US Tightens Visa Rules: Indian Students and Visitors Must Apply Domestically

The United States has implemented a significant change in its visa application policy, mandating that Indian students and visitors must now apply for non-immigrant visas exclusively within their country of residence or citizenship. This directive, issued by the Department of State on September 6, aims to streamline the process and potentially curb the practice of applying in third countries to circumvent long wait times in India.

Key Takeaways

Indian nationals seeking US student (F1), visitor (B1/B2), or employment (H-1B, O-1) visas can no longer apply in countries other than their own.
This policy change is effective immediately and applies worldwide.
The move is part of broader, stricter immigration measures.
Exceptions exist for nationals of countries where the US does not conduct routine non-immigrant visa operations.

New Application Mandate

Previously, Indian citizens often traveled to countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and even European nations such as Germany to apply for US visas. This strategy was employed to bypass the lengthy interview waitlists that have been a persistent issue in India, particularly for visitor (B1/B2) and student (F1) visas. In some instances, wait times in India for B1/B2 visas had stretched to 15-20 months, prompting applicants to seek appointments in countries where wait times were significantly shorter.

Travel agents have reported that from 2021 onwards, following the resumption of travel post-COVID-19, many Indians utilized this loophole. They would travel abroad, stay for a week or more, complete their visa interviews, and then return to India. This practice extended to various visa types, including H-1B, with applicants traveling to destinations as diverse as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

Impact and Exceptions

The new directive from the Department of State explicitly states that "non-immigrant visas such as visitor (B1/ B2), employment (H-1B and O-1) and student (F1) can be applied only from the respective country where the applicants reside or are citizens of, with immediate effect." This means that any Indian national who had planned to apply for a US visa in a third country but had not yet submitted their application must now do so in India.

However, the State Department has outlined certain exceptions. Nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine non-immigrant visa operations are permitted to apply at designated embassies or consulates, provided their country of residence is elsewhere. Examples of such designated locations include Astana and Warsaw for Russia, Islamabad for Afghanistan, and Dubai for Iran.

Interview Requirements

In a related update from July 25, the US State Department also reiterated that, effective September 2, most non-immigrant visa applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer. This requirement is subject to a few exceptions. One notable exception is for applicants renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of its expiration, provided they were at least 18 years old when the prior visa was issued.