U.S. officials are reporting that an employee found and opened an envelope containing a “powder.” As a result, the U.S. Consulate General shut down the Tianyu office for two days. A two-day closure could affect some 1,800 visas of the 121,000 they annually process. This is significant for EB-5 because the Tianyu office contains the Immigrant Visa Unit , which processes EB-5 visa applications and holds interviews.

The government declared this to be a preventative measure as no one seems to have contracted any health issue. Moreover, the powder could not reach the public.

Interviewees should check the schedule on-line before they go for their interview. If the Consulate cancels their interview, interviewees should find an email describing as much in their inbox.