(UNITED STATES) The U.S. Department of State has launched a US visa overhaul that resets where interviews must occur for nearly all visa categories, with the most far‑reaching shifts arriving on November 1, 2025. From that date, all immigrant visa interviews will be tied to the applicant’s consular district of residence, with only narrow room to request processing in the country of nationality. A related rule for nonimmigrant applicants went into force earlier in September 2025.
The move is designed to bring more consistency and oversight to a large global system and to limit third‑country “visa shopping” for faster dates. For families, students, workers, and employers, the new location rules will shape planning, costs, and wait times through the next travel cycle and beyond.
Key dates and basic effect
- Nonimmigrant visas — effective September 6, 2025: Interviews must occur in the country of residence or nationality. The practice of booking interviews in third countries purely for convenience or shorter lines largely ended on this date.
- Immigrant visas — effective November 1, 2025: Interviews must be scheduled at the U.S. consular post serving the applicant’s country of residence. Requests to interview in the country of nationality will be possible only in limited, exceptional situations.
- Officials state that existing immigrant visa appointments set before November 1, 2025 will not be canceled simply because of the new location rule.
Why the change?
- To bring uniformity and oversight to global visa processing.
- To limit third‑country “visa shopping”, where applicants traveled between countries seeking faster interview dates.
- To concentrate casework where consular teams are best positioned to assess local ties, records, and supporting documents.
Important takeaway: The policy shifts toward more in‑person vetting across the system and fewer pandemic-era shortcuts. That is likely to tighten access in the short term while aiming for steadier staffing and case flow over time.
Countries assigned to designated alternate posts
Nationals of countries that lack routine U.S. visa services will be routed to specific embassies or consulates. These countries include:
- Afghanistan, Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
-
If an applicant actually lives in a different country, they may interview where they reside. But those who remain in a country without routine U.S. visa operations will be directed to designated posts named by the State Department.
Exceptions and discretion
- Consular officers retain discretion to grant rare exceptions for humanitarian, medical, or certain foreign policy reasons, but agency guidance indicates these exceptions will be uncommon.
- Interview waivers have been narrowed: as of early September 2025, many who once qualified for document‑only processing (for example, some children under 14 and adults over 79) are now required to appear in person.
- Consular officers may require an interview even if a waiver might have applied under older rules.
Impact on applicants and stakeholders
Families
- Less flexibility to choose a faster post may extend separation for spouses or parents.
- Costs can rise if travel to a designated post is required (flights, lodging, transport, time away from work).
- Applicants requesting processing outside their consular district should expect more requests for proof of residence (e.g., legal stay, long‑term address).
Employers
- Hiring timelines need to stretch to cover scheduling limits in the correct consular district.
- Mobility budgets should allow for potential travel to designated posts.
- Prepare residence evidence (leases, employer letters) for employees applying outside their country of nationality.
Students and schools
- First‑time F‑1 students can no longer book slots in a third country purely for convenience during travel.
- Universities should help students book early, update I-20 or DS-2019 documents promptly, and gather financial/enrollment records.
Posts under strain
- Busy consular posts may see longer wait times as third‑country traffic declines and local demand concentrates.
- Over time, the State Department aims for more predictable staffing and case movement by centralizing processing by residence.
Practical scenarios (examples)
- A married couple living in Dubai with one spouse an Indian national: the immigrant visa interview is planned in the United Arab Emirates, not a third country chosen for speed.
- A student from Nigeria studying in South Africa: the student will interview where they reside (South Africa) rather than flying to another country for an earlier date.
- A researcher from Russia residing in a European country with routine U.S. services: they will interview in their country of residence. If still living in Russia, they will be directed to a designated alternate post and must arrange travel.
Documentation and proof of residence
Consular posts may ask for evidence to show where you actually live. Examples include:
- Residence permits or visas
- Long‑term leases or mortgage documents
- Employer letters confirming local work
- School enrollment records
- Utility bills or government correspondence showing a local address
People on short visits seeking processing where they do not live may face hurdles.
Effects for India
- India is not on the list of countries assigned to alternate posts.
- Indian nationals — immigrant and nonimmigrant — may continue to schedule and appear at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, following existing practices.
- The main challenge in India remains volume and seasonal surges, not forced relocation to alternate posts.
NVC and scheduling changes
- Where possible, existing immigrant visa appointments set before November 1, 2025 will be honored to avoid needless disruption.
- After November 1, new immigrant cases will be routed by residence, not applicant choice.
- For nonimmigrant cases, routing logic already blocks routine third‑country bookings not tied to residence or nationality.
Practical steps and timeline (recommended actions)
- Confirm your residence and nationality early; match your interview location to that status.
- Keep records proving residence (residence permits, leases, employer letters, school records).
- Book as soon as your case is documentarily qualified (immigrant) or your application and fee are complete (nonimmigrant).
- If you’re a national of a country without routine U.S. services, plan logistics — including entry visas to the designated post — well in advance.
- Watch for humanitarian or medical exceptions and be prepared to document urgency if requesting one.
- Keep passports valid beyond the interview date and ensure civil records (birth, marriage, police certificates) are current and consistent with your case.
Costs and human impacts
- Advocates note that nationals of countries without routine U.S. services are hardest hit: they often must obtain visas to enter the alternate country before the U.S. interview, creating an extra barrier.
- Possible consequences:
- Longer family separation
- Missed job start dates or lost opportunities
- Delayed arrival for academic programs or medical treatment
These delays and costs are more than financial; they can materially reshape life plans.
Summary checklist
- Know the effective dates: Sept 6, 2025 (nonimmigrant), Nov 1, 2025 (immigrant).
- Expect fewer interview waivers and tighter proof‑of‑residence checks.
- Plan earlier, gather stronger proof of residence, and assume an in‑person interview unless advised otherwise.
- For Indian applicants: continue to rely on India‑based posts (New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai).
Official guidance
Applicants seeking official information on interview rules and exceptions should check the State Department’s visa news updates at:
– U.S. Department of State Visa News
That page provides agency notices on interview waivers and current processing guidance and is the best starting point for confirming how rules apply to specific cases.
Final note: The visa system aims to balance secure screening and fair access. This overhaul leans toward more face‑to‑face checks and firm location rules. Short‑term pain is likely for some applicants, especially those from countries without routine U.S. posts, but careful planning, early action, and attention to official updates can help families, students, and employers adapt.
This Article in a Nutshell
The State Department’s visa-location overhaul tightens where U.S. visa interviews must occur to enhance oversight and reduce third‑country bookings. Effective September 6, 2025, nonimmigrant interviews must take place in the applicant’s country of residence or nationality. Effective November 1, 2025, immigrant visa interviews will be tied to the applicant’s consular district of residence; only limited exceptions allow processing in the country of nationality. Nationals of countries without routine U.S. visa services (such as Afghanistan, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, and others) will be routed to designated alternate posts. Consular officers keep narrow discretion for humanitarian or medical exceptions, but interview waivers have been narrowed and in‑person appearances are more frequent. The changes affect families, employers, students, and institutions by altering planning, costs, and wait times. Applicants should confirm their residence, gather robust proof of residence, book interviews promptly, and follow official State Department updates. India remains excluded from the alternate‑post list and continues using its embassy and consulates in India for processing.
