US tightens visa rules: Indians must apply in home country amid rising wait time

The US Department of State has introduced a new rule, effective immediately, requiring all non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants—including Indian citizens—to schedule their interview appointments only in their country of citizenship or legal residence. This move is aimed at closing a loophole where applicants would book interviews from neighbouring countries with shorter wait times.

The new visa procedures will be applied globally, according to a statement from the US State Department on Saturday. "Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated instructions for non-immigrant visa applicants... (they) should schedule visa interview appointments at the US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence," the statement said.

This change will directly affect many Indians who, in recent years, have sought interview slots in countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Germany to bypass domestic delays. Under the new rules, they can no longer book B1 (business) or B2 (tourism) visa appointments overseas, except in rare cases where the US does not conduct regular visa operations.

Applicants from countries such as Afghanistan, Cuba, Chad, Russia, and Iran, where routine NIV processing is unavailable, may still apply at designated embassies or consulates unless they legally reside elsewhere.

Industry experts warn that the new restrictions could further intensify the already growing backlog. Visa wait times earlier this year ranged from 3.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, to 5 months in Kolkata, and in Chennai, the wait stretched to an unprecedented nine months.