The U.S. Department of State announced new interview scheduling guidance for all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants in a notice dated September 6, 2025. This change took effect immediately, with no grace period. Here are the key points you need to know:
- Where to schedule: Nonimmigrant visa applicants must schedule their interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
- Residence requirement: Applicants must be able to prove their nationality or resident status in the country where they are applying for the visa.
- Application fee refunds: Applicants applying for a nonimmigrant visa in another country may find it more difficult to qualify for the visa ("Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the Visa."). If you cancel the appointment yourself, the visa fee is nonrefundable and cannot be transferred to another country.
- Appointment wait times: Wait times for nonimmigrant visa interview appointments vary by location. Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect longer waits.
- Existing appointments: Nonimmigrant visa appointments that have already been scheduled generally will not be canceled.
- Exceptions: This new rule does not apply to A, G, C-2, C-3, or NATO visas, or certain diplomatic or official visa applications. Rare exceptions may also be considered for humanitarian or medical emergencies, or for foreign policy reasons.
Proof of residence in a third country
If you hold a long-term visa, residence permit, or permanent residence status in a third country, that can generally serve as proof of residence. However, if you only have a residence permit and do not actually live there, it is still unclear how consulates will evaluate that. For example, an F1 student who lives in the United States year-round may hold a Mexican resident card, but clearly does not actually live in Mexico.
Harder to get a visa in a third country
The notice states that "Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U. S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the Visa". For many visa categories that still require applicants to maintain a foreign residence, such as B visas and F1 visas, applicants already need to show that they maintain residence in China. Applying at a consulate elsewhere may now put them at a disadvantage. We believe that for dual-intent visas such as H1B or L, it would still be difficult for a consular officer to deny a visa purely because of where the applicant resides. That said, it is not yet clear whether consulates will deny interview waiver eligibility or subject these cases to increased scrutiny.