
09/07/2025
The US Department of State has rolled out a new policy for non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants, requiring interviews to be scheduled strictly at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
The directive, published on September 6, 2025, takes immediate effect and replaces all earlier guidelines on visa processing locations.
According to the Department, nationals from countries where the US does not conduct routine visa operations must apply at designated embassies or consulates, unless they reside elsewhere. These designated centres cover citizens from conflict-affected or diplomatically restricted nations, including Afghanistan (Islamabad), Belarus (Vilnius, Warsaw), Cuba (Georgetown), Iran (Dubai), Russia (Astana, Warsaw), Venezuela (Bogota), and Yemen (Riyadh).
The State Department outlined three major points applicants must note:
Residence requirement: Applicants must prove residency in the country where they apply, if based on residence.
Fees: Scheduling interviews outside one’s country of nationality or residence could make visa approval harder. Fees paid will not be refunded or transferred.
Appointment availability: Applicants applying outside their country of residence or nationality should expect much longer wait times.
While existing appointments will generally not be cancelled, the new policy does not affect diplomatic, NATO, or UN-related visas. Exceptions may be granted in humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy cases.
>>>Read more:
https://diasporaglitzmagazine.com/us-visa-policy-now-requires-interviews-to-be-held-in-country-of-residence/