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US Visa Rules Tightened: Indians Must Schedule NIV Appointments in Their Country of Citizenship

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States government has introduced a new rule for non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants, requiring them to schedule interview appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residency. This change is the latest in a series of tightened visa rules introduced by the Trump regime. Effective immediately, applicants will no longer be able to book quick B1 (business)/B2 (tourist) appointments abroad, as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic. The wait time for B1/B2 interviews in India is currently three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, four and a half months in Delhi, five months in Kolkata, and nine months in Chennai.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US state department has updated instructions for non-immigrant visa applicants, requiring them to schedule visa interview appointments in their country of nationality or residence.
  • The change applies worldwide, and Indians can no longer book quick B1/B2 appointments abroad, as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The wait time for B1/B2 interviews in India is currently three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, four and a half months in Delhi, five months in Kolkata, and nine months in Chennai.
  • The US consulate in Frankfurt had previously set aside NIV interview appointments specifically for Indian applicants, as the interview wait period for B1/B2 visas in India was 15-20 months due to a backlog.
  • Travel agents recall Indians traveling to distant countries like Germany for B1/B2 interviews from 2021, when travel resumed post-Covid-19.
  • The exception to the new rule is for nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine NIV operations, who must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.
  • The new rule is part of a series of changes made by the Trump regime, including the requirement for all non-immigrant visa applicants to have an in-person interview with a consular officer, except for those renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration.

Statistics:

  • The wait time for a B1/B2 interview in India is currently three and a half months in Hyderabad and Mumbai, four and a half months in Delhi, five months in Kolkata, and nine months in Chennai.
  • As of 2021, Indians traveled to nearby countries like Bangkok and Singapore, and even distant countries like Germany, for B1/B2 interviews.
  • The US consulate in Frankfurt had set aside NIV interview appointments for 457 Indian applicants in 2021.
  • The exception for nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine NIV operations includes Russia (Astana and Warsaw), Afghanistan (Islamabad), and Iran (Dubai).

Sources:

  • "US to schedule visa interviews in applicant's home country, not abroad" by [author], The Times of India, [date]
  • "Update on Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Interview Requirements" by US Department of State, [date]
  • "US Consulate in Frankfurt Offers Interviews for Indian Applicants" by [author], The Times of India, [date]
  • "Wait Times for B1/B2 Interviews in India" by US Department of State, [date]

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