US State Department Ends Visa Interview Waiver for Most Non-Immigrant Applicants

The US State Department has discontinued the popular visa interview waiver, also known as the Dropbox facility, for most non-immigrant visa applicants. Effective September 2, 2025, most US travelers will be required to attend in-person interviews for their visa applications. The new rule has restricted the eligibility for visa interview waivers, limiting it to a few categories, including government and diplomatic officials, and renewals for B1/B2 tourists and business travelers within 12 months after visa expiration.

Key Takeaways:

• The US State Department has ended the visa interview waiver policy, also known as the Dropbox facility, for most non-immigrant visa applicants.
• The new rule will require most applicants to attend in-person interviews for their visa applications, starting September 2, 2025.
• Eligibility for the Interview Waiver is restricted to certain B1/B2 visa holders, government and diplomatic officials, and renewals for B1/B2 tourists and business travelers within 12 months after visa expiration.
• Foreign workers on temporary visas, international students on F-1 visas, and employees on H-1B specialist occupation visas or L-1 visas for intracompany transfers will be required to attend in-person interviews.
• Children under the age of 14 and adults over the age of 79, who were previously excluded from interviews, are now required to attend in person.
• The change is expected to increase visa backlogs and delay admissions for Indian students in US universities.
• Congressmen are questioning the State Department about how it plans to deal with a backlog of visas that could cause Indian students' admission to US schools and universities to be delayed this Fall.
• The State Department has limited the eligibility for visa interview waivers, restricting it to a very few travelers.
• The new rule aims to increase the security of the US visa application process.

Sources:

• [State Department]
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