By AB Wire
In line with the Trump administration’s escalating visa restrictions, the State Department announced Saturday that all nonimmigrant visa interviews must now be scheduled in the applicant’s country of nationality or residence — a major shift that reduces flexibility in application procedures.
“Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments,” the department said in a statement.
Previously, applicants could choose from a wider range of consular posts. Under the new rules, however, interviews must take place at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country or country of residence.
The Department also addressed applicants from countries where the U.S. does not conduct routine visa services, often because no diplomatic mission exists. For example, nationals of Afghanistan, where the United States closed its embassy after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, must apply in Islamabad, Pakistan. Russian nationals, meanwhile, are directed to Astana, Kazakhstan, or Warsaw, Poland, because U.S. consular operations in Russia have been sharply reduced amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.
The policy applies specifically to visa stamping at U.S. consulates abroad. Applicants already in the United States who seek to extend their status continue to file with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) using Form I-129, without visiting a consulate. But anyone needing a new visa stamp — including for re-entry after international travel — must now apply in their home or residence country. The rule does not affect petitions or extensions filed domestically with USCIS, which govern a person’s legal status inside the United States.
Immigration attorneys quickly criticized the change. Houston-based lawyer Emily Neumann wrote on X:
“State Dept’s new rule forces nonimmigrant workers to apply for visas only in their home country. No clear justification—just more hurdles, delays, and costs for global talent and employers. Yet another needless blow to work visa processing.”
READ: Trump administration pushes proposal to prevent ‘visa abuse’ in the US (August 28, 2025)
The law firm Red Eagle Law, L.C. posted on X:
“Breaking bad news: effective immediately, @StateDept will only process nonimmigrant visa applicants in their country of residence. Exceptions are extremely restrictive.”
A list of designated embassies and consulates has been published to guide applicants. The Department has defended the move as a way to streamline processing and reduce administrative complications, even as demand for U.S. nonimmigrant visas — covering tourism, study, business, and temporary work — remains high.
Key details for applicants
Residence requirement: Applicants must show proof of residence if applying based on residency.
Fees: Interviews scheduled outside one’s home country or residence may be harder to qualify for, and fees in such cases are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Appointment availability: Wait times vary, but those applying outside their home country or residence should expect longer delays.
READ: F-1 visa: Students to face stricter rules on transfers and post-study stay in US (
Existing appointments: Most previously scheduled interviews will not be canceled.
Exceptions: Diplomatic and official visa categories (A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO), as well as travel covered by the UN Headquarters Agreement, are exempt. Rare exceptions may also be granted for humanitarian or medical emergencies or for foreign policy reasons.