BUSTED OR BAN? The Latest on “U.S. Banning Visa Issuance to Chinese Nationals”

On the evening of February 10, a message spread like wildfire on social media and immigration circles claiming that the U.S. had paused issuing immigrant visas to Chinese nationals. The buzz started when several applicants logging into the official U.S. visa appointment site (USTravelDocs) saw a notice specifically mentioning “China” and a suspension of immigrant visa issuance due to “public charge” risks. Facing all this speculation and anxiety, globevisa acted quickly to sort out the facts and interpret the policy situation.

What’s really going on? Official policy or just a system glitch?

After checking the U.S. Department of State (DOS) official channels and policies, here’s what we can confirm: The so-called “suspension of Chinese immigrant visas” is most likely just a website system error or a false alarm.

● China is NOT on the official list: The Department of State has indeed paused immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries starting January 21, 2026, aiming to prevent new immigrants from relying on public benefits (“public charge”). But China is not on that 75-country official list (which includes Afghanistan, Brazil, Russia, Thailand, and others).

Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of U.S. Public Benefits Reliance

● Official websites haven’t updated with any China-related suspensions: As of February 11, 2026, no announcements have been made on the Department of State’s site (travel.state.gov) or the U.S. Embassy in China’s website about adding China to the suspension list.

● It doesn’t make sense diplomatically: Suspending immigrant visas for China is a huge policy move and would definitely come with an official government announcement and mainstream media coverage—not just a pop-up message on the visa appointment website.

This morning, Globevisa heard from Gary N. Merson, former top immigration official at the U.S. Immigration Service and a former immigration policy leader at the House of Representatives, White House, and Homeland Security, who received notification from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). According to AILA, the Department of State (DOS) confirmed the earlier notice was a system error and is urgently fixing it. The error message should be removed within hours.

 

Why did this happen?

This confusion comes amid the current U.S. government’s strict enforcement of the “public charge” rule, targeting immigrants from countries considered high-risk for relying on public benefits. The aim is to ensure new immigrants can support themselves financially and not burden U.S. public welfare. This rule has little impact on applicants with sufficient assets, like EB-5 investors, because they’re less likely to become a “public charge.”

 

Advice for applicants: stay calm and watch carefully

Globevisa advises applicants to stay cautious and avoid panic until the official situation is clear.

1. Don’t trust unofficial rumors: The pop-up on USTravelDocs is probably caused by a contractor error or an automatic system glitch. Trust only information directly from the Department of State (DOS) website.

2. Keep your application moving forward: If you’re already prepping for an interview or waiting your turn, keep moving forward with your paperwork. Globevisa successfully helped Chinese mainland applicants get immigrant visas through interviews in January and February. Even for countries on the 75-country list, consulates have only paused visa issuance, not the interview or processing steps.

3. Stay informed about policy changes: China isn’t on the suspension list now, but tightening immigration scrutiny overall is a fact. Future evaluations of applicants’ financial ability, education, and health under the “public charge” rule will become more detailed.

Every shift in U.S. immigration policy shakes up the market. While the “China visa suspension” scare was probably a false alarm, it signals one thing clearly: the bar and compliance checks for immigrating to the U.S. are rising significantly.

We will keep tracking updates from the Department of State and U.S. consulates in China to bring you the latest policy insights. If you see strange messages on the visa appointment system or feel worried about your case progress, feel free to reach out to the Globevisa team anytime.