Navigating B1/B2 Interview Location: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025 Changes

Starting September 6, 2025, you generally must schedule your B1/B2 visa interview in your country of nationality or residence, which makes changing your interview location much harder. If you apply from India, this rule matters because many people used to look for faster appointments in nearby countries, and that workaround is now heavily restricted.

This guide explains who qualifies, how to change your interview location the right way, what documents to carry, and how to avoid costly mistakes—using the same official systems you already use for B1/B2 visas (including ustraveldocs.com in India).

Why changing your B1/B2 interview location got harder in 2025 (India-focused)

A B1/B2 visa lets you visit the 🇺🇸 for temporary business (B1) or tourism/medical treatment (B2). The process still starts with the online application and ends with an interview for most people. What changed is where that interview can happen and how often you can skip it.

Two policy shifts drive almost everything you’re seeing:

• September 6, 2025 (interview location rule): Nonimmigrant visa interviews—including B1/B2 visas—are tied to your country of nationality or residence. “Third-country” interviews (applying in a country where you are neither a citizen nor a resident) now face much tougher review.
• October 1, 2025 (interview waiver change): Interview waivers largely ended. Even many renewals now require an in-person interview, with only narrow exceptions.

For India, the practical result is simple: if you’re trying to move an interview to a different country only to find a faster slot, your plan is much less likely to work—and it can waste time and money.

To stay current on policy and appointment backlogs, use the U.S. Department of State’s main public portal: travel.state.gov.

Who can (and can’t) change a B1/B2 interview location after September 6, 2025

You can still change locations, but the allowed reasons are narrow. Below are the common scenarios and how they apply.

You can change locations within India

If you booked at one U.S. consulate/embassy location in India and later want a different one, that is usually the cleanest type of change—assuming the appointment system offers it.

You can move your case to a different country only if it matches nationality or residence

If you genuinely live in another country (for work, study, or long-term stay), you can pursue scheduling there. Expect to prove residence. Bring solid, recent evidence.

You should not plan on third-country processing for speed

If your main reason is “wait times are shorter in Country X,” expect tougher questioning and a higher chance of refusal. You also risk spending money on travel with nothing to show for it.

⚠️ Important: Visa application fees are non-refundable, and changing posts can trigger extra hurdles. Treat location changes as a serious decision, not a quick fix.

Step-by-step: How to change your B1/B2 visa interview location (India)

Use this process if you already have a profile and you’re trying to move your appointment the right way.

1. Confirm your “allowed” interview country
   • Before you touch your appointment, confirm the new location fits the country of nationality or residence rule.
   • If your situation is complicated (dual citizenship, long-term residence abroad), verify guidance on travel.state.gov and the specific U.S. embassy/consulate instructions for that country.
2. Sign in to the appointment system you used
   • In India, you typically manage your profile and appointments through ustraveldocs.com.
   • Use the same login tied to your DS-160 confirmation details.
   • If you can’t access your account, use the password reset function and regain control first. Do not create duplicate profiles unless the system requires it.
3. Reschedule or change location inside your profile
   • Look for options like “Reschedule Appointment” or “New Appointment.”
   • If the system offers multiple India locations, choose the one that works for you.
   • If you are switching to a different country because you now live there, follow that country’s process and be ready to prove residence at the interview.
4. Check your DS-160 details and keep them consistent
   • Your Form DS-160 is generally valid for 1 year from submission.
   • Make sure your DS-160 information matches what you’ll say at the interview—especially your employment, travel purpose, and where you live.
   • If your travel plans or contact details changed, update your planning and be consistent across documents.
5. Save proof of the change and plan for wait times
   • Save the appointment confirmation page and any email confirmations.
   • Appointment delays can be long. Some high-demand posts have reported waits of over 1 year and 400+ days for B1/B2 appointments.

Documents you should bring (and what India-based applicants often forget)

Bring documents that (1) match your DS-160 and (2) show you will return after your temporary visit. Below is a concise breakdown.

Required for most B1/B2 interviews

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended stay
• DS-160 confirmation page
• Appointment confirmation
• Photo that meets U.S. visa photo rules (carry a spare even if you uploaded one)
• Fee payment receipt (if your system provides one)

Strong supporting documents (choose what fits your situation)

• Employment proof: offer letter, leave approval, recent pay slips, company ID
• Business trip proof (B1): conference invite, meeting agenda, U.S. counterpart contact
• Tourism proof (B2): simple itinerary, hotel info if available (do not overbook non-refundable travel)
• Financial proof: recent bank statements, income tax returns if available
• Home ties: proof of ongoing work, family ties, property papers, lease, or continuing studies

If you’re trying to interview outside India based on residence

Bring clear residence evidence, such as:
– Long-term visa/residence permit for that country
– Lease agreement and recent utility bills
– Local employment contract or school enrollment confirmation

💡 Pro Tip: Your story matters more than a thick file. Carry documents that clearly support your purpose of travel and your return plans.

Documents table (quick reference)

Fees and timeline realities you must plan for (2025)

Here are the numbers and timing rules you should treat as fixed when budgeting:

• MRV (Machine-Readable Visa) fee: $185 for a B1/B2 visa application. This fee is non-refundable.
• DS-160 validity: 1 year from submission.
• Interview waiver access: After the October 2025 change, most people should plan for an interview. A narrow renewal exception exists for some applicants whose prior visa expired within 12 months, who were 18+ at the time of the prior visa issuance, and who apply at the same post.
• Wait times: B1/B2 appointment waits can reach 6–18 months in high-demand locations. India has experienced very long queues at times, so your best tool is early planning and flexibility.

Common mistakes that cause delays, wasted travel, or refusals

• Booking a third-country interview just to find a faster slot
  • This is the fastest way to add risk. If you don’t have strong residence ties to that country, expect tougher questions and a higher refusal chance.
• Treating “rescheduling” like a free reset
  • Even when systems allow rescheduling, repeated changes can create problems. You also risk losing a workable date while chasing a perfect one.
• Letting your DS-160 and your interview answers drift apart
  • If your DS-160 says one job, one purpose, or one residence—and you explain something different in person—you create doubt. Doubt leads to refusals.
• Overcommitting to non-refundable travel before approval
  • A visa is never guaranteed. Avoid locking in expensive flights or hotels until you have the visa in your passport.
• Weak “ties to return” explanation
  • Officers decide B1/B2 cases quickly. If you can’t clearly explain why you will return to India (or your country of residence), your documents won’t save you.

Next steps: What you should do this week (India)

1. Decide your interview country based on the new rule, not based on rumors about faster slots. If you live in India, plan to interview in India.
2. Log in to your appointment profile (often via ustraveldocs.com) and check which India locations are available before you cancel anything.
3. Prepare a clean document set that matches your DS-160 and supports your return plans. Keep it short and relevant.
4. Track official updates and wait times through travel.state.gov so you don’t plan around outdated advice.
5. If your case involves true residence outside India, gather residence proof now and carry originals to the interview.

For more immigration how-to guides written for real applicants, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.