Department of State Update on Visa Interview Appointments

Published On: September 16, 2025
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The U.S. Department of State made a recent update on adjudicating nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective September 6, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or residence. Applicants will need to prove residence in the application process. For those applicants of countries that do not have a U.S. Embassy or Consulate will need to apply at country specific designation location(s).

An applicant scheduling a visa appointment outside their country of residence may have difficulty qualifying for the visa and can expect significantly longer wait times for the appointment.

If you have a scheduled visa interview appointment before the effective date of September 6th, those appointments will not be cancelled.

What can you do on your end if you plan to travel in the future?

  1. Plan ahead and check the current visa wait times in your country of residence. We ask that you continue to keep our office updated on your international travel plans.
  2. Anticipate potential delays such as longer visa waits times, extra vetting.
  3. Should you travel, continue to keep OIS and your supervisor updated on your visa progress.
  4. Update the OIS following your return by providing your new visa stamp/foil copy and I-94 arrival record.

As always, do not hesitate to contact OIS. Your advisor will review your immigration documents and provide you with international travel feedback.

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Article Categories: News, Travel, Visa