Overview

• Most applicants must now book interviews in their country of nationality or legal residence, with designated posts assigned for nationals of places without routine services such as Russia (Astana/Warsaw), Iran (Dubai) and Afghanistan (Islamabad).
• Applicants who try to schedule outside their home or resident country face tougher qualification standards and longer waits, and fees for such bookings are non‑refundable and non‑transferable.
• Proof of residence is required when applying based on residency, while existing third‑country appointments will generally not be canceled.
• The policy does not apply to A, G, C‑2, C‑3, NATO or other diplomatic/official visas, with rare exceptions for humanitarian, medical or foreign policy reasons.
• The change ends a common workaround used by Indian travelers to secure faster slots abroad and is expected to increase appointment pressure at consulates in India, where recent listings show B1/B2 waits ranging from about 3.5 months in Mumbai and Hyderabad to around 9 months in Chennai.