India, July 28 -- The US Department of State has unveiled massive changes to its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program, set to take effect on September 2, 2025, as announced in the latest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) press release. This update reverses the February 18, 2025, policy, tightening eligibility and generally requiring in-person interviews for most applicants, including those under 14 and over 79, with exceptions for specific visa categories and renewals.

The shift aims to enhance security but has sparked concerns among travelers about increased processing times and accessibility, the Department of State states.

New visa interview waiver guidelines

Under the new guidelines, most nonimmigrant visa appli...