In an ongoing practice of tightening visa rules for all non-immigration applicants, the US Department of State has put an end to the provision that used
to allow international students secure faster interview appointments in third countries. "Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments," the US Department of State's official notification read. "Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence." As per the revised guidelines, applicants should be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency. Any candidate who is unable to do so will not be granted a students visa for the US. The administration also warned that the applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a US embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa. Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred. The official notification also warned that the applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment. This is applicable for all future student (F-1), visitor (B1/B2), and work visas (H-1B, O-1). However, this guidance does not apply to applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas, applicants for diplomatic-type or official-type visas (regardless of classification), or applicants for any visa for travel covered by the UN Headquarters Agreement. Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons. This pandemic-era practice used to allow Indian students to seek appointments in third countries (non-residing countries) such as Singapore, Thailand, Germany, or Brazil to bypass heavy backlogs at home. The new guideline means Indian applicants will now have to apply exclusively through US consulates in India, where appointment wait times are already lengthy, exceeding three months in Mumbai and Hyderabad, and stretching up to nine months in Chennai.
