Multiple US embassies across the Middle East have suspended visa processing in 2026, creating severe disruptions for employees and employers relying on consular services for work visas and Green Cards. Five embassies (Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Iran) were already closed before the current crisis, and the US military conflict with Iran that began in late February 2026 has suspended operations at nearly every remaining post in the region. On top of these physical closures, three overlapping executive actions have frozen visa issuance for dozens of nationalities. This guide breaks down the current status of each embassy, explains how closures affect pending and future visa applications, and outlines the options available to employees and employers seeking to protect their immigration cases.
Understanding which posts are open, which are closed, and which are suspended is the first step for any employee or employer trying to plan around the current crisis. The situation is fluid, but the breakdown below reflects conditions as of mid-March 2026.
Several US embassies in the Middle East and neighboring conflict zones have been shut down for years. These closures predate the current regional war and affect applicants who were already required to process visas at alternative posts.
Syria (Embassy Damascus) suspended operations on February 6, 2012 during the civil war. Following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, diplomatic engagement resumed in early-to-mid 2025, with the U.S. ambassador's residence in Damascus symbolically reopened in May 2025. The Syria sanctions program formally terminated by executive order in June 2025. However, Syria remains on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list as of March 2026 (the Secretary of State's review of that designation is ongoing), and the embassy has not reopened for consular or visa services. Syrian nationals processing immigrant visas are assigned to US Embassy Amman, Jordan, which is itself now disrupted.
Yemen (Embassy Sanaa) suspended operations on February 11, 2015 due to the civil war. A Yemen Affairs Unit operates from the US Embassy in Riyadh. Immigrant visa cases for Yemeni nationals are designated to US Embassy Djibouti. American Citizen Services are handled through Riyadh, Djibouti, and Cairo.
Libya (Embassy Tripoli) has been closed since July 26, 2014. A Libya External Office operates from Tunis, Tunisia. Libyan nationals processing immigrant visas are assigned to the US Embassy in Tunis or other designated posts in the region.
Sudan (Embassy Khartoum) suspended operations on April 22, 2023 when civil war erupted. An Office of Sudan Affairs now operates from the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Immigrant visas for Sudanese nationals are routed to US Embassy Cairo.
Iran has had no US embassy since April 7, 1980, when the United States formally severed diplomatic relations (the embassy compound had been seized on November 4, 1979). Switzerland serves as the US protecting power through its Embassy in Tehran, but even this limited channel has been disrupted by the current conflict. Iranian nationals processing immigrant visas may apply at US Embassy Abu Dhabi, US Embassy Ankara (Turkey), or US Embassy Yerevan (Armenia), all of which are designated posts for Iranian immigrant visa cases.
For applicants from countries with closed embassies, the National Visa Center (NVC) automatically assigns cases to designated alternative posts. If a case is assigned to a post that is now also suspended, applicants can contact NVC through the NVC Public Inquiry Form to request reassignment.
The Department of Homeland Security and State Department issued departure orders for non-emergency personnel at posts across the region. The following embassies have suspended routine visa and consular services:
As of mid-March 2026, only two posts in the broader region continue to process visa applications with any regularity:
Cairo, Egypt operates with heightened security at Travel Advisory Level 2. Cairo is accepting some emergency filings from applicants displaced from other consular districts and continues processing immigrant visa cases for its own caseload plus reassigned Sudanese cases.
Ankara, Turkey (plus US Consulate Istanbul) continues operating with heightened security. Ankara is one of the designated posts for Iranian immigrant visa cases and handles significant regional overflow. Pre-crisis, both Ankara and Istanbul were processing employment-based cases with minimal backlogs.
Pre-crisis processing data showed variation across the region. Abu Dhabi had a significant employment-based immigrant visa scheduling backlog (scheduling cases from mid-2024 as of February 2026), partly because it is one of the designated posts for Iran's immigrant visa caseload. By contrast, Amman, Ankara, Cairo, Doha, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, and Riyadh were all essentially current for employment-based scheduling before operations were suspended.
Whether you are an employee waiting for a visa interview or an employer sponsoring workers, embassy closures create cascading delays that affect every stage of the immigration process.
