Starting September 2, 2025, the U.S. government will end the “dropbox” interview waiver program for most visa categories, including H-1B renewals. This means nearly all applicants renewing H-1B, L1, F1, O1 visas—as well as children under 14 and seniors over 79—will now be required to attend in-person interviews. The only exceptions are diplomatic visas and some tourist visa renewals under specific conditions.
The Interview Waiver Program, which allowed certain visa renewals without interviews, is being largely discontinued. In-person interviews will become mandatory for almost everyone, including those previously exempt due to age or a clean visa history.
Only a few narrow exceptions remain for interview waivers, such as applicants holding diplomatic or official visas (A, G, NATO, TECRO, etc.), and travelers renewing full-validity B-1/B-2 or border crossing visas within 12 months of expiry, who meet strict criteria regarding their application location, age at prior issuance, and visa history.
This policy change is expected to significantly increase the demand for interview slots at U.S. consulates, leading to longer wait times, potential travel disruptions, and logistical challenges—especially in countries like India where visa demand is high. Some Dropbox appointments scheduled for August and September have already been canceled ahead of the official start date, with applicants asked to attend in-person interviews sooner than expected.
For those currently eligible for Dropbox, especially H-1B renewals, it is advisable to renew their visas as soon as possible before September 2 to avoid the new interview requirement. The same applies to families, students, and other visa categories who may face appointment delays and loss of waiver eligibility.
Employers and institutions should prepare for potential disruptions in staffing, onboarding, and program timelines due to these visa processing delays.
In related news, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a major policy update regarding the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). For CSPA age calculations, the visa “availability” will now be determined based on the Department of State’s Final Action Dates chart rather than the earlier Dates for Filing chart.
Immigration advocates warn that this change could severely affect children of high-skilled immigrants from countries with long green card backlogs, especially India and China, potentially causing many to lose eligibility for permanent residency due to aging out.
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