US Visa Rules Require Indian Nationals to Apply in India

The United States has rolled out broad visa policy changes that affect how Indian nationals and other foreign passport holders apply for nonimmigrant visas. Effective September 2025, nearly all applicants must attend in-person interviews, and Indian citizens are directed to book appointments only in India rather than in third countries. The shift, confirmed by State Department actions on September 2 and September 6, 2025, removes interview waivers for most categories and limits where applicants can file, narrowing options that many travelers relied on to cut long waits.

The change hit public attention first for B1/B2 visitor visas, but it applies widely across categories. Applicants for H-1B, L-1, F-1, O-1, and other nonimmigrant visas now face a uniform requirement to appear at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Indian families who previously used consulates in the UAE, Singapore, or Canada to find earlier dates will be steered back to posts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata.

State Department guidance also ends broad interview waivers, pulling children under 14 and seniors over 79 back into the interview line except in limited cases. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the policy aims to manage demand, reduce “visa shopping,” and make screening consistent across posts, but it will also raise planning burdens for travelers and employers.

Why the change now

Officials cite the backlog that ballooned during the pandemic—waits stretched into years for some categories—as a key reason for these steps. The move is also rooted in tightened security vetting and process uniformity that began during President Trump’s tenure and continued under President Biden.

The Department of State has not characterized this as a formal ban on applying outside one’s home country, but the September 6, 2025 guidance warns that applying abroad may make it harder to qualify, effectively steering people to their country of nationality or residence. For Indian citizens, that means India.

Immediate practical effects

Policy changes of this scale ripple quickly through travel plans. Many Indian business travelers used to book quick trips to a third country to secure a visitor visa for a trade show or client meeting in the United States. Students sometimes tried the same workaround when faced with backlogged calendars. That option is now far less practical.

U.S. posts in India already carry heavy demand; the new rules will concentrate it further. Applicants will need to plan earlier and prepare more carefully. Rescheduling options are tighter: many centers allow only one free reschedule; after that, you may need to pay a fresh fee to book again. Those with urgent travel should check appointment calendars often and be realistic about timing.

Business leaders in India warn of delayed trips for sales teams, executive visits, and technical meetings. HR managers say workers due for H-1B or L-1 stamping may face extended time away from projects if they travel to India for renewals, with return dates pinned to appointment availability and post-interview processing.

Important: Consular officers retain discretion to require an interview even when an exemption technically exists.

Key policy points (summary)

• Interview waivers ended for most categories as of September 2, 2025.
• Applicants are instructed to schedule interviews in their country of nationality or residence per the September 6, 2025 guidance.
• Children under 14 and seniors over 79 must attend interviews, except for narrow exemptions (e.g., certain diplomatic or official visas and limited renewals for some nationalities).
• Applying in a third country is not formally banned, but the guidance makes such filings more difficult and may undermine eligibility.
• Consular officers can still require interviews or additional documentation at their discretion.

Policy Changes Overview

• Mandatory in-person interviews for most nonimmigrant visas: Visitors (B1/B2), workers (H-1B, L-1, O-1), and students (F-1) must appear at a consulate.
• Country-specific filing: Applicants should schedule only in their country of nationality or residence; applying elsewhere may complicate qualification.
• Third-country applications curtailed: Not a formal ban, but effectively limits third-country filing used to bypass delays.
• Exceptions remain narrow: Certain diplomatic and international organization cases and some renewals for specific nationalities may qualify; consular officers can still require an interview.

Impact by applicant type

• Visitors (B1/B2)
  • Indian citizens can no longer rely on third-country consulates to trim waits.
  • All B1/B2 applications should be filed in India, with interviews at posts inside the country.
• Workers (H-1B, L-1, O-1)
  • Expect longer trips if appointment dates fall weeks or months out.
  • Employers should plan buffers for client projects and deliverables.
• Students (F-1)
  • Apply early and ensure the printed I-20, fee receipts, and academic records match the DS-160 details.
  • Cutting it close to term start is risky.
• Families
  • Every member—including children under 14—must attend the interview unless covered by a narrow exemption.
  • Parents will need to arrange school absences and longer trips to consular cities.
• Booking and rescheduling
  • Most systems offer one free reschedule; additional changes may require a new fee payment tied to the receipt number.

