India, Sept. 8 -- The US Department of State has issued a new directive requiring all non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule interview appointments only in their country of nationality or legal residence, effective immediately.

The move eliminates the practice of applicants- including thousands of Indians- booking slots in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Germany to bypass India's lengthy visa appointment backlogs.

Who is affected?

Indians seeking quicker appointments abroad for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas will no longer be able to do so.

The change is part of a global implementation aimed at standardizing NIV procedures and reducing misuse of third-country appointments.

This restriction may worsen the alr...