Until now, visa applicants often had flexibility to choose a consulate abroad. For example, traveling to a third country to find shorter wait times or more convenient appointments. Under the new policy, most applicants must interview in their own country of residence or nationality.
In other words, the option to use a “third-country” consulate is largely eliminated. This change fits the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration oversight.
What are the changes?
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Immigrant visas
Beginning November 1, 2025, nearly all U.S. immigrant visa applicants will be scheduled for interviews in the consular district of their place of residence (or, if they request it, their country of nationality). The rule covers all immigrant categories – family-based, employment-based, and even Diversity Visa cases. The National Visa Center (NVC) will generally maintain any already-scheduled appointments to minimize disruptions.
However, applicants living in countries with suspended or paused visa services must travel to the designated processing posts listed below to attend their interviews. In practice, this change ends the long-standing “third-country national” (TCN) process that had allowed overseas interviews. Only narrow exceptions apply – for example, interviews can still be waived for certain diplomatic or emergency situations.
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Nonimmigrant visas
The same principle now applies to temporary visas (B-1/B-2 tourist visas, student visas, work visas, etc.). Effective September 6, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants must schedule their interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of residence or nationality.
Nationals of certain countries where routine visa services are unavailable (for example, Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, etc.) must use specific alternate posts, as shown in the table below. The Department warns that filing an interview application outside the required jurisdiction can make qualification “more difficult” – and, in any case, the visa application fee will not be refunded or transferred if you apply outside your home country.
Existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally be honored under the new rule. Like the immigrant rule, the NIV guidance carves out only the most limited exceptions (e.g. diplomats, humanitarian emergencies, certain UN-related travel, etc.).
Affected Countries
The new policy mainly targets applicants from countries where U.S. consular services are disrupted. Below are the affected countries and their designated interview locations. (For all other nationalities or residences, applicants should continue using their local U.S. embassy or consulate as usual. You can find a directory of all U.S. consulates at Travel.State.Gov.
Designated Locations for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing
| National of (Nonimmigrant Visa) | Designated Location(s) |
| Afghanistan | Islamabad |
| Belarus | Vilnius, Warsaw |
| Chad | Yaoundé |
| Cuba | Georgetown |
| Haiti | Nassau |
| Iran | Dubai |
| Libya | Tunis |
| Niger | Ouagadougou |
| Russia | Astana, Warsaw |
| Somalia | Nairobi |
| South Sudan | Nairobi |
| Sudan | Cairo |
| Syria | Amman |
| Ukraine | Krakow, Warsaw |
| Venezuela | Bogota |
| Yemen | Riyadh |
| Zimbabwe | Johannesburg (South Africa) |
Immigrant Visa Designated Processing Posts
| Country of Residence (Immigrant Visa) | Designated Post(s) |
| Afghanistan (except Special Immigrant Visas) | Islamabad |
| Belarus | Warsaw |
| Eritrea | Addis Ababa, Nairobi |
| Haiti | Nassau |
| Iran | Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Yerevan |
| Libya | Tunis |
| Niger | Abidjan |
| North Korea | Guangzhou |
| Russia | Warsaw, Almaty (IR-5), Tashkent (IR-5) |
| Somalia | Nairobi |
| South Sudan | Nairobi |
| Sudan | Cairo |
| Syria | Amman, Beirut (for Palestinians with Syrian Travel Documents)* |
| Venezuela | Bogota |
| Yemen | Djibouti |
| Zimbabwe | Johannesburg |
*For Syria: Palestinians holding Syrian travel documents should interview in Beirut.
All other countries not on the above lists continue to operate “as is.” Applicants not covered above should simply interview at their home-country U.S. consulate. See the State Department directory for your local embassy/consulate to confirm the address.
When These Changes Take Effect
The rules are already in motion for nonimmigrant visas. DOS issued the NIV guidance on September 6, 2025, and it took effect immediately. Immigrant visa rules kick in on November 1, 2025, meaning the NVC will start scheduling cases according to the new policy on that date. (The Department of State’s public notice specifically cites those effective dates.)
In sum, Sept. 6, 2025 is the start date for NIV interviews, and Nov. 1, 2025 for IV interviews
Why These Changes?
The official rationale is to “standardize” and secure the visa process, but in reality the shift ends the long-established third-country national (TCN) process. Under TCN, many foreigners could apply for U.S. visas at any consulate abroad – often helping them avoid backlogs in their home country. The new rules essentially scrap that option.
Critics also note that these rules dovetail with the administration’s broader immigration crackdown. By forcing applicants to stay “home,” the government gains more control and can apply tighter vetting.
In practice, DOS has simply warned that anyone trying to bypass the rule—by applying outside the allowed country—may face tougher scrutiny and must still prove legal residence where they apply.
Possible Effects of the Changes
These new rules have several practical impacts for visa applicants:
- Non-refundable fees. As DOS explicitly warns, if you schedule an interview outside the proper jurisdiction, you will generally lose the visa fee. “Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred,” the State Department notes. (In other words, if you paid and then need to rebook in the correct country, you start over on fees.)
- Longer wait times. The flexibility to “shop” for earlier slots is gone, so some applicants can expect longer delays. Already, DOS data shows that appointment wait times vary widely by post. Those forced to use busy home-country consulates (or faraway designated posts) will likely face significantly longer waits.
- Higher travel costs. Applicants from a listed country now may need to travel abroad for their visa interview. This can mean extra airfare, lodging, and time. For example, someone in Iran might have to fly to Dubai, Ankara or Yerevan to apply. The visa appointments themselves aren’t subsidized, so these costs fall on the traveler or sponsoring family/employer.
- Additional documentation. If you do try to transfer your case or apply outside your normal consulate, you’ll need to prove your residence in the new location. For immigrant visas, the NVC may ask for proof of address if an applicant wants to move an interview to a different post. In any case, consulates can and will scrutinize attempts to misapply, as DOS warns applicants may find it “significantly more difficult to qualify” if they don’t follow the rule.
- Narrow exceptions only. The rule leaves intact only a few exceptions. A, G, C-2/C-3, NATO, and other diplomatic/official visas are unchanged, as are visits covered under the UN Headquarters Agreement. Very rare one-off waivers may be made for emergency or humanitarian reasons. In short, these exceptions are limited – for virtually all ordinary applicants, the new restrictions apply.
Overall, applicants should plan for delays and extra costs. Employers and families will need to schedule interviews further in advance, and budget for possible travel.
Existing Appointments
Importantly, the State Department has said that existing appointments will generally not be cancelled. In practice, this means if you already have a consular interview scheduled (for example, a spouse visa interview next month), that appointment should stand even under the new rule. The NVC and consulates have been told to honor scheduled dates to avoid chaos.
However, applicants should not go directly to consulates to “rebook” under the new rules. If a change of consulate is needed (for an immigrant visa case), DOS instructs applicants to use the NVC Public Inquiry Form rather than contacting embassies directly.
Conclusion
These Department of State guidelines substantially restrict where visas can be issued. Where applicants once could shop around, they now must apply “at home” or at a few designated posts.
In practical terms, expect higher uncertainty: you could lose your fee if you mess up the location, and you may wait longer for an open slot. On the other hand, appointments already in the pipeline should not be canceled. Travelers and families will need to adjust their plans and timelines accordingly.
The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki
At The Law Offices of Anne Z. Sedki, we monitor all visa policy changes so clients can stay a step ahead. Our experienced team understands the details of the new interview rules and can advise on proving residency, making transfer requests through the NVC, and planning around longer waits.
If you have questions about these changes or need assistance with a visa application, please contact our office. We’re here to help you navigate the updated requirements and keep your immigration plans on track.
