US announces stringent rules for immigrant visa interview locations starting November, key details here

The US has updated immigrant visa interview locations, effective November 1, 2025, requiring applicants to be interviewed in their designated consular district

Updated on: Aug 31, 2025, 20:16:01 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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The US Department of State has announced an amendment regarding the location of interviews for applicants seeking immigrant visas.

Immigrant visas: Candidates will have to be interviewed in their existing consular district starting on November 1, 2025.

There are relatively few exceptions to the Department of State's requirement that applicants for immigrant visas be interviewed in the consular district assigned to their region of residence, or in their country of nationality if required.

The National Visa Center will register immigrant visa applicants in their home country or, upon request, their country of nationality as of November 1, 2025.

New modifications apply to all immigrant visa categories

This change affects all immigrant visa categories, including those applying for the DV-2026 program year's Diversity Visa. Applications must be submitted at designated processing locations for applicants who live in nations without regular visa services.

Candidates will have to be interviewed in their existing consular district starting on November 1, 2025. If they desire, interviewing them in their own nation is an option.

However, citizens of nations where regular visa operations are halted or delayed should apply at their assigned immigrant visa processing location unless the applicant is a citizen of another nation with continuous operations.

The majority of non-immigrant visa applicants will also need to appear in person for interviews beginning September 2, 2025, according to a statement released by the US Department of State.

Also Read: New US immigration rules pose challenges for foreign kids seeking Green Cards; Here's how Indians will be impacted

All about existing immigrant visa appointments

In most cases, appointments for immigrant visas cannot be canceled or rescheduled. As soon as the National Visa Center has set up an appointment, applicants should get in touch with them if they would like to move their immigrant visa case to a different consular district.

Candidates must use the National Visa Center's Public Inquiry Form since they are unable to get in touch with the consular office directly.

The National Visa Center may ask for more information if a candidate wants to interview somewhere other than their designated consular district or country of nationality.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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