India, Sept. 2 -- Starting today (September 2), most applicants for the United States non-immigrant visas will be required to attend in-person interviews at US embassies and consulates, as the administration has officially ended the age-based and renewal-based interview waivers that had been in place for years.

The applicants will include students, professionals, and frequent travellers.

This shift will majorly affect categories like H-1B (skilled workers), L-1 (intra-company transfers), F-1 (students), B-1/B-2 (tourism/business), and O-1 (individuals with extraordinary ability), impacting thousands of Indians each year.

Until now, many visa applicants under age 14 or over 79, as well as those renewing their visas in the same category,...