The United States Government has introduced a new policy requiring nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule their visa interview appointments at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
This is contained in an update published on the US Department of State’s website on Saturday, September 6.
The policy, which takes immediate effect, aims to streamline the visa adjudication process and ensure applicants are processed in locations where they have established ties.
According to the State Department, nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at designated embassies or consulates unless they reside elsewhere.
The policy specified designated locations for visa processing for nationals of certain countries, including Afghanistan (Islamabad), Cuba (Georgetown), Iran (Dubai), Syria (Amman), and Venezuela (Bogota), among others.
“Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency,” the update reads in part.
For those scheduling interviews outside their country of nationality, additional documentation may be required to verify residency, the department said.
It emphasised that this policy ensures consular officers can better assess an applicant’s ties to their home country or place of residence, a key factor in determining visa eligibility.
The policy also addressed visa fees, noting that applicants scheduling interviews outside their country of nationality may face additional considerations, though specific details were not outlined in the announcement.
Meanwhile, the update said existing nonimmigrant visa appointments would generally not be cancelled.
The guidance also does not apply to applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas, applicants for diplomatic-type or official-type visas (regardless of classification), or applicants for any visa for travel covered by the UN Headquarters Agreement.
Applicants were encouraged to check the websites of US embassies or consulates for detailed information on application requirements, procedures, and operational status.
This change comes amid other recent updates to US visa policies, including modifications to interview waiver eligibility and suspensions of visa issuance for certain nationalities.
The State Department advised applicants to stay informed through official channels, such as travel.state.gov, for the latest visa-related updates.
