(UNITED STATES) The U.S. Department of State visa page at travel.state.gov has ended most “third country national” US visa processing, ordering applicants to apply in their country of nationality or legal residence starting September 6, 2025. The move, announced under President Trump’s administration, also tightens the interview waiver policy: as of September 2, 2025, most applicants must appear in person, including renewals and people who were previously exempt based on age. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these shifts will reshape how students, workers, and tourists plan trips to the United States and will likely extend wait times in high-demand countries.
Policy changes overview
Under the new rule, nearly all nonimmigrant categories are affected, including:
- B-1/B-2 visitors
- F and J students and exchange visitors (and their dependents)
- H-1B and L-1 workers
- E-1/E-2 treaty traders and investors
- O-1 individuals with extraordinary ability
- TN professionals
Age-based waivers are eliminated: children under 14 and adults over 79 now must attend interviews. The State Department says the changes aim to curb “visa shopping,” tighten security, and bring uniform procedures ahead of major events hosted in the United States, including the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
Exceptions and special cases
There are narrow exceptions to the location rule:
- Diplomatic and official visa classes (A and G) remain exempt.
- Specific transit categories (C-2 and C-3) and NATO visas are excluded.
- Cases under the UN Headquarters Agreement are not covered by the new rule.
- Humanitarian or emergency requests may be considered but are described as rare.
- Nationals of countries where the U.S. does not run routine visa operations must apply at designated posts (examples: Iranians in Dubai, Russians in Astana or Warsaw, Cubans in Georgetown).
Applicants who booked appointments before the change generally can keep them, but all new bookings must follow the country-of-nationality or legal-residence rule. The State Department warns that fees are non-refundable and non-transferable if a person schedules in the wrong country.
A new “visa integrity fee,” authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is expected, though the start date and amount have not been announced.
Impact on applicants
For many people, the end of third-country processing means:
- Longer wait times at home consulates, especially in high-demand countries (India, China, Brazil).
- Students renewing F-1 visas between semesters and business travelers with tight timelines will need earlier planning.
- Families juggling school calendars may face missed start dates.
- Employers risk project delays and onboarding disruptions for H-1B, L-1, and O-1 hires.
The rollback of the interview waiver policy is broad. During COVID-19, waivers were expanded to reduce crowds and clear backlogs; those flexibilities have largely ended. Now:
- Most applicants—including frequent travelers and those with prior U.S. visas—must attend in person.
- Families with children and older adults will face added cost and time burdens.
Industry and advocacy groups warn of higher costs, fewer scheduling options, and deterrence of visits and business travel. Officials counter that the tighter rules improve consistency and security, and reduce forum shopping across consulates.
Practical consequences and recommended applicant actions
Applicants should expect and plan for:
- Potential travel within their home country to reach the embassy or consulate.
- Possible longer administrative processing times.
- Increased total costs if the visa integrity fee is implemented.
To reduce mistakes and delays, applicants can follow this plan:
- Confirm your visa type is covered by the new rules and check local appointment availability before paying fees.
- Book the interview in your country of nationality or legal residence.
- Gather proof of legal residence if applying outside your nationality country.
- Prepare for an in-person interview; assume an interview waiver will not apply.
- Pay all required fees and keep receipts; remember fees are not refundable or transferable if you book the wrong location.
- Monitor the official embassy or consulate website for updates, including any changes to fee amounts or scheduling policies.
The State Department directs applicants to its official portal for current instructions, appointment links, and consular contact details. For authoritative guidance, visit the U.S. Department of State’s visa page at travel.state.gov.
Employer, university, and institutional responses
- Corporate immigration teams are advising employees to avoid international trips that could trigger a visa renewal abroad.
- Universities are urging students with expiring visas to plan renewals well ahead of academic terms and to prepare for local queues.
- Some institutions, according to VisaVerge.com, are adding flexibility on start dates and remote onboarding to account for delays.
Employers coordinating start dates should build extra lead time to account for appointment scarcity and seasonal spikes (for example, summer student traffic).
Changes in context and real-life examples
The policy shift reverses the pandemic-era posture of widened waivers and location flexibility. Supporters call this a needed reset; critics say it may make the United States harder to visit while other countries compete for tourists, students, and talent.
Real-life consequences include:
- A parent renewing a B-1/B-2 visa can no longer schedule a quick trip to a neighboring country with shorter lines.
- A PhD candidate planning a mid-year renewal in a nearby country may now need to return home and risk missing lab work or grant deadlines.
- An engineer moving to a U.S. team will need HR coordination months earlier to avoid losing a project handoff.
Capacity and future outlook
Demand will likely concentrate in home-country posts, increasing wait times until staffing and scheduling catch up. Capacity at designated posts for nationals of countries without routine U.S. consular services may also be strained.
Important unresolved items:
- The timing and amount of the pending visa integrity fee remain unanswered.
- Officials have not ruled out more adjustments before major global events hosted by the United States.
Key takeaway: apply where you are a national or legal resident, expect an interview, and plan early. Mistakes can be costly—fees won’t move with you if you book the wrong place, and exceptions are scarce. Careful planning by travelers, employers, and schools will determine who meets their dates and who faces delays.
This Article in a Nutshell
The U.S. Department of State has ended most third-country national processing and narrowed interview waivers, requiring nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants to apply in their country of nationality or legal residence beginning September 6, 2025, with most applicants required to appear in person as of September 2, 2025. Exceptions are narrow—diplomatic, certain transit, NATO, and UN cases remain exempt—and nationals from countries without routine consular services must use designated posts. The changes aim to reduce visa shopping and standardize security but will likely increase wait times, costs, and planning burdens for students, workers, tourists, and employers. Applicants should book locally, prepare documentation proving residence, expect longer processing, and note fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. A visa integrity fee is authorized but details are pending.
