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22h ago

U.S. to Require In-Person Interviews for Nearly All Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Embassies worldwide are advising applicants to expect steeper fees, longer waits under the September 2 rules.

U.S. Department of State sign is seen at the State Department in Washington.
In July, the US announced major changes to its visa interview waiver policy.
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Overview

  • From September 2, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, must attend in-person consular interviews.
  • Broad age-based exemptions and dropbox appointments are being eliminated, reversing pandemic-era waivers and a February rollback that cut the waiver window from 48 months to 12 months.
  • Interview waivers will remain limited to diplomatic and official visa categories and to certain B-1/B-2 renewals that meet strict age, timing and residency requirements.
  • The policy introduces a US$250 Visa Integrity Fee, mandatory social media screening for targeted applicants and tighter DS-160 submission rules.
  • U.S. embassies and consulates are preparing guidance on extended processing times and higher costs, and immigration law firms warn of impending backlogs and planning challenges.