Starting in the fall of 2025, the process of obtaining nonimmigrant visas to the United States will become significantly more complicated. Applicants will be required to apply only in their country of citizenship or legal residence, and in-person interviews will become mandatory for almost all visa categories. Find out where to apply for citizens of countries without regular visa services, who the new rules for mandatory interviews apply to, and what practical tips will help you avoid visa denial

Starting in 2025, the process of obtaining nonimmigrant visas to the United States has undergone significant changes. The US Department of State has introduced new rules that affect where to apply for a visa, as well as the mandatoryness of personal interviews. These changes affect students, professionals, tourists and anyone planning a trip to the United States. Let's figure out what exactly is changing and how to prepare for the visa process in 2025.

New rules for applying for a nonimmigrant visa to the United States in 2025

One of the main innovations is the rule that applicants for nonimmigrant visas must apply at the US embassy or consulate in the country of their citizenship or legal residence. This rule comes into effect on September 6, 2025 and applies to most travelers.

- What exactly is changing in the procedure for applying for a nonimmigrant visa?

Previously, applications could be submitted in various countries where U.S. embassies were present. Now, most applicants will have to schedule an interview at their home embassy or in a country where they can prove legal residency.

- Where should citizens of countries without standard visa services apply?

For citizens of countries where the United States does not provide regular visa services, application processing centers in third countries have been designated:

Afghanistan - Islamabad;

Belarus - Vilnius, Warsaw;

Chad - Yaounde;

Cuba - Georgetown;

Haiti - Nassau;

Iran - Dubai;

Libya - Tunisia;

Niger - Ouagadougou;

Russia - Astana, Warsaw;

Somalia - Nairobi;

South Sudan - Nairobi;

Sudan - Cairo;

Syria - Amman;

Ukraine - Krakow, Warsaw;

Venezuela - Bogota;

Yemen - Riyadh;

Zimbabwe – Johannesburg.

- Important conditions for the interview for a non-immigrant visa in the USA

1. Proof of residence – the candidate must prove legal residence in the country where the application is submitted.

2. Fees are non-refundable – if the application is submitted in the wrong place, the visa fee is not refunded.

3. Waiting time for an interview – depends on the location, and in third countries it can be significantly longer.

4. Existing appointments – interviews scheduled under the old rules usually remain valid.

- Who is not subject to the new rules for applying for a non-immigrant visa?

However, the new rules also approved a number of exceptions

1. Does not apply to A, G, C-2, C-3 visas, NATO visas, diplomatic and official visas.

2. Limited exceptions are possible in cases of humanitarian, medical or foreign policy necessity.

In-person interviews for all nonimmigrant visa applicants in the United States

Starting September 2, 2025, almost all nonimmigrant visa applicants must appear in person for an interview. This eliminates:

1. Age exceptions (children under 14 and seniors over 79),

2. Visa renewals via mailboxes (Dropbox).

- Who are the new in-person interview rules for nonimmigrant visas in the United States?

Students (F-1).

Skilled workers (H-1B).

Intra-corporate transferees (L-1).

Special visas for extraordinary abilities (O-1).

Visitor visas (B-1/B-2).

That is, even those who were previously eligible for a waiver are now required to undergo an interview.

- Who can still get a US visa without an in-person interview?

Diplomatic and official visas, visas for certain international organizations, special renewals of B-1/B-2 visitor visas, and cards for Mexican citizens.

- Stricter rules for certain countries

Citizens of over 55 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, must be interviewed for every nonimmigrant visa, even if they previously had a simplified visa.

The full list of countries includes: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Practical tips for nonimmigrant visa applicants in the United States

1. Plan ahead – apply for your visa well in advance of your trip or study.

2. Check wait times – you can find out how long it takes to get an appointment in your city on the Global Visa Wait Times website.

3. Prepare your documents carefully – bring the correct DS-160 confirmation page and all supporting documents. If you submitted a corrected form, bring both versions.

4. Appointment rescheduling rule – only one free rescheduling is allowed. A new visa fee will be charged for a second rescheduling.

5. Check local guidelines – each embassy or consulate may have its own procedures, working hours, and interview schedule.

The new US interview rules make the process of obtaining a nonimmigrant visa more structured, but also more stringent. Now it’s important to apply at the right embassy, ​​prepare for the mandatory interview, take into account the longer waiting time, and strictly adhere to the requirements for documents and transfers.

Careful preparation and careful adherence to all rules will help make the visa application process as smooth as possible and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Changes to the US visa policy in 2025 will make the visa application process more complicated and bureaucratic. If you are not sure where to apply, whether you fall under the exceptions, or how to properly prepare documents for the interview, it is worth contacting immigration lawyers.

Specialists will help you:

- choose the right embassy or consulate to apply;

- prepare all the necessary documents and avoid errors in the DS-160 form;

- reduce the risk of rejection with professional advice;

- save time, especially if you have limited time for travel or study.

Do not delay your preparation - timely legal support will help you pass the interview process as quickly and successfully as possible.

Reminder! Starting in the fall of 2025, the cost of obtaining an ESTA to enter the USA will almost double. We have already told you what ESTA is, why the fee is increasing, which countries are subject to the new rules, how you can save money, and what other fees in the USA will increase in 2025.

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