Summary of this article
US Tightens Visa Rules as Indian applicants must schedule visas in their home country.
Interviews outside home country may face longer waits and no fee refunds.
B1/B2 visa waits in India range from 3.5 to nine months.
The United States Department of State has implemented new criteria for all nonimmigrant visa applicants, which are effective immediately. According to the department, US Tightens Visa Rules requiring applicants to schedule their visa interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. This change applies to all applicants, including those applying for business, tourist, student, work, or exchange visas.
The new rules clarify that nationals of countries where routine visa services are not available must apply at a designated embassy or consulate abroad, unless they currently reside elsewhere. Applicants must be able to show that they actually live in the country where they are scheduling their visa interview.
Previously, many applicants, including tourists, scheduled their visa interviews in other countries to avoid long wait times at home. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this became more common, as backlogs caused appointment waits in India to stretch up to three years.
The report stated that scheduling interviews outside one’s country of nationality or residence may make it more challenging to obtain a visa. Additionally, fees paid for such applications will not be refunded or transferred. Appoint waiting times vary depending on location, and existing appointments will generally not be cancelled.
Specific exceptions to these rules are allowed. These include diplomatic or official visas, such as A, G, C-2, C-3, and NATO visas, and travel related to the UN Headquarters Agreement. Rare exceptions may also be considered in humanitarian or medical emergencies cases, or for specific foreign policy reasons.
According to the US Department of State’s travel website, the average wait times for non-immigrant visa interviews vary across India. Applicants seeking B1/B2 visas may need to wait roughly 3.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, 4.5 months in the capital, five months in Kolkata, and up to nine months in Chennai.
The US now requires all non-immigrant visa applicants to attend in-person interviews, effective from September 2. Previously, applicants younger than 14, older than 79, or those renewing their visas were exempt. The updated rule is expected to increase visa appointment wait times.
