US Visa Rules Tighten Further: Quick Appointments for Indians Set to Stop

In a recent directive, the United States has tightened the visa rules further, which has ended the option for quick appointments abroad for Indian travellers. This move is yet another step towards stricter immigration enforcement under the current administration. Now, those who are applying for the US non-immigrant visas (NIV) need to schedule their interview appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residence, except for the locations where the US is not currently offering regular NIV services.

This new regulation requires that Indians who travel to the US on short notice will no longer be able to book a quick B1(business)/ B2 (tourist) appointment date abroad. While this was highly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be non-functional from now on.

This significant change impacts Indian travelers, students, professionals, and families seeking temporary US visas, including business (B1), tourism (B2), student (F-1), and work visas (H-1B, O-1). As a responsible EB-1A green card consultancy, here is our detailed breakdown of this emergent policy.

What changed in the US non-immigrant visa policy?

Until now, applicants, especially from high-demand countries like India, Brazil, or China, could bypass domestic backlogs by scheduling interviews abroad, such as in Singapore or Germany. With long wait times in India, this workaround made it possible to travel to the US more quickly. However, effective September 6, 2025, all new interview appointments for non-immigrant visas must be scheduled in the applicant’s home country or country of legal residence.

Existing appointments in third countries will not be canceled, in all likelihood. However, any new bookings made after the rule came into force must strictly follow this guideline. If an applicant mistakenly pays and books in another country, the fee is non-refundable.

Impact on visa categories and applicants

The new policy covers nearly all non-immigrant visa categories:

• Business and tourist (B1/B2) applications
• Student visas (F-1)
• Temporary work (H-1B, L-1, O-1)
• Individuals engaged with US citizens

This rule also ends most age-based exemptions and “drop box” renewals. Previously, interview waivers were available for applicants under 14 or above 79, and for many renewing their visas. Now, most applicants, including students and frequent travelers, must attend an in-person interview.

Certain exceptions remain for renewal of full-validity B-1/B-2 visas within 12 months, and for nationals of countries without routine US visa operations (like Russians or Afghans).

Why US Visa processing will take longer

For countries like India, where wait times for a B1/B2 interview can exceed nine months in major cities, the new rule will further strain the consular system. Travelers can no longer book faster interview slots abroad. This could potentially delay the urgent business or family visits.

With global events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics on the horizon, US consulates expect surges in demand and longer processing times for all applicants.

As one of the leading EB1 experts and stakeholders, we continually stay updated on all changes and transformations in the visa landscape. Bookmark our blog section to get all the latest updates and news about the contemporary world of visas and green cards.