According to The New York Times, the number of immigrant visas issued at U.S. consular posts abroad dropped by nearly half in early 2026. This represents one of the most significant declines in legal immigration in decades, excluding the COVID-19 period.

State Department data show that immigrant visa issuances fell from 51,058 in February 2025 to 26,483 in February 2026. Of these, approximately 22,374 were family-based visas, including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and family preference categories subject to annual numerical limits.

The sharp reduction reflects broader policy changes that restricted visa issuance for applicants from many countries. While Vietnam is not on the list of heavily restricted nations, the overall slowdown still affects processing capacity and interview scheduling worldwide.

What this means for applicants:

• Family-based cases: Applicants should carefully track case status, interview appointments, and priority dates through the monthly Visa Bulletin if their category is subject to quotas.
• EB-5 investors: Progress continues to depend on multiple stages — I-526E adjudication at USCIS, visa availability for the relevant project category, National Visa Center (NVC) processing, and the consular interview for those processing abroad.

Truong Law Firm, PLLC will continue monitoring official updates from the U.S. Department of State and USCIS to provide accurate information for families and investors planning their immigration journey.

FAQ

1. 1. Did immigrant visas really drop by half in early 2026?
      Yes. Official State Department figures show issuances fell from 51,058 in February 2025 to 26,483 in February 2026 — a decline of approximately 48%.
   2. Is Vietnam affected by the visa restrictions?
      Vietnam is not among the countries subject to the most severe restrictions. However, global processing capacity has been impacted, so delays remain possible.
   3. How does this affect family-based petitions?
      Family preference categories (F1–F4) are still subject to annual quotas. Applicants must continue monitoring the Visa Bulletin and keep their documents ready for NVC and interview stages.
   4. What should EB-5 investors do?
      Continue tracking I-526E status, visa bulletin movement for your project category, and NVC/consular steps if processing outside the United States.
   5. Where can I find official updates?
      Check the U.S. Department of State website, the monthly Visa Bulletin, and USCIS case status tools for the most accurate information.