October 2026 NVC Processing Times: ~10-Week Document Review, Guangzhou Interviews Paused
After an I-130 or I-140 is approved, immigrant visas for mainland China go through the National Visa Center (NVC) and the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou. Here is NVC’s weekly progress and Guangzhou’s interview scheduling, from the State Department.
October 2026 at a glance
- Immigrant visa interviews are paused, with no resumption date yet.
- NVC document review takes about 10 weeks (now reviewing documents sent on 2026-08-04).
- Guangzhou interview scheduling: about 6 months for immediate relatives, 19 for family preference and 38 for employment (from DQ).
- The new public charge rule and the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 took effect on 18 Sep 2026 with no grace period; older editions are rejected. Source
Immigrant visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates have been paused since about 25 Aug 2026 (the State Department told reporters it is training officers on public charge screening). As of 15 Oct, neither the State Department nor the Guangzhou consulate has announced a resumption date. Scheduled interviews may be canceled or moved, so the official scheduling data below may be off for now. Source
Guangzhou immigrant visa interview scheduling
How to read these numbers
After an I-130 or I-140 is approved, the case moves to the State Department’s National Visa Center (NVC), where you pay fees and submit the DS-260 and documents. Once NVC confirms everything is complete, the case is documentarily qualified (DQ). Immigrant visa interviews for mainland China are all in Guangzhou.
The three NVC dates show which day’s cases, documents and inquiries NVC is working on now: if your date is earlier, you are close; if it is later, you are still in line.
The Guangzhou months show which month’s DQ cases the consulate is scheduling now. Preference cases (F1–F4, EB) also need a current priority date before they are scheduled; immediate relatives do not.
Common questions
How long after DQ until my interview?
See the Guangzhou chart above: immediate relatives, family preference and employment cases are scheduled separately. The interview notice appears on the NVC website, usually a month or more ahead.
NVC hasn’t moved on my case. What can I do?
Once you are past NVC’s posted timeframe, use NVC’s Public Inquiry Form. First check that every fee is paid and every document is uploaded.
What should I do while interviews are paused?
Keep documents valid: passports, police certificates and medical exams all expire. Watch the NVC website and consulate notices, and schedule the medical exam and interview when told.
How do I prepare for the interview?
See the document list and common questions in immigrant visa interviews in Guangzhou and the Guangzhou immigrant visa process.
Related policies
| Policy | Status | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| New public charge rule and new I-485 | In effect | Effective 2026-09-18 | Only the 09/18/26 edition of Form I-485 is accepted, with no grace period; older editions are rejected. Scrutiny of benefits use and finances is stricter. |
| New I-864 affidavit of support | In effect | From 2026-10-01 | Only the 08/24/26 edition is accepted; it includes consent to a credit check. |
| Immigrant visa interviews paused worldwide | Paused | Since about 2026-08-25 | The State Department told reporters it is training officers on public charge screening; no written notice or resumption date. Guangzhou is affected. |
Real experiences
Consular processing: NVC documents follow Dates for Filing, interviews follow Final Action Dates
One of the most-asked forum questions. Once Dates for Filing is current you can pay fees and submit documents to NVC; once Final Action Dates is current you still wait in Guangzhou’s interview queue. If you are adjusting status in the U.S., check each month which chart USCIS uses: many people saw Dates for Filing and assumed they could file, when USCIS had picked Final Action Dates that month.
Forum: Family-based →Guangzhou immigrant visas: steady for immediate relatives, slowing for family preference
A law firm tracking the official data monthly reports that immediate relatives (IR/CR) have consistently waited 5 to 6 months from DQ to interview scheduling; family preference is around 18 to 19 months and slowing; employment cases are around 37 to 38 months, and both swing widely. Since late August interviews have been paused, and some booked interviews were canceled or moved.
Forum: Family-based →From the forum
Related guides
PathToUS green card interview prep is coming
Practice for marriage green card interviews, Guangzhou immigrant visa interviews and I-751 interviews. Leave your email and we will send one message when it launches.