DOS Requires Temporary Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants to Apply in Their Country of Nationality or Residence

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DOS Requires Temporary Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants to Apply in Their Country of Nationality or Residence

September 8, 2025

Important update on temporary nonimmigrant visa processing! As of September 6, the Department of State requires all nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. This means that applicants can no longer apply as a third country national in a different country, such as Mexico or Canada. Applicants should expect even longer wait times to secure appointments, especially with the recent elimination of the dropbox interview waiver process for most visa applicants.

Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.

Very limited exceptions apply, including 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. DOS noted: “Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.”

Here is a link to the announcement for further details.