A recent update from the U.S. Department of State indicates a change in procedure for non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants. Effective immediately, individuals seeking short-term visas to the United States are generally required to schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate within their country of citizenship or legal residence. This revokes the previous practice of applicants booking appointments in other countries to circumvent long wait times.
This policy shift impacts various NIV categories, including those for tourism, business, students, and temporary workers. It also affects individuals engaged to marry U.S. citizens. The updated guidelines apply worldwide, affecting all U.S. embassies and consulates.
The change means that individuals, such as Indian citizens, who previously traveled to other countries to secure quicker B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa appointments will no longer be able to do so. This practice was common during the COVID-19 pandemic when application backlogs led to extensive waiting periods in many home countries. For example, in 2021, the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, specifically allocated NIV interview slots for Indian applicants due to the 15-20 month wait times in India. Travel agents have noted that applicants from India would travel to destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, and Frankfurt for these interviews.
The current wait times for B1/B2 visa interviews in India vary, with approximately three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, four and a half months in Delhi, five months in Kolkata, and nine months in Chennai.
There are exceptions to this rule in areas where the U.S. does not conduct routine NIV operations. The U.S. Department of State has designated U.S. Embassy Nassau, Bahamas, to process immigrant visas for residents of Haiti, with all nonimmigrant visa applicants required to apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Haiti. Similarly, the U.S. Department of State has designated the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti to process immigrant visas for residents of Yemen, with all nonimmigrant visa applicants required to apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Yemen. The U.S. Embassy Harare has temporarily paused all routine visa services, including immigrant and nonimmigrant visas. The U.S. Department of State has designated the U.S. Embassy Johannesburg, South Africa, to process immigrant visas for residents of Zimbabwe. All nonimmigrant visa applicants must apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Belarus.
It's important to note that starting November 1, 2025, all immigrant visa applicants will be required to complete their interviews in the consular district designated for their place of residence or, if requested, in their country of nationality.
The U.S. Department of State is also rolling back its pandemic-era policy on visa interview waivers, requiring most nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those renewing H, L, F, M, J, and O-1 visas, to attend in-person interviews starting September 2, 2025. This change affects individual applicants and U.S. employers, potentially leading to longer wait times, added travel costs, and extended visa processing timelines.
Applicants subject to the Presidential Proclamation on Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals may still submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews but may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States. Effective June 9, 2025, the United States is fully or partially suspending entry for and visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries.
