My immigration visa expired on May 20, since I could not go to the US due to travel restrictions. Recently, I got my interview appointment for renewal of my I5 visa. Could there be any problems as the regional center program is still unauthorized?
The stamp/endorsement in your passport by U.S. Customs automatically extends the validity of the immigrant visa for one year and serves as evidence of your conditional residence status. You can use this to reenter the U.S. after the date of the physical visa foil expiration.
The answer depends on whether you are applying in the same fiscal year or the next one. If in the same year and you can show you were unable to use visa during its validity because of reasons beyond your control, then the consulate can ordinarily issue a replacement visa with the originally allocated visa number within the same fiscal year. But if seeking a replacement visa outside the original fiscal year of issuance, you can reapply by resubmitting the DS-260, but it is likely they will not re-issue until the program is reauthorized.
If you have already been approved, you should have no issues.
Yes, you will encounter problems. I5 visas should not be processed and you are probably dealing with a consulate that did not realize that the program has lapsed. You can certainly show up, but most likely your interview will be canceled after they check their system and realize they made a mistake.