For applicants pursuing employment-based Green Cards or temporary work visas through consular processing, a closed embassy means a case cannot move forward until services resume or the case is transferred to an operational post. The practical effects include:
Cancelled interviews with no automatic rescheduling. If a visa interview was scheduled at a suspended post, it has been cancelled. The State Department does not automatically reschedule these appointments. Applicants must wait for the post to resume operations or request a transfer to a different consulate.
NVC cases held in limbo. Cases that have completed NVC processing and are waiting for interview scheduling at a suspended post remain in a holding pattern. The NVC will not schedule interviews at posts that are not accepting appointments.
Medical exam expirations. Consular medical exams are generally valid for six months (per 9 FAM 302.2-3(C)). If an exam was completed in anticipation of a now-cancelled interview, it may expire before the interview is rescheduled. Repeat exams typically cost $100 to $500 depending on location.
Document expirations. Police certificates, financial support documents, and other civil documents have limited validity periods. Extended delays may require updated versions.
When an embassy cannot process a case, the NVC follows established protocols to assign it to an alternative post. Under the Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 504.4-8(E)), applicants whose home country post is non-operational are classified as "homeless" visa applicants and routed to a designated alternative.
The standard reassignment destinations for Middle Eastern applicants are:
A critical policy change took effect on November 1, 2025: the State Department ended routine third-country "convenience" transfers for immigrant visa applicants. All applicants must now interview in their country of residence or, upon request, their country of nationality. Narrow exceptions exist for humanitarian emergencies, medical needs, or US foreign policy interests. All transfer requests must now go through the NVC Public Inquiry Form rather than being handled by individual consular posts.
This means that if an applicant is a Jordanian national residing in the UAE, and Abu Dhabi is suspended, that applicant cannot simply request a transfer to London or Frankfurt. The applicant would need to demonstrate that Amman (the nationality post) is also non-operational and request reassignment through NVC under the humanitarian exception.
If a visa interview was cancelled due to embassy suspension, applicants can monitor the specific embassy website for announcements about resumed services. Without a confirmed rescheduled appointment, traveling to the embassy carries the risk of a wasted trip. Keeping all original documents current and accessible helps preserve case readiness. Applicants whose employer filed a petition on their behalf may coordinate closely with their company's immigration team or legal counsel.
Alma's immigration attorneys monitor embassy status changes daily and can advise on transfer requests, alternative filing strategies, and case protection for both individuals and businesses.
Beyond the physical embassy closures, three executive actions have created layered legal barriers that affect most Middle Eastern nationalities. Understanding which barriers apply to a specific nationality is essential for identifying viable options.
Presidential Proclamation 10998, effective January 1, 2026, suspends visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries plus Palestinian Authority travel document holders. It operates on a two-category structure with materially different implications:
Full suspension (19 countries plus PA travel documents): All immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance is suspended for nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, as well as Palestinian Authority travel document holders. This category blocks all visa types.
Partial suspension (19 additional countries): For the remaining countries on the proclamation, only immigrant visas and select nonimmigrant categories (B-1/B-2, F, M, J) are suspended. Employment-based nonimmigrant visas such as H-1B, L-1, and O-1 remain available under this category, though visas issued may be for reduced validity periods. Turkmenistan is treated uniquely: it is subject to immigrant visa suspension only, with all nonimmigrant categories remaining available.
Previous categorical exceptions for immediate relatives of US citizens that existed under the earlier Proclamation 10949 (June 2025) have been removed. The only remaining pathway is a case-by-case national interest waiver, which is extremely narrow.
For employees and employers, this means that nationals of full-suspension countries cannot obtain new visas at any consular post worldwide, regardless of whether the embassy is open. Even if Cairo or Ankara is operational, a Syrian or Iranian national cannot receive a visa stamp under the current ban absent an individual waiver. Nationals of partial-suspension countries may still be eligible for employment-based nonimmigrant visas.
A separate directive, announced January 14, 2026 and effective January 21, 2026, paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including additional Middle Eastern nations such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. The State Department continues to accept applications and conduct interviews at functioning posts but will not issue immigrant visas until further notice. No end date has been announced.
This means an Egyptian employee with an approved EB-2 NIW petition whose case is at NVC may still have their case processed and even be interviewed at Cairo, but the actual visa will not be printed or delivered.
USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0194 (January 1, 2026) placed holds on all pending domestic immigration benefit applications for nationals of, or individuals born in, the 39 travel ban countries. Affected petition types include: I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers; I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records; I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker; N-400, Application for Naturalization; I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and other benefit applications. Limited exceptions apply for I-90, N-565, and N-600 petitions; certain I-765 categories; and law-enforcement priority cases.
This is the most impactful barrier for applicants already in the United States. Normally, when consular processing is unavailable, applicants in valid US status can file I-485 to adjust status domestically, bypassing the embassy entirely. But for nationals of (or those born in) the 39 travel ban countries, both pathways are now simultaneously frozen: consular processing abroad and adjustment of status domestically. Multiple lawsuits challenging this pause are pending in federal courts.
Critical distinction for employers: If an employee is a national of a country on the 75-country immigrant visa pause but NOT on the 39-country travel ban (for example, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Kuwait), domestic Adjustment of Status filing at USCIS may still be a viable path. This makes AOS a particularly relevant strategy for these nationalities right now.
Despite the severe constraints, employees and employers are not entirely without options. The right strategy depends on nationality, physical location, and which policy barriers apply.
For employees currently in the US on valid nonimmigrant status (H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, O-1A, TN, or others), filing Form I-485 allows USCIS to process the Green Card application domestically without any consular interview. This completely bypasses the closed embassy problem.
Who can use this option now:
Who cannot use this option currently:
Benefits of filing I-485 (for eligible applicants):
If you are an employee or employer considering switching from consular processing to Adjustment of Status, Alma's platform can help assess eligibility and prepare the filing. Alma handles Adult AOS bundles (I-485, I-765, I-131) at a flat fee of $2,000 per applicant, with RFE responses included.
Even when completing the visa process is not currently possible, protecting a priority date and keeping documentation current is important. When embassies eventually resume operations, years of accumulated demand may flood limited appointment slots.
Steps every applicant may want to consider:
For employees who qualify, self-petition categories like the EB-2 National Interest Waiver or EB-1A Extraordinary Ability offer advantages during embassy disruptions because they do not require employer sponsorship or PERM labor certification. This means:
For employees currently on H-1B or O-1 status, pursuing an EB-2 NIW concurrently with their existing employer-sponsored case provides a parallel pathway that is insulated from consular delays.
Even when embassies reopen, Middle Eastern applicants face additional processing layers that add weeks or months to their timelines.
Nationals of countries on the State Department's designated list generally trigger Visas Condor Security Advisory Opinions at the consular interview stage. Nationals of State Sponsors of Terrorism (currently Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria) face the most intensive screening: mandatory Visas Eagle SAOs and, for those working in technology-related fields, mandatory Visas Mantis SAOs.
SAO clearance timelines and validity periods vary by type. Visas Condor clearances are typically valid for approximately 3 months; Visas Eagle clearances for approximately 12 months; and Visas Mantis clearances for 1 to 4 years depending on the visa category (though extended validity periods do not apply to nationals of State Sponsors of Terrorism, who undergo fresh checks with each new visa application). The State Department has stated that roughly 80% of SAOs clear within two weeks, though immigration practitioners report actual timelines ranging from two weeks to several months for complex cases. SAO clearances generally cannot be reused across different visa applications.
The Technology Alert List (TAL) covers categories of sensitive technologies, including nuclear technology, biomedical engineering, computer and microelectronic technology, information security, robotics, advanced materials, and others. Middle Eastern STEM professionals applying for employment-based visas (EB-1, EB-2 NIW, H-1B, L-1, O-1) who work in TAL fields face near-certain administrative processing at the consular interview.
For employers, this means building additional time into project staffing plans and start-date commitments for employees who must complete consular processing. For employees, it means preparing detailed descriptions of work that clearly distinguish commercial applications from dual-use or defense-related technologies.
The combination of embassy closures, the travel ban, and the immigrant visa pause creates a situation where proactive case management is important. Waiting passively for conditions to improve risks losing document validity and immigration status.
Options for employers sponsoring workers:
Considerations for employees managing their own cases:
Read how Alma's clients have successfully handled complex immigration cases, including researchers, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals from around the world.
