The US has made an important change in the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) rules. From now on, all applicants must attend their visa interview in their country of citizenship or legal residence.
This means Indian citizens can no longer travel to countries like Thailand, Singapore, or Germany for a faster B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa interview.
Covid-19 and Visa Interviews Abroad
During the Covid-19 pandemic, visa interview wait times in India were extremely long—sometimes up to three years.
To avoid long waits, many Indian applicants traveled abroad for interviews. Popular destinations included Bangkok, Singapore, Frankfurt, Brazil,
and Chiang Mai in Thailand. After attending the interview and receiving their passports, they returned to India.
Who Will Be Affected?
This new rule applies to a wide range of visa applicants, including:
Tourists
Business travelers
Students
Temporary workers
People obtaining visas to marry US citizens
Current Visa Interview Wait Times in India
According to the US State Department, the current wait times for NIV interviews in India are:
Hyderabad and Mumbai: 3.5 months
Delhi: 4.5 months
Kolkata: 5 months
Chennai: 9 months
Tougher Visa Rules Under Trump Administration
Visa regulations became stricter during Donald Trump’s second term.
Starting September 2, a new rule requires all NIV applicants, regardless of age (including those under 14 and over 79), to attend a direct consular interview.
Possible Exemptions
Some exceptions remain. People may be exempt from the interview if:
Their previously issued B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa expired within the last 12 months
They were 18 years or older at the time of the previous visa
