NIV Interview Locations: Apply in Your Nationality or Residence Country

(VILNIUS) The U.S. Department of State has ordered a sharp change in how people apply for a Nonimmigrant visa, directing applicants to book their interview appointments in the country of their nationality or their current residence, effective immediately. The move, announced September 6, 2025, also names specific designated locations for nationals of countries where the United States is not running routine Nonimmigrant visa services. Most existing bookings will stay in place, but the Department warns that applicants who try to apply outside their home country or residence may wait much longer and could lose their application fees if a case cannot be handled at the chosen post. The guidance overrides earlier instructions and applies worldwide, affecting tourists, students, workers, exchange visitors, and other temporary travelers.

Core rule and rationale

• The central rule is simple and strict: schedule your Nonimmigrant visa interview where you are a national or where you live.
• If the United States is not conducting routine visa services in your home country, you must use the designated embassy or consulate named by the Department.
• The Department says this helps:
  • Protect the integrity of the process,
  • Align local expertise with the applicant’s background,
  • Reduce “visa shopping”, where applicants seek shorter lines in countries with little or no connection to their lives.

Consular officers long criticized visa shopping because it strains resources and can lead to incomplete reviews.

Designated locations (selected nationalities)

The Department listed designated locations for Nonimmigrant visa processing when routine services are not available locally. Applicants may still apply in their country of residence if it differs from their country of nationality and if they can prove lawful residence there.

• Afghanistan: Islamabad
• Belarus: Vilnius, Warsaw
• Chad: Yaoundé
• Cuba: Georgetown
• Haiti: Nassau
• Iran: Dubai
• Libya: Tunis
• Niger: Ouagadougou
• Russia: Astana, Warsaw
• Somalia: Nairobi
• South Sudan: Nairobi
• Sudan: Cairo
• Syria: Amman
• Ukraine: Krakow, Warsaw
• Venezuela: Bogota
• Yemen: Riyadh
• Zimbabwe: Johannesburg

Applicants may apply in their country of residence (if different from nationality) only if they can show lawful residence there.

Key requirements and warnings

• Proof of lawful residence is required when applying based on residence. Acceptable evidence can include a long-term visa, residence permit, or other local authorization (lease, employer letter, bank statements, etc.).
• Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you pay for an appointment at a post outside your country of nationality or residence and that post cannot take your case, you may lose the fee.
• Appointment wait times vary widely and are often much longer when applying outside your country of nationality or residence.
• Existing appointments will generally not be cancelled, but applicants should monitor embassy/consulate websites for local instructions, closures, or service cuts.

Exceptions

The guidance does not apply to:
– A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas
– Diplomatic-type or official-type visas of any classification
– Visas tied to travel under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement

Consular sections may rarely grant exceptions for:
– Humanitarian emergencies
– Medical crises
– Foreign policy reasons

These exceptions will be rare. Applicants should not rely on them and should plan to apply in their country of nationality or residence—or at the designated locations when routine services are unavailable at home.

Effective date and where to get local instructions

• The policy took effect September 6, 2025, and supersedes prior instructions about where to apply.
• For practical details—local procedures, fee payment methods, courier options, and security rules—applicants should consult their embassy or consulate’s website and official State Department resources.
• The Department’s page for appointment wait times is the best single view of how busy each post is and typical interview waits: Wait times page

Procedural rules applicants must continue to follow

• Submit the DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) before the interview.
  • The DS-160 confirmation number must match the appointment record** or the interview may be delayed or refused.
  • The Department encourages completing the DS-160 at least two business days before the interview to avoid barcode mismatches and give the system time to update.
  • Official DS-160 info: DS-160—Official DS-160 info
• Interview waiver (drop box/mail-in) programs remain limited and vary by country, visa class, age, and prior visa history—do not assume availability.
• F, M, J applicants must follow current vetting rules, including public social media checks adopted earlier in the year.
• A separate June 2025 travel ban affects eligibility for some nationals; affected applicants can file but may be barred from receiving a visa unless they qualify for an exception.

