Foreigners wishing to apply for a US visa will be significantly impacted by two significant changes to the country’s immigration regulations. A new US visa rule makes it mandatory for all applicants to apply for the visa only from their country of residence or from their country of nationality.
US Embassy in India has communicated this in an X post, stating that the State Department will require all visa applicants to apply for a visa from their country of residence or from their country of nationality.
The new visa appointment rule will impact all foreign students applying for F-1 study visas and H-1B work permits, among others.
Interview Waiver Policy
The US has also withdrawn the interview waiver policy, often known as the ‘Dropbox,’ for the majority of foreign travelers looking for a US visa.
The US State Department has limited the eligibility for visa interview waivers to a small number of travelers. Certain non-immigrant candidates were able to submit visa applications via mail or at designated places without having to attend a personal interview.
Beginning September 2, 2025, Dropbox is no longer be available to foreign workers on temporary visas, international students on F-1 visas, and many other US travelers. As a result, the majority of visa applicants must now attend in-person interviews.
New US Visa Interview Appointments Rule
On September 6, the Department of State updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments. The instructions and the new rule were effective immediately, i.e, from September 6.
Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Existing non-immigrant visa appointments will generally not be cancelled.
Applying at the Designated Embassy
However, as an exception, nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations can apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.
In such cases, the Department warns 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.
Although wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments will vary by location, applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.