As per a latest reliable news source, the United States has announced stricter rules for visa applicants, making in-person interviews mandatory for most non-immigrants starting September 2, 2025. The changes, introduced by the US Department of State, significantly scale back the eligibility criteria for the Interview Waiver Program.

According to the US Department of State, all non-immigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, will be required to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer, except in limited cases. The exceptions apply to applicants under visa symbols A-1, A-2, and C-3, excluding attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials.

They also cover individuals renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or combined B1/B2 visa, as well as Mexican nationals holding a Border Crossing Card/Foil, provided the renewal is within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration and the applicant was at least 18 years old when the earlier visa was issued.

This means that while many applicants will face new requirements, a limited pool of business and tourist visa holders can still bypass in-person interviews if they meet these criteria.

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The change will hit H-1B work visa applicants and F-1 student visa applicants particularly hard. Until now, individuals applying for these visas could avoid interviews if their earlier visa had expired less than 12 months before the new application. That provision has now been revoked.

The State Department clarified that H-1B and F-1 student visa holders who previously had a visa that expired less than 12 months before the current application will now be ineligible for the Interview Waiver benefit, effective September.

This means that students applying for F-1 visas and skilled workers applying for H-1B visas will no longer have the option to skip an interview, regardless of how recently their previous visa expired.

The Interview Waiver list, last updated on February 18, 2025, has now been officially replaced. Although some exemptions remain in place, consular officers retain the authority to demand an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis.

The earlier February provision that allowed exemptions for applicants whose visas expired within 12 months was later withdrawn on July 25, 2025. With this revision, only very narrow categories of applicants remain eligible for the waiver.

The visa being renewed must be a full-validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2, or Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals).

Applications must be filed in the applicant's country of nationality or residence. The applicant must never have been refused a visa and must have no potential ineligibility.

Alongside the September overhaul, new rules will come into effect from November 2025, tightening the process further. Under these, interviews must generally take place in the applicant's country of nationality or residence, restricting flexibility for individuals who previously sought visa services outside their home country.

This change is expected to impact applicants living abroad or those who attempt to book interviews in faster-processing consulates outside their home countries.

In addition to the tougher interview requirements, visa fees are also set to rise steeply. Non-petition-based visas such as B1/B2 for business, tourism, and medical treatment, as well as F-1 and F-2 student visas, will see a sharp increase.

The current cost for a non-immigrant visa that is not petition-based stands at $185. Under the revised structure, the fee will increase by more than 148%.

This hike will further add to the burden on applicants already dealing with delays, long wait times, and now, mandatory in-person interviews.

The policy change will likely affect hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants, many of whom apply for H-1B work visas and F-1 student visas each year. The Dropbox facility had previously provided a quicker route, especially for renewals, reducing the need for travel and cutting wait times.

With the new rules, most applicants -- including students, professionals, and even those applying for family visits -- will now need to prepare for personal appearances at US consulates.

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