How to Move to the USA During the Consular Interview Pause: The O-1 Visa Route

The USA has cancelled over 170,000 immigration visas and extended the pause on scheduling consular interviews worldwide. However, this creates favorable conditions for those ready to act now: O-1 and EB1A visas for professionals remain unrestricted and allow you to move within 9 months, bypassing queues.

What Actually Happened to Visas

The USA has cancelled a large number of visas, but it’s important to distinguish between their types. Non-immigrant visas have been cancelled—tourist visas, student visas, work visas like H1B. Immigration visas and green cards have not been affected in any way.

The lifting of the visa pause for 75 countries, including Russia and other post-Soviet republics, is a positive development. Those who have already completed their interview will receive visas soon if they pass the public charge examination, which recently came into effect.

New restrictions on scheduling immigration interviews are named as temporary. Since they also affected Western countries, consulates are likely to increase their capacity within one and a half to two years. If you’re thinking about restrictions at the time of your future interview, they may already be cancelled by then. Putting your case on hold for 2 years means wasting time.

Talent Visas O-1 and EB1A: Bypassing Consulates

The best combinations for relocation now are O-1 with transition to EB1A or O-1 with transition to national interest (NIW). These are visas for professionals with recognition and accomplishments in their industry.

The O-1 visa does not require you to be an international award winner or Oscar holder. It’s a visa for a skilled specialist in your field. You can obtain it in 6 months and receive the visa itself at the consulate within 2–3 months after approval. In total, within 9 months you can move with your family to the USA, start working, and develop your green card case.

The difference between EB1A and NIW depends on which path you choose. If your project benefits America—EB1A is appropriate. If you continue to develop in your field and gain recognition—that’s also EB1A. The main advantage: in both cases, you can obtain a green card through adjustment of status, Form I-485, without leaving the USA and bypassing the consular interview.

How to Get By Without an Employer

The main objection: O-1 requires an employer who signs the petition. This problem is solved through an internal and external ecosystem of potential employers who are willing to sign the petition. Details of these programs are discussed at a personal meeting.

Relocation and Green Card Timeline

Let’s consider a realistic scenario. If you start your case in October 2026:

• October 2026 — O-1 processing begins;
• April 2027 — O-1 approval;
• July 2027 — arrival in the USA with your family;
• January 2028 — start of EB1A application;
• April–May 2028 — EB1A approval with over 90% probability;
• May–August 2028 — adjustment of status procedure (Form I-485);
• August–September 2028 — receiving green cards.

In total: approximately 2 years from the start of your case to receiving a green card. After that, you will have 5 years to obtain an American passport.

Important About Talent Visa Reform

A talent visa reform is being prepared, announced about a year ago. It will definitely happen, but may be delayed. This works in your favor: you can get approval under the current, more lenient laws, before new rules come into effect under the new administration.