State Department Ends Pandemic-Era Visa Waiver, In-Person Interviews

(UNITED STATES) The U.S. Department of State has ended the pandemic-era visa waiver for interviews and will now require most applicants for nonimmigrant visas worldwide to appear for in-person interviews, effective September 2, 2025. The shift applies across regions and age groups, covering children, senior citizens, foreign workers, students, and frequent travelers who previously qualified for mail-in or drop-box renewals. It reverses broad COVID-19 flexibilities that let many people renew B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F-1 student visas, H-1B specialty occupation visas, and other categories without visiting a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Under the new guidance, in-person interviews are now generally required for all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under age 14 and over age 79, removing earlier age-based exemptions. The State Department says the goal is stronger security screening through face-to-face vetting. However, visa applicants should expect longer wait times—especially in high-demand posts—and more complex travel planning to reach consulates that can accommodate them.

Consular officers retain the ability to require an interview on a case-by-case basis even when a waiver might otherwise be available, tightening review further and increasing uncertainty for applicants.

Policy shift details

While most interview waivers are gone, narrow exceptions remain. Limited waivers may still apply to:

• Diplomatic and official categories (A, G, and NATO series), which follow long-standing rules tied to official travel and international obligations.
• Certain renewals for Mexican nationals holding B-1/B-2 visas or Border Crossing Cards, but only when the renewal occurs within 12 months of the previous visa’s expiration and when strict factors are met, including applying in the country of nationality or residence and having no prior refusals.

For nearly all other major categories—H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1, J-1, and more—applicants should plan to attend an interview for both new and renewal cases. This includes visa holders who have lived, studied, or worked in the United States for years and previously relied on interview waivers to avoid lengthy trips to consular posts.

VisaVerge.com reports this is one of the broadest rollbacks of COVID-era processing relief since global posts resumed routine services, and it will likely reshape travel calendars for multinational companies, schools, and exchange sponsors.

Related 2025 policy changes

• Starting November 1, 2025, immigrant visa applicants must complete interviews in their consular district of residence or nationality. This is separate from the nonimmigrant rules but signals a wider push to consolidate processing and tighten jurisdiction.
• New federal measures taking effect this year require public social media privacy settings for certain visa applicants and continue travel bans on nationals of specific countries.

Taken together, these moves reflect a broader U.S. government focus on stricter screening and enforcement, across both immigrant and nonimmigrant streams.

For official, post-by-post instructions and appointment guidance, applicants and sponsors should confirm local procedures via the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs: Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Impact on applicants and operations

The return to in-person interviews will be felt unevenly:

• Large student flows tied to fall and spring intakes may strain consulates.
• Tech hubs will watch how H-1B, L-1, and O-1 queues adjust.
• Families planning B-1/B-2 travel for medical care or caregiving will need to book earlier.
• Short-term business travelers who relied on quick renewals may see trips slip if appointments are scarce.
• Children and elderly applicants now face the same in-person step as other travelers.

Operationally, posts that expanded mail-in processing during the pandemic must redirect staff to window interviews, security checks, and biometrics collection. Some missions will be ready; others with limited staffing or high demand could face backlogs that stretch months.

Consular officers retain discretion to require interviews in individual cases, but the overall rule steers most people toward the embassy or consulate. Applicants should also expect stricter document review at the window, including deeper questions about ties abroad, prior travel, and work or study plans.

Practical steps to prepare

Applicants can take these actions to reduce risk and delays:

1. Complete the DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application carefully and save the confirmation page. The form is available at the State Department’s official page for the DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application).
2. Check appointment availability early at the embassy or consulate that serves your location.
3. If planning to interview in a third country:
   • Verify that the post accepts third-country nationals.
   • Confirm any added requirements for third-country interviews.
4. Gather category-specific evidence:
   • Students: I-20 forms, proof of funding.
   • H-1B workers: employer letters, petition approval details.
   • Business visitors: meeting invitations, travel plans.
5. Build extra time into travel plans and prepare contingencies for delayed appointments or administrative processing.

Employers, schools, and exchange sponsors should also adapt:

• HR teams: factor interview availability into start dates and assignment rotations.
• Universities: update orientation schedules and offer flexible arrival windows.
• Exchange sponsors: plan earlier outreach to secure J-1 appointments.
• Organizations may consider staging interviews in lower-demand posts when allowed, but must align with jurisdictional rules and host-country restrictions.

Special note for U.S.–Mexico corridor and Mexican nationals

For cross-border travelers and Mexican nationals:

• The 12-month renewal window for certain B-1/B-2 or Border Crossing Card cases is narrowly defined.
• Applicants must apply in the country of nationality or residence and meet strict criteria.
• Any past refusals or misalignment with the rules will likely require an interview, even in otherwise eligible cases.

Security rationale and criticisms

The administration’s rationale is that face-to-face interviews improve security. Consular officers can:

• Review passports and documents in real time.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Assess responses and detect potential fraud more effectively.

Supporters say this reduces fraud and better protects U.S. borders. Critics warn it:

• Adds barriers for well-established travelers.
• Raises costs for families juggling childcare and elder care.
• Hits applicants in countries with limited consular coverage hardest.

Both perspectives have merit. The policy will likely increase travel to posts and create new pressure points—especially for those who live far from a consulate or must secure hard-to-get appointment slots.

Broader ripple effects

The end of the pandemic-era visa waiver likely affects regional mobility and operational planning:

• Multinationals: sudden interview needs can cause lost deals or missed training sessions.
• Students: late admissions may leave insufficient time to secure interviews before semester start.
• Seasonal workers: delays could cause missed windows tied to planting, tourism, or construction.

These tangible costs will show up as delayed projects and changed family plans.

Practical advice and final reminders

• Move early, keep documents organized, and stay flexible about interview locations when allowed.
• Include dependents in planning—they also face interview requirements in most cases.
• If you have a past refusal, prepare to explain what changed since the last application.
• If security checks or administrative processing arise, notify your employer or school quickly to adjust timelines.

Remember the separate immigrant-visa change due on November 1, 2025: interviews must occur in the consular district of residence or nationality. That will reduce venue shopping and may close certain third-country options.

Officials have stressed that consular officers retain discretion to require interviews even when a waiver might seem possible. The safest assumption is that an interview will be required unless a post confirms a waiver under the narrow categories still in place.

For the most current instructions, follow the U.S. embassy or consulate website where you intend to apply and track any local alerts, since procedures can change quickly. The State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs central site links to post-specific pages and updates for applicants worldwide, including those in the United States 🇺🇸 and abroad. As the system adjusts to full-scale interviews again, early planning and careful paperwork remain the best ways to keep applications on track.