Indians who need to travel to the United States on short notice for business or tourism will no longer be able to book expedited B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa appointments in third countries—a practice that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic, when wait times for appointments in India had stretched up to three years due to a massive backlog.
According to reports, the US Department of State has announced that non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants must now schedule their interviews in their country of citizenship or legal residence. This rule enforced with immediate effect applies worldwide, with limited exceptions for countries where the US is not conducting routine NIV operations.
Reports cited a statement issued by the State Department confirming the policy change. It says that applicants are now expected to book their interviews at a US embassy or consulate located in their home country or country of residence. Exceptions apply only for applicants from countries without regular NIV services—such as Russia, whose designated locations are Astana and Warsaw; Afghanistan, which is served through Islamabad; and Iran, for which Dubai is the designated post.
Non-immigrant visas include those issued for tourism, business, study, temporary employment, and for individuals engaged to marry US citizens. The current shift is the latest in a series of changes implemented under the Trump administration during his second term, which has seen continued tightening of US visa policies.
The waiting period for a B1/B2 visa interview in India varies by city. Three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai; four and a half months in Delhi; five months in Kolkata; and nine months in Chennai, according to the State Department website.
Travel agents confiding to a national daily said that when international travel resumed post-COVID in 2021, Indian applicants often flew not just to nearby destinations like Bangkok and Singapore, but also to farther cities such as Frankfurt, to attend B1/B2 visa interviews.
They mentioned that H-1B visa applicants had even traveled to cities like Rio de Janeiro and Chiang Mai for their interviews. Two years ago, the US consulate in Frankfurt had allocated specific NIV slots for Indian citizens, as B1/B2 wait times in India then ranged from 15 to 20 months.
Earlier, in a separate update released on July 25, the US State Department also announced that starting September 2, most NIV applicants—including those under 14 and over 79 will generally be required to appear in person for interviews with a consular officer.
There are limited exceptions, including for applicants renewing a full-validity B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of its expiration, provided they were at least 18 years old at the time of issuance of the previous visa.
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