Green and Spiegel US LLC wishes to inform our clients and community of a significant policy change announced by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) on July 25, 2025, which will have a major impact on visa processing worldwide.
Effective September 2, 2025, the DOS is drastically scaling back its interview waiver policy, meaning most visa applicants will once again be required to attend in-person interviews, regardless of prior visa history, renewal status, or age.
What's Changing?
The rollback affects a wide range of visa categories, including:
- E-1, E-2, F-1, H-1B, J-1, L-1, O-1, and others not explicitly exempted.
- Applicants under age 14 or over 79 will also now require in-person interviews.
Even repeat applicants or those renewing visas will no longer qualify for waivers under these categories.
Who is Still Eligible for Visa Interview Waiver?
Interview waivers will still be available for certain applicants, including:
- Renewals of full-validity B-1, B-2, or
B1/B2 visas, and Border Crossing
Cards/Foils, provided:
- The renewal is within 12 months of the prior visa's expiration;
- The applicant was at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa's issuance;
- The application is made in the country of nationality or residence;
- The applicant has never been refused a visa, unless the refusal was overcome or waived;
- There is no apparent or potential ineligibility.
- Diplomatic and official visa categories (A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, TECRO E-1) remain eligible for waivers.
We expect the updated policies will lead to longer appointment wait times and processing delays, especially at high-volume consulates. Clients are advised to plan well ahead of time to accommodate these delays, and also to consider the newly implemented 48-hour notice period between DS-160 completion and interview scheduling.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
