Chicago, USA: The United States has announced a major policy shift that directly affects Indian travelers, who already endure some of the longest visa waiting periods in the world.
The US State Department declared on September 6 that applicants for all non-immigrant visa categories must now book their interviews only in their country of nationality or legal residence. This ends the option of scheduling appointments in third countries — a route many Indians had been using to bypass the massive delays at home.
“Effective immediately, applicants for non-immigrant visas should schedule their interview appointments only at the US embassy or consulate in their home country or country of residence,” the official notice stated.
For Indian travelers, the move is especially significant. In recent years, interview backlogs in India have stretched to as long as 15–20 months. To shorten the wait, many applicants had been traveling to countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Germany, or the UAE. At one point, Frankfurt even dedicated special B1/B2 (business and tourist) visa slots to Indian citizens after the pandemic.
The revised rules affect every major visa category — including B1/B2 (business and tourist), F1 (students), H-1B and O-1 (employment), and J (exchange visitors). Anyone applying outside their country without proof of residence could now be denied. With visa fees both non-refundable and non-transferable, the risk for applicants is even higher.
This update also comes alongside tighter restrictions on the interview waiver program, which previously allowed certain applicants to skip in-person interviews. Together, the changes reflect a stricter US stance on visa processing and enforcement of home-country applications.
The hardest hit will be Indian families, students, and professionals who depended on quicker appointments abroad to meet urgent travel needs. Whether it was attending a family wedding, a business conference, or joining classes abroad, many relied on locations such as Bangkok, Dubai, or Singapore. With those routes now closed, applicants may face delays or even cancellations of their travel plans.
For the time being, Indians will need to secure interview slots only at the four US consulates in India — New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
