Effective May 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of State has temporarily stopped consular processing at the following locations due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak:
- Juba, South Sudan
- Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Kampala, Uganda
The pause covers every nonimmigrant and immigrant visa category that requires a visa appointment at an American embassy or consular post. Domestic applications handled by USCIS are not affected at this time.
Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says for those affected abroad, a pause is not a denial. “Your eligibility for a family or work visa has not changed, and can still work on your petition while the pause remains in place,” she says. “If you’re already waiting for your respective embassy to schedule your interview or adjudicate your petition, my recommendation is to monitor their website for any updates.”
The State Department has not given a timeline for when appointments will resume. Its public announcement says it will contact affected applicants directly when scheduling reopens.
About the Author
Staff Writer
Caryl Espinoza Jaen is a Nicaraguan-born staff writer for Manifest Law. As a writer, he strives to cover complex topics like immigration policy with clarity, accuracy, and precision.
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Immigration Lawyer to Manifest Law
Ana Gabriela Urizar is an award-winning immigration attorney licensed in Arizona and New York. With nearly a decade of experience, she advises global corporations on complex U.S. immigration matters. Originally from Guatemala, Ana Gabriela previously spent close to ten years at the world’s largest immigration firm, managing business immigration matters for leading technology, science, and financial companies. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and Negocios Now’s Tri-State 40 Under 40.
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