Fee and wait-time risks — practical impacts

• The fee warning is strong: fees paid for a third-country appointment are unlikely to be refunded if the post cannot process the case.
• Applicants with tight school start dates, job offers, or medical travel should avoid third-country bookings unless they can document lawful residence there.
• Expect longer waits at designated posts, especially during peak seasons (students, holidays).
• Posts like Vilnius, Warsaw, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Dubai, Bogota may see heavy demand and filled calendars months in advance.

Country examples and implications

• Russia: Designated posts are Astana and Warsaw. Families seeking weddings or visits should use those posts unless they can prove lawful residence elsewhere.
• Ukraine: Krakow and Warsaw are designated. Displaced people and students may prefer to apply where they can prove residence in another European country.
• Cuba: Georgetown is the designated location.
• Venezuela: Bogota is the designated location.
• Iran: Dubai remains designated.
• Syria: Amman; Sudan: Cairo; Somalia/South Sudan: Nairobi.

In each case, proof of residence matters. Applicants lawfully living in a third country may apply there but must carry documents proving their status.

Guidance for institutions and stakeholders

• Employers and universities will see reduced flexibility for staff and students who previously used third-country posts to chase faster appointments.
• Schools and sponsors should:
  • Issue documents earlier,
  • Coach applicants on location rules,
  • Prepare for deferred starts or remote options if appointments slip.
• Immigration lawyers expect fewer inconsistent decisions when applicants interview in a country tied to their lives, but warn about the financial risk from the non-refundable fee policy.

Step-by-step checklist for applicants

1. Choose the correct location based on nationality, residence, and the Department’s designated list.
2. Check the post’s website for local steps, required documents, payment methods, and courier rules.
3. Complete the DS-160 early and ensure the confirmation number matches the appointment booking.
4. Gather proof of residence if applying outside your country of nationality (residence card, long-term visa, lease, bank letters, employer verification).
5. Monitor appointment wait times and be realistic about travel dates, school start dates, and work plans.
6. If you change or refile the DS-160, update the booking so numbers match.
7. Arrive early with all documents: passports, visa photos, DS-160 confirmation, program/job letters, proof of funds, and residence proof.

Family and travel planning examples

• A Yemeni parent without residence elsewhere must target Riyadh; avoid third-country bookings unless residence is proven.
• A Haitian tourist should look to Nassau.
• An Afghan business traveler will need Islamabad unless living legally in a third country.

For mixed-nationality families, aligning applications by location and timing can reduce delays.

Enforcement and continuity

• The Department notes existing appointments will “generally” not be cancelled, but consular officers retain legal authority to refuse cases if they judge the post is not the right venue or if the applicant cannot establish ties or eligibility.
• Applicants with pending bookings should recheck DS-160 numbers, gather proof of residence, and arrive with complete records to avoid rescheduling.

Policy context and possible future changes

• The move is part of a two-year effort to stabilize Nonimmigrant visa processing after pandemic-era backlogs and inconsistent third-country demand patterns.
• Success will depend on staffing, training, and how designated posts handle increased flows during upcoming academic and holiday cycles.
• Designated locations may change if posts reopen routine services or if security and staffing conditions evolve. Always confirm the latest instructions before paying fees or booking travel.

Specific impacts by group

• Students: May need to defer, accept remote starts, or secure early appointments. Exchange sponsors should prepare supportive documents.
• Workers: Coordinate with employers on flexible start dates and backup plans if appointments slip.
• Tourists: Avoid non-refundable bookings and secure a visa before incurring major travel costs.
• Low-income families, refugees, and students: Advocacy groups are likely to focus on the non-refundable fee issue as a hardship point.

Key takeaways (quick)

• Core rule: Schedule interviews in your country of nationality or residence.
• If routine services are unavailable at home: Use the Department’s designated locations.
• Fees for third-country bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable if the post cannot process the case.
• Expect longer wait times at third-country or designated posts.
• Complete the DS-160 early and ensure the confirmation number matches the appointment.
• Rely on the State Department and local embassy/consulate websites for the latest, official guidance: Wait times page

The United States has drawn a clearer line on where Nonimmigrant visa interviews should happen: at home or where you live, and at designated locations if your home country’s services are limited. The rule is immediate, the fee risk is real, and the wait-time warnings are plain. Applicants who plan carefully—choosing the correct post, filing a clean DS-160, and bringing proof of residence—will be better placed to move through the system despite heavy demand and tighter venue rules.