Overview

• Effective immediately, nonimmigrant visa applicants must schedule interviews in their country of nationality or legal residence, according to updated State Department guidance issued September 6.
• Existing interview appointments will generally not be cancelled, but applicants filing outside their home jurisdiction should expect tougher adjudications and forfeit nonrefundable, nontransferable fees if they proceed.
• Applicants must show proof of residence where they apply, and those attempting to book in other countries are warned of significantly longer waits.
• Exceptions cover diplomatic and official categories (A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO and UN-related travel) with rare humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy waivers; nationals of places without routine NIV services must use designated posts such as Astana or Warsaw for Russians and Dubai for Iranians.
• Separate tightening took effect September 2 requiring in-person interviews for most NIV applicants, including children under 14 and adults over 79, a shift expected to lengthen waits in India where current B1/B2 interview queues range from about 3.5 months to 9 months across major consulates.