NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of State has implemented a significant policy change for non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants, requiring them to schedule their interview appointments at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or legal residence. This new rule, which is effective immediately, ends a popular workaround that many travelers, particularly from India, used to bypass lengthy visa interview backlogs in their home country.
Previously, due to the massive backlog of applications that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian travelers could secure quicker B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visa appointments in other countries. Travel agents reported that Indian nationals would travel to places like Bangkok, Singapore, Frankfurt, and even Rio de Janeiro to get their visas processed more quickly. This option became a necessity for many, as wait times for a visa interview in India stretched up to three years at the peak of the backlog.
The new policy notice from the State Department states, “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.” An exception is made for nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine non-immigrant visa operations, who must apply at a designated embassy or consulate. The State Department has also clarified that existing non-immigrant visa appointments will generally not be canceled.
This latest move is part of a series of changes to U.S. visa rules. As of September 2, 2025, the U.S. also tightened its interview waiver policy, requiring most non-immigrant visa applicants—including those under the age of 14 and over 79—to attend an in-person interview. This change, along with the new location rule, is expected to increase wait times for visa appointments in high-demand countries like India.
According to the State Department website, the average wait time for a B1/B2 visa interview in major Indian cities currently ranges from three-and-a-half months in Hyderabad to nine months in Chennai. With the “third-country” option no longer available, travel industry experts anticipate these wait times could increase further as more applicants are funneled to consulates within India. The change affects a wide range of NIV categories, including those for business, tourism, students, and temporary workers.