During Covid, Indians flew to Bangkok, Singapore, and even Frankfurt for faster US visas. New rules shut down that option, forcing waits in India.
BY PC Bureau
Applicants for US non-immigrant visas (NIVs) must now schedule their interview appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residency, according to new instructions issued by the US State Department. The change, effective immediately, applies worldwide, with limited exceptions for countries where Washington does not conduct routine NIV operations.
This policy means Indians will no longer be able to book quicker business (B1) or tourist (B2) visa appointments in other countries—a workaround many had used during the Covid-19 pandemic, when wait times in India stretched up to three years due to a massive application backlog. NIVs cover a wide range of categories, including tourism, business, students, temporary workers, and fiancés of US citizens.
🚨 Big Change in Nonimmigrant Visa Processing 🚨
Effective September 6, 2025, the Department of State has ended the practice of “visa shopping.” Nonimmigrant visa applicants must now schedule interviews only at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or…— Daniel Larson 蓝丹烨 (@daniel_s_larson) September 7, 2025
As of now, wait times for B1/B2 interviews in India are:
3.5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai
4.5 months in Delhi
5 months in Kolkata
9 months in Chennai
During the pandemic, many Indians travelled not only to nearby hubs like Bangkok and Singapore but also to far-off destinations such as Frankfurt, Rio de Janeiro, and Chiang Mai to secure faster appointments. In fact, Frankfurt even reserved NIV slots “specifically for Indian applicants” in 2021, when wait times at home were 15–20 months.
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The State Department clarified that the only exceptions to the new rule apply to nationals of countries without routine NIV operations. For example, Afghans must apply in Islamabad, Iranians in Dubai, and Russians in Astana or Warsaw.
This move follows a series of visa-tightening measures under President Donald Trump’s second term. Since September 2, the US has also mandated in-person interviews for nearly all NIV applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, with limited exceptions. These exceptions include applicants renewing a full-validity B1, B2, or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of expiration, provided they were at least 18 years old when their prior visa was issued.
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