US Tightens Non-Immigrant Visa Rules Effective 'Immediately'. What Does This Mean For Indians?

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Applicants for U.S. non-immigrant visas (NIV) will now be required to schedule their interview appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residency, with limited exceptions where the USis not conducting regular NIV services, according to the US State Department.

On the official website, the US State Dept said,“Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments.”

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Designated Locations for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing. (Source: US State Dept)

“Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere,” it added.

What does it mean for India?

This change means that Indian nationals will no longer be able to secure faster B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa appointments in other countries, a workaround commonly used during the Covid-19 pandemic when wait times in India stretched up to three years due to a severe backlog.

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US visa interview waiver: What are the changes for applicants?

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Department of State made changes to strengthen security in its non-immigrant visa interview waiver programme, got implemented from September 2.

The non-immigrant visa categories consist of tourist and business visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F and M), work visas (H-1B), and exchange visas (J). Diplomatic visas come under categories A and G.

The B1/B2 visa interview process in India is currently undergoing changes, with a move towards more in-person interviews for most non-immigrant visa applicants, including B1/B2 categories, starting September 2025.

The new guidelines stated that the majority of non-immigrant visa applicants, comprising those under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will be required to undergo compulsory consular interviews.

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However, exceptions apply to certain categories, including A-1, A-2, C-3 (excluding attendants of officials), G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, TECRO E-1, and individuals holding diplomatic or official visas.

Applicants should stay informed by checking the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India website for detailed and up-to-date information on application requirements, procedures, and operating statuses.

Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments.

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Earlier this month, the United States introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee, scheduled to take effect in 2026. This fee, which functions as a security deposit, is pegged to inflation and may be refunded if visa holders fulfil compliance conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Indian nationals can no longer use other countries for faster B1/B2 visa appointments.
• In-person interviews will be mandatory for many applicants starting September 2025.
• New guidelines and fees require applicants to stay updated with U.S. Embassy communications.

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