India, July 28 -- Effective September 2, applicants for US non-immigrant visas, including those under the age of 14 and over 79, will be required to appear for an in-person interview with a consular officer. The US Department of State announced multiple changes to the visa interview waiver policy on July 25.

The latest update, which reverses the February 18, 2025, policy, further tightens the eligibility and limits applicants who can skip visa interviews, providing exceptions for a few visa categories and renewals. Aimed at enhancing security, the move has sparked concerns regarding delays in procedure among H-1B visa holders as well as other visa categories.

According to a press release by the US Department of State, all non-immigrant ...