USCIS offices throughout the country are cancelling immigrant interviews in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Local offices include, but are not limited, to Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
USCIS also announced the temporary suspension of premium processing service for fiscal year (FY) 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions. USCIS will resume premium processing for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions requesting a change of status from F-1 nonimmigrant status no later than May 27, 2020; for all other FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, premium processing will resume no earlier than June 29, 2020.
Several U.S. Consular Missions have announced that they are cancelling or limiting nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments until further notice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many consulates are emailing applicants with appointment cancellations. In addition, some consulates have refused applicants at interviews without providing reasons. It is suspected that these refusals are due coronavirus issues rather than the merits of the applications.