US Ends Dropbox for H-1B, F-1; In-Person Interviews Now Required Worldwide

The U.S. Department of State has ended the broad Dropbox facility (the interview waiver program) for most nonimmigrant visas effective September 2, 2025, making in-person interviews mandatory for nearly all applicants in major categories such as H-1B specialty workers and F-1 students. The change applies at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and includes many applicants who previously renewed visas without appearing at a window, even if their last visa expired less than 12 months ago. Consular officers retain case-by-case authority, but the general rule is clear: show up for an interview unless you fall into a narrow set of exceptions.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the end of the Dropbox facility will affect hundreds of thousands of travelers who relied on waivers to keep work, study, and family plans on schedule. The Department frames the shift as part of a wider return to pre-pandemic rules with stronger identity checks and fraud prevention.

Who and when this affects

• Effective date: appointments scheduled on or after September 2, 2025.
• Categories impacted (employment, exchange, dependents, and students):
  • Employment/Exchange: H-1B, L-1, E-1, E-2, O-1, TN, J-1
  • Dependents: H-4, L-2, E-3D, and similar classifications
  • Students: F-1
• Previous narrowing: In February 2025 the waiver renewal window was reduced from 48 months to 12 months. Now the waiver is largely gone for these groups.
• Limited exceptions remain for narrow groups such as A, G, and NATO diplomatic/official travelers, some B-1/B-2 renewals, and Border Crossing Cards for Mexican nationals.
• Additional change starting November 2025: interviews will generally need to take place in the applicant’s country of nationality or residence, limiting third-country appointments.

Important: The Department still allows consular discretion in rare cases, but applicants should plan for interviews unless they clearly fall within the narrow exceptions.

Practical impacts — workers, students, families, and sponsors

• H-1B workers:
  • Lost convenience of quick stamping trips between projects.
  • Must budget extra days/weeks for interviews and potential follow-up checks.
  • Expect questions about employment, pay, job duties, and ties to the United States.
  • Bring supporting documents (see checklist below).

• F-1 students:
  • Renewals for continuing programs or Optional Practical Training (OPT) will require interviews.
  • Travel timelines may change — plan with school international offices.
  • Risk of delayed return if interview calendars are crowded.
• Families:
  • Age-based exemptions are eliminated — children under 14 and adults over 79 will now appear in person.
  • Parents must book interviews for infants and coordinate travel around appointment dates.
• Employers and universities:
  • Must revise timelines, travel policies, onboarding schedules, and intake planning.
  • Human resources and international offices expect to update processes to reflect interview burdens and possible delays.

Operational and policy rationale

Officials say the change strengthens screening and deters fraud that can pass through when interviews are waived at scale. During the pandemic, expanded waivers relieved pressure on consulates; now, with demand surging and operations more regular, the Department emphasizes a security-first approach.

• Rationale highlights:
  • Face-to-face reviews help deter identity fraud and detect document tampering.
  • They provide richer context for complex cases and help officers spot suspicious patterns.
• Critics argue:
  • The move risks clogging windows with low-risk renewals and slowing processing for complex matters.
  • Many renewals (H-1B and F-1) are straightforward and have already passed security checks.

Fee changes

• A visa integrity fee, authorized by statute, is expected to roll out in the near term.
• Details (timing and amount) are still pending; applicants should monitor official announcements.
• Continue to pay the standard visa application fee and be ready to pay the integrity fee once announced.

Interview location rule (November 2025) — implications

• Interviews generally will be required in the applicant’s country of nationality or residence.
• This will limit “visa shopping” to third-country posts with shorter lines.
• Applicants living long-term outside their nationality country must be prepared to prove residence to book locally.
• This may force mobile professionals and students to choose between:
  • Booking at their home post (possibly long waits), or
  • Proving local residence where they live to book there.

Document and application checklist (core items)

Applicants should prepare the following and organize them clearly for presentation:

• General:
  • Passport, recent passport-size photos, and previous visas (if applicable)
  • Form DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page
  • Proof of payment of the standard visa application fee and watch for the visa integrity fee
• Petition-based workers (H-1B, L-1, E, O, TN):
  • Form I-797 approval notice for the underlying petition
  • Employer letter confirming ongoing employment, duties, and pay
  • Recent pay statements
  • End-client letter (if third-party placement) listing duties and worksite
  • Category-specific evidence (corporate relationship docs, treaty eligibility, extraordinary-ability records)
• Students and exchange visitors:
  • F-1: properly issued Form I-20, signed for travel; proof of funding; school contact details
  • J-1: Form DS-2019 and program details
  • Be ready to explain academic plans, research, or OPT job link to major
• Other:
  • Any requested supporting documents listed on the local consulate’s instructions

Interview preparation and logistics

• Budget extra travel days for the appointment and for passport return if the consulate retains it.
• If the officer requests additional documents or administrative processing, timelines can extend further.
• Do not book nonrefundable flights until after passport pickup if possible.
• Practice a concise explanation of your job or study that matches paperwork and avoids jargon.
• Keep copies of all forms and present documents in a clear, logical order.

Employer and university actions to reduce disruption

• Employers:
  • Issue support letters early and set travel policy cutoffs before key project dates.
  • Build buffers into start dates and project timelines to account for interviews and processing.
• Universities:
  • Send term-based reminders and flag peak interview seasons.
  • Advise students to schedule interviews early and avoid booking irreversible travel.
• Program sponsors:
  • Coordinate group scheduling for J-1 cohorts to avoid bottlenecks.

Human and community considerations

• Families that relied on Dropbox will need to adjust for in-person appointments, caregiving, school schedules, and elder care.
• Community groups and alumni networks can share local tips about specific posts (document practices, security rules, pickup procedures).
• Clear timelines and early bookings help reduce stress.

Key takeaways and recommended steps

The Dropbox facility that helped many H-1B and F-1 travelers avoid the window is ending for these groups. Mandatory in-person interviews are back. Plan early, prepare thoroughly, and expect more thorough questions and document checks.

Recommended checklist:
1. Confirm your category is covered by the new rule requiring interviews.
2. Complete and save your Form DS-160 confirmation and schedule the interview ASAP.
3. Gather core documents (passport, photos, previous visas, Form I-797 for petition-based, Form I-20 for F-1, program forms for J-1).
4. Prepare to pay the visa application fee and monitor announcements about the visa integrity fee.
5. Plan travel with a buffer for passport return and any administrative processing.
6. Keep contact details for your employer HR or school international office handy.

Official resources and forms

For authoritative guidance and country-specific instructions, consult official pages:

• U.S. visa policy and general guidance: U.S. Visas – U.S. Department of State
• DS-160 online application: Nonimmigrant Visa Application DS-160
• Form I-20 guidance (schools and students): Form I-20 Overview – ICE SEVP
• Form I-797 (petition-based cases): Form I-797, Notice of Action – USCIS

Final notes and outlook

• The Department’s position: the system aims for safer, more consistent vetting in high-volume, high-risk categories.
• Critics worry about clogging interview lines with low-risk renewals.
• As consulates adjust staffing and appointment slots, wait times may improve, but expect regional variability and short-term growing pains.
• Applicants should assume a live interview is part of every trip to renew or obtain an H-1B, F-1, L-1, E, O, TN, or J-1 visa.
• For categories still eligible for waivers, consulates will publish local rules and instructions; consult local consular pages frequently for updates.