Overview
- Effective September 6, nonimmigrant visa applicants are directed to book interviews in their country of nationality or legal residence, with existing appointments generally honored.
- Immigrant visa interviews will be limited to applicants’ home or resident countries starting November 1, with the National Visa Center assigning locations and handling any change requests.
- Eligibility for interview waivers, known as Dropbox, was sharply narrowed on September 2, ending no-interview renewals for many categories including F‑1 students and temporary workers.
- The State Department warns that applying outside one’s home or resident country may make qualification harder and wait times significantly longer, and applicants must be able to prove local residence when relying on residency.
- For India, immigrant and nonimmigrant interviews will continue at consulates in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata, while Indians living abroad will be processed in their country of residence unless they request otherwise under limited exceptions.