Overview
- Applicants under 14 and over 79 in Mexico must attend in-person consular interviews for all nonimmigrant visas beginning September 2, 2025.
- Diplomatic and official visa holders plus 10-year B1/B2 renewals within 12 months of expiration remain exempt if filed in country of nationality, with no prior refusals or eligibility issues.
- Consular officers retain authority to require interviews for any applicant on a case-by-case basis, overriding exemptions when deemed necessary.
- The rule adds a second appointment at Visa Application Centers for biometrics before consular interviews, a change expected to extend already lengthy wait times at Mexican posts.
- This measure is part of recent U.S. visa controls that include a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, a pilot consular bond program requiring $5,000–$15,000 deposits, and tougher USCIS petition vetting.