New US rule bars Indians from securing quick visa slots overseas

NIVs cover a wide category, including visas for tourism, business travel, students, temporary workers, and fiancés of US citizens

Applicants for US non-immigrant visas (NIVs) will now be required to book their interview appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residence, with limited exceptions for places where the US does not conduct routine NIV services.

This change effectively shuts the door on Indians seeking to secure quick business (B1) or tourist (B2) visa slots in foreign countries—a practice that became common during the Covid-19 period when wait times in India stretched to nearly three years due to massive application backlogs.

NIVs cover a wide category, including visas for tourism, business travel, students, temporary workers, and fiancés of US citizens.

Announcing the change, the US State Department said on Saturday: “Effective immediately, non-immigrant visa applicants should schedule interview appointments at the US embassy or consulate in their home country or country of residence.” The new rule applies globally.

Currently, the official wait time for a B1/B2 appointment in India ranges from three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, to four and a half months in Delhi, five months in Kolkata, and nine months in Chennai.

Travel industry insiders recall that in 2021 and 2022, many Indians flew to other countries—including Singapore, Bangkok, and even as far as Germany—to secure B1/B2 visa appointments while slots at home were heavily backlogged.

In fact, the US consulate in Frankfurt once set aside slots specifically for Indian applicants when India’s wait times exceeded 15–20 months. “Applicants often stayed abroad for a week or more, collected their stamped passports, and then returned to India. Even H-1B applicants chose far-off destinations like Rio de Janeiro in Brazil or Chiang Mai in Thailand for their interviews,” said a senior travel agent was quoted as saying by Times of India.

That option no longer exists. The State Department has clarified that only nationals of countries without routine US visa services may apply elsewhere, at designated locations. For example, Russian applicants can apply in Astana or Warsaw, Afghans in Islamabad, and Iranians in Dubai.

The move is part of a broader tightening of US visa policies under President Donald Trump’s second term. From September 2, nearly all NIV applicants—regardless of age—must attend an in-person interview with a consular officer, according to a July 25 update. Limited exemptions remain, such as for travelers renewing a full-validity B1, B2, or combined B1/B2 visa within 12 months of expiry, provided they were at least 18 when the previous visa was issued.