The US Department of State has revealed extensive modifications to its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program, which will come into effect on September 2, 2025, reversing the policy that was implemented earlier this year on February 18, 2025.

The updated regulations will greatly restrict eligibility for interview waivers, mandating that most applicants—including children under 14 and seniors over 79—must attend in-person consular interviews, with few exceptions. This policy change aims to enhance security but has already sparked concerns regarding increased processing delays and accessibility issues, as stated by the Department of State.

New Visa Interview Waiver Guidelines
Waivers will now be limited to specific categories, such as A-1, A-2, C-3 (excluding attendants of officials), G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, TECRO E-1, and holders of diplomatic or official visas.

Renewals of B-1, B-2, or B1/B2 visas (including Mexican Border Crossing Cards) will still qualify for a waiver if:

• The renewal occurs within 12 months of the previous visa’s expiration.
• The applicant was 18 years or older when the visa was issued.
• The renewal application is submitted in the applicant’s home country.

Additionally, applicants must not have any prior visa refusals (unless overturned or waived) and must show no apparent ineligibility, with consular officers retaining the authority to require interviews when deemed necessary.

Immigration attorney Steven Brown, located in Houston, cautioned that this change would lead to “longer waits for appointments” and criticized the interview requirement for children.

“My interpretation of this is that they are essentially eliminating Dropbox (interview waivers) for the majority of categories. This will result in longer wait times and is considerably less efficient for renewals. Furthermore, requiring interviews for children is utterly ridiculous,” Brown commented on X (formerly Twitter).

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) highlighted that consular officers possess the discretion to request interviews depending on local circumstances or security issues.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the websites of embassies and consulates for the latest information on application processes and operational statuses.