consulate can return the passport by courier, complete the medical exam with a consulate-approved physician at least three days before the interview and attend a fingerprint and photo appointment. Bring the appointment letter, the interview letter from the National Visa Center and evidence of the relationship, such as photos and messages. If anything changed during the wait, such as a new job, a move or a new child, tell your lawyer before the interview so the forms can be updated. Our guide to the Ciudad Juárez consular interview walks through interview day, and our page on consular processing through Juárez covers the whole process.
Mistakes to Avoid During the Delay
- Paying someone who promises a faster appointment. No legitimate service can buy you an earlier immigrant visa interview. Treat those offers as scams.
- Leaving the U.S. early. Applicants inside the U.S. who need a waiver should not leave until the waiver is approved and the interview is confirmed.
- Letting the case go quiet. Respond to every request from the National Visa Center promptly.
- Changing your story. Dates, addresses and past trips must stay consistent with what you already filed.
- Canceling the case yourself. A moved appointment is not a reason to withdraw or refile.
When to Get Legal Help
Most families simply need patience. Others should get help right away: families with a child near 21, applicants with past immigration violations or arrests, families whose financial situation changed and anyone who received a request for more documents. A lawyer can also review whether the case should continue through Juárez or whether another path fits better. Learn more on our consular processing page, or about the I-130 family petition that starts every family case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was my case denied if my Juárez interview was canceled?
No. A canceled or rescheduled interview is not a denial. Your petition, your DS-260 and any approved waiver stay in place while the consulate sets a new date.
Do I need to do anything to get a new interview date?
Usually not. New appointments are scheduled through the normal channels. Keep your email and mailing address current with the National Visa Center and watch for the new appointment letter.
Will I need a new medical exam?
Possibly. Immigrant visa medical exams are valid for a limited time, usually six months. If your exam will expire before the new interview, you may need to repeat it, so confirm the new date first.
Should I contact the consulate to ask for my new date?
Usually not. New dates come through the normal scheduling channels. Use official inquiry forms only if something is wrong, such as a mistake in the applicant’s name or contact information.
Can I ask for an emergency appointment?
In urgent humanitarian situations, the consulate has a process for requesting an expedited appointment. Requests need strong documentation, and they are granted sparingly.
Does the pause affect green card cases filed inside the U.S.?
No. The pause applied to immigrant visa interviews at consulates abroad. Adjustment of status cases with USCIS were not part of it.
Talk to a Board Certified Immigration Lawyer
A canceled interview is frustrating, but it is a delay, not a defeat. The families who come through it best use the extra time to strengthen their case.
Alfredo Lozano is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Our bilingual team helps families prepare for Ciudad Juárez from offices in San Antonio, Eagle Pass and San Angelo.
Request a free case evaluation and tell us where your case stands. We will review it and explain your next steps, in English or Spanish.
