By Adekunle Agbetiloye
The U.S. Department of State has
- updated policies for non-immigrant visa appointments.
- Applicants must schedule interviews at embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or residence.
- Applying outside one’s residence may result in longer wait times and non-refundable fees.
- Exceptions to the policy include diplomatic visas, medical emergencies, and other special cases.
The United States has directed all non-immigrant visa applicants to book interview appointments only at embassies or consulates in their country of nationality or residence.
In a policy update announced on September 6, the U.S. Department of State cautioned that applying outside one’s country of residence could result in much longer wait times and the loss of application fees, which are non-refundable and non-transferable if a request is denied.
“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,” the department said in a statement
