In a sweeping policy shift, the US Department of State has overhauled its global visa appointment system for non-immigrant categories. Effective immediately, applicants are required to schedule their visa interviews exclusively in their country of nationality or legal residence. This move eliminates the long-standing practice of booking “third-country” appointments — a workaround widely used by Indian applicants to bypass lengthy wait times at home.
The new directive covers key visa categories including B1/B2 (tourist/business), F1 (student), H-1B and O-1 (employment), and J (exchange visitor). Until now, Indian applicants could secure interviews in countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, or Germany, where appointment backlogs were significantly shorter. During the post-pandemic surge in demand, even US missions in Frankfurt had set aside specific B1/B2 slots for Indian nationals.
The rule change marks a significant tightening of the system, particularly when paired with recent restrictions to the interview waiver programme, which had allowed eligible applicants to bypass in-person interviews. The new measures reinforce residency-based criteria and align with Washington’s efforts to streamline visa processing within defined jurisdictions.
For Indian applicants, the impact is substantial. Wait times for US visa interviews in India have historically stretched to 15–20 months, among the longest worldwide. The inability to book overseas slots will now compel travelers — from business executives to students and families — to contend with these extended delays. Compounding the challenge, visa fees remain non-refundable and non-transferable, and applications submitted outside a home or resident country may be rejected outright.
The policy effectively closes off alternative pathways once available in hubs like Bangkok, Dubai, or Singapore, and is expected to disrupt thousands of planned trips. For many Indians seeking to travel to the US for business, study, or leisure, options have narrowed considerably, making advance planning more critical than ever.
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