Starting September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has made a major change in the visa process.
Now, most non-immigrant visa applicants will be required to attend an in-person interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
This means the Dropbox or Interview Waiver option—which allowed many people to renew their visas without an interview—has almost been completely stopped.
Whether you are a student (F-1 visa), an IT professional (H-1B, L-1), a researcher (J-1, O-1), or even a dependent, you will now have to appear for a personal interview.
Who Was Previously Exempt?
Earlier, many applicants could renew their visas without an interview.
This was known as the Dropbox facility or interview waiver.
It applied to:
People with H-1B, L-1, F-1, J-1, and O-1 visas
Children under 14 years of age
Applicants aged 80 and above
However, these exemptions have now ended for most people.
The U.S. State Department says that almost all visa applicants will now need to meet a consular officer in person to complete their visa proces
