US Tightens Visa Rules: Applicants Must Interview in Home Country or Residence

The U.S. Department of State has announced a sweeping new rule for non-immigrant visa applicants: interviews must now be scheduled strictly at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate located in an applicant’s country of nationality or their place of legal residence.

This policy, which took effect immediately following its release on September 6, 2025, on the State Department’s official visa portal, replaces all earlier instructions regarding where non-immigrant visa interviews may be held.

Designated Locations for Certain Nationals

For applicants from countries where the U.S. does not operate routine non-immigrant visa services, the Department has identified specific embassies or consulates where applications must be processed. Unless an applicant resides outside their country of nationality, they are required to use these locations. The list includes:

• Afghanistan – Islamabad

• Belarus – Vilnius or Warsaw

• Cuba – Georgetown

• Iran – Dubai

• Russia – Astana or Warsaw

• Venezuela – Bogotá

• Yemen – Riyadh

Key Changes Outlined

The Department stressed three major implications for applicants:

1. Proof of Residence – If applying based on residence rather than nationality, individuals must provide evidence that they legally live in the country where the interview is scheduled.

2. Non-Refundable Fees – Those who attempt to schedule interviews in a third country may face greater challenges in qualifying for a visa. Application fees in such cases are not refundable and cannot be transferred.

3. Extended Wait Times – Applicants who choose to apply outside their nationality or residence country should expect significantly longer waits for an interview appointment.

The Department clarified that previously scheduled appointments will “generally not be cancelled” under the new framework. The rules also do not apply to diplomatic visas, NATO visas, or those connected to United Nations obligations.

Exceptions to the Policy

Despite the strict new requirements, exceptions may still be considered for urgent humanitarian or medical emergencies, as well as for reasons tied to U.S. foreign policy. Applicants are encouraged to consult their local embassy or consulate websites for up-to-date requirements and estimated wait times.

Broader Impact

U.S. officials explained that this change is part of a larger effort to streamline visa adjudication processes, manage significant global backlogs, and strengthen security oversight.

The new directive ends a long-standing practice in which applicants could travel to third countries to secure faster interview slots. For example, Nigerians frequently turned to U.S. embassies or consulates in neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Ghana, Namibia, or Côte d’Ivoire—and sometimes even in Canada or the Dominican Republic—when appointments in Abuja or Lagos were unavailable.

Under the revised policy, Nigerian applicants, like all others, are now required to schedule interviews only in their home country or their country of legal residence. This adjustment is expected to significantly reshape the visa application process in Nigeria, where applicants already contend with some of the longest wait times worldwide.

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