Step-by-step process in India (what applicants should expect)

1. Complete the online nonimmigrant application (DS-160).
2. Pay the visa fee and keep the receipt.
3. Book the interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India.
4. Prepare required documents and originals/copies.
5. Attend the in-person interview.
6. Wait for adjudication and passport return.

The required form is the online DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application). You can access the official DS-160 instructions and form through the U.S. Department of State’s website: DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Ensure every family member has a separate DS-160, including children.

The State Department’s broader nonimmigrant framework, including policy updates and process guidance, is published at travel.state.gov. Applicants in India should monitor the U.S. Embassy and Consulates’ local instructions for New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata regarding appointment booking, document drop-off, and passport delivery.

Common pitfalls and document checklist

• A common mistake is bringing the wrong DS-160 confirmation. Print the exact confirmation tied to the scheduled appointment and double-check the barcode.
• Carry the visa fee receipt, passport, photos that meet posted specs, and the correct DS-160 confirmation page.
• Bring originals and copies of supporting documents:
  • Employment letters, pay slips, and project descriptions (for work visas)
  • I-20 and school records (for students)
  • Proof of ties to India and financial support
  • Invitation/meeting/trade-show documentation (for visitors)

What exemptions remain?

• Diplomatic and official visas and some visa categories linked to international organizations may still qualify for waivers.
• Certain renewals (for example, some Mexican nationals with full-validity B1/B2 visas and border crossing cards) continue under older rules.
• Even when an exemption exists, consular officers can request an interview if the case raises concerns.

Broader context: visa backlog and immigrant visas

The timing of these moves overlaps with a tight Visa Bulletin for India on employment-based immigrant visas. The September 2025 bulletin shows little movement, with EB-2 still stuck at January 1, 2013. While the bulletin applies to immigrant visas—not the nonimmigrant categories affected by these shifts—the slow movement illustrates wider pressure on U.S. visa systems for Indian applicants.

Practical steps for applicants and employers (recommended actions)

• Start early. Book your appointment months ahead whenever possible.
• Complete the DS-160 carefully. Keep names, travel plans, and employer or school details consistent.
• Print the correct DS-160 confirmation page and carry the visa fee receipt, passport, and compliant photos.
• If you must reschedule, try to do it once; a second change can trigger a new fee.
• Bring originals and copies of supporting documents; be prepared to show ties to India and return plans.
• Avoid third-country filings unless you have clear residence or nationality links there; the new guidance warns this may undercut your case.

Employers should:
– Adjust hiring and travel calendars.
– Factor in time for interviews and possible administrative processing.
– Prepare strong documentation packages and letters explaining the trip purpose and the worker’s role.
– Consider staggered travel plans to reduce project disruption.

Legal practitioners expect the rules to remain while posts work through queues. Some see benefits—more consistent screening, fewer duplicate bookings worldwide, and better alignment between home-country ties and consular assessments—yet many anticipate increased pressure on appointment supply in India. If history guides, the system may improve as staffing and calendars expand, but that relief will take time.

Human impact and final takeaway

The human impact is immediate: a small business owner in Pune may delay a trade visit; a graduate might miss orientation; parents will juggle exams with interview dates. These changes affect lives, budgets, and work plans.

The path forward for Indian applicants is clear, even if it’s tougher: comply with the new in-person interviews rule, apply in India, and build more lead time into every plan. Keep checking official channels for updates and resist shortcuts that used to work before September 2025. The rules aim to make processing steadier across posts; for now, they also make patience part of the travel checklist.