• Source:JND
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The United States has announced a major change in its non-immigrant visa policies, effectively ending the practice that allowed Indian applicants to schedule appointments in third countries with shorter wait times. Until now, many Indians seeking visas for tourism, business, or study had booked interviews in locations such as Germany, Thailand, or Vietnam, bypassing long queues in India, which previously stretched up to 20 months.

Post-Covid, the US embassy in Frankfurt even allocated dedicated B1/B2 slots specifically for Indian applicants to help ease backlog pressures.

New Rules For Non-Immigrant Visas

Under the new rules, all non-immigrant visa interviews, including B1/B2 (tourist/business), H-1B, O-1 (employment), and F1 (student) categories, must be scheduled only in the applicant’s country of nationality or legal residence. The US State Department confirmed the change, stating: “Effective immediately, non-immigrant visa applicants should schedule visa interview appointments at the US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence.”

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This shift marks a rollback of measures that were initially introduced to ease pandemic-related pressures on consular services. With the restriction in place, planning trips to the United States, whether for corporate meetings, conferences, or personal reasons, has become significantly more challenging.

Broader Tightening In Visa Policy

The change also reflects a broader tightening of US visa policy, part of a series of reforms dating back to the Trump administration, which aimed to standardize consular practice and restrict flexibility in visa issuance. While the Biden administration has eased certain rules, officials have left intact policies that limit cross-country appointments and enforce stricter procedural norms.

In addition to longer queues, Indian applicants now face higher costs. The State Department has recently increased visa application fees, and applicants must also account for travel and accommodation expenses for in-person interviews. For many, this means additional financial and logistical burdens, making urgent travel more difficult to arrange.

Impact On Indian Tourists, Students, and Professionals

Non-immigrant visas cover a wide spectrum of categories, including tourism, business, student visas, temporary workers, and individuals engaged to marry US citizens. With this policy change, Indians applying for US visas will need to plan far in advance, as local consular services are likely to face higher demand and extended processing times. For Indian tourists, students, and professionals, this policy represents a significant roadblock, ending the flexibility that had helped many bypass long delays abroad. 

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