US tightens visa rules for non-immigrant applicants. What does it means for Indians ?
PTC News Desk: The United States is strengthening its visa rules as the US State Department has issued fresh directives for non-immigrant visa applicants, effective immediately. According to the directives, the non-immigrant visa applicants will no longer be able to schedule visa interview abroad.
The US States Department has issued directives for non-immigrant visa applicants and the new visa rules will be implemented globally, according to a statement released by 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.
The move will directly affect Indians who, in recent years, have booked interview slots in Singapore, Thailand, and Germany to bypass long waits at home. As a result, Indians needing urgent travel to the US will no longer be able to schedule B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) visa appointments abroad.
Under the new policy, this option is closed except in limited cases where the US does not usually conduct non-immigrant visa services. Nationals of such countries can apply at a designated embassy or consulate, unless they are residing elsewhere. This list includes countries like Afghanistan, Cuba, Chad, Russia, Iran, and several others.
On September 2, a new rule, making it mandatory for all non-immigrant visa applicants to go through in-person interviews, also came into effect after the US Department of State scaled back the Interview Waiver Program (Dropbox).
This means the majority of applicants will now have to show up at a US Embassy or Consulate, previously exempt from in-person interviews. The affected visas include H, L, F, M, J, E, and O categories, even for individuals over 79 and children under 14.
- With inputs from agencies
