A new directive from the United States Department of State has significantly altered the way non-immigrant visa interviews are processed globally. Beginning immediately, applicants must attend interviews exclusively at U.S. embassies or consulates located in either their home country or the country where they hold legal residence.
The change, published on September 6, 2025, on the official State Department visa portal, abolishes the previous flexibility that allowed applicants to travel to other countries to secure earlier interview appointments.
In its update, the Department stated: “Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.”
Countries under this special designation include conflict-hit or diplomatically isolated nations such as Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and Yemen. Their citizens must now apply in predetermined locations such as Islamabad, Vilnius, Warsaw, Bogota, or Riyadh.
Implications of the New Rules
Proof of Residence: Applicants must demonstrate legal residence in the country where they file their visa applications.
Non-Refundable Fees: Payments made for interviews outside an applicant’s residence or nationality will not be refunded if rejected.
Longer Wait Times: Applicants who attempt to apply outside their country of residence should anticipate significant delays.
While the State Department confirmed that existing interview appointments “will generally not be cancelled,” the updated guidance exempts diplomatic visas, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) visas, and United Nations (UN) related applications.
In Nigeria, this adjustment is expected to heavily impact applicants who traditionally turned to neighboring countries such as Ghana or Cameroon to bypass long appointment queues. With the new system, Nigerians are restricted to Abuja and Lagos embassies unless they have verifiable residence abroad.
This move, according to the U.S. authorities, is designed to streamline global processing and manage security more effectively.
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