Embassy disruptions call for immigration counsel that can move quickly, monitor changing conditions, and pivot between strategies. Alma's attorney-led, technology-enabled platform offers critical advantages for both individuals and businesses:
Rapid case assessment and filing. Alma's platform enables a complete EB-2 NIW or EB-1A petition to be prepared in approximately 2 weeks, compared to a typical industry timeline of 2 to 4 months. When policy windows open or court orders change the playing field, speed matters.
Experienced attorneys with proven results. Alma's attorneys maintain approval rates above the USCIS approval rates for qualified EB-2 NIW cases. Every client works with a dedicated attorney who knows their case, not rotating associates.
Transparent, flat-fee pricing. EB-1A and EB-2 NIW petitions are $10,000 (or $7,000 with an approved O-1). Adult AOS bundles (I-485, I-765, I-131) are $2,000. RFE responses are included in the base fee. No hourly billing surprises during a crisis when extra work is often needed. USCIS filing fees are separate and vary by visa type.
Multi-strategy support. Alma handles the full range of employment-based Green Cards and temporary work visas, allowing your attorney to coordinate across petition types, manage concurrent filings, and pivot strategies as conditions change.
Schedule a consultation to discuss how embassy closures affect your specific case and what steps to take now.
Applicants can monitor the specific embassy website for service resumption announcements. If the suspension is indefinite, applicants can contact the National Visa Center through the NVC Public Inquiry Form to request case transfer to an operational post. All documents, including medical exams, police certificates, and financial documents, need to remain current, as expirations during the delay will require renewals. For applicants in the US on valid nonimmigrant status, Adjustment of Status (I-485) may offer a way to bypass consular processing entirely.
Yes, if the applicant is physically present in the United States in valid immigration status and the priority date is current per the visa bulletin. The employer or attorney files Form I-485 with USCIS, and the case is adjudicated domestically without a consular interview. However, nationals of (or individuals born in) the 39 travel ban countries are currently subject to a USCIS adjudication freeze that blocks I-485 approvals. Nationals of countries on the 75-country immigrant visa pause who are NOT on the 39-country ban (such as Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon) can still pursue AOS.
The travel ban primarily affects visa issuance (the consular step) and, for the 39 listed countries, domestic benefit adjudication by USCIS. If the beneficiary's nationality (or country of birth) is on the 39-country list, a pending I-140 is subject to the adjudication hold. If the nationality is NOT on the 39-country list, the I-140 is expected to continue processing normally at USCIS regardless of embassy closures. The I-140 is a USCIS-adjudicated petition, not a consular action, so embassy closures alone do not affect its processing. Premium processing remains available for I-140 petitions at $2,965 (effective March 1, 2026). The adjudication timeframe is 15 business days for most classifications (EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-2 PERM-based, EB-3) and 45 business days for EB-1C and EB-2 NIW petitions.
No. A priority date does not expire due to embassy closures. For self-petitioned categories (EB-1A, EB-2 NIW), the priority date is established when USCIS receives the I-140 petition. For PERM-based petitions (most EB-2 and EB-3 cases), the priority date is the PERM filing date with the Department of Labor. Under 8 CFR 204.5(e), a beneficiary's priority date is retained even if an I-140 is revoked or withdrawn, provided the revocation was not based on fraud, willful misrepresentation, revocation of the underlying labor certification, or material error. Additionally, under 8 CFR 205.1(a)(3)(iii)(C), an employer's withdrawal of an I-140 after 180 days of approval does not trigger automatic revocation if the petition was not approved through fraud or misrepresentation. Other documents (medical exams, police certificates, financial evidence) must be maintained, and NVC processing steps may need to be re-completed if documents expire. Applicants with approved I-140s who are in the US on H-1B status can also obtain H-1B extensions beyond the 6-year limit while waiting for visa availability.
Options include timely filing of nonimmigrant visa extensions (H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN) to maintain work authorization while green card processing is delayed. For employees from countries eligible for domestic AOS (not on the 39-country ban), filing I-485 promptly can start the EAD and Advance Parole process. Self-petition pathways like EB-2 NIW for qualifying employees provide employer-independent green card options that are less affected by consular disruptions. Alma's business immigration platform provides workforce audits, multi-strategy case management, and real-time status tracking for employers managing complex, multi-national teams. Contact Alma to discuss your workforce needs.
