The U.S. Department of State announced a significant change in its interview waiver policy for nonimmigrant visas. Beginning October 1, children under the age of 14 and adults over the age of 79 – who were previously exempt – will be required to attend a consular appointment in person.
This decision marks the end of a policy of relaxation applied in recent years that benefited thousands of applicants. These are the changes in visa interviews.
End of broad exemptions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. authorities significantly expanded interview waivers to reduce crowds at consulates.
However, the new approach aims to strengthen security controls and reprioritize in-person verification.
The change will have a direct impact on travelers, students and professionals seeking to enter the United States, especially in countries where wait times are already high.
According to recent data, in some places, appointments for visitor visas have been delayed by more than six months.
Who will continue to be exempt
Although the policy is tightened, not all applicants will be required to undergo mandatory interviews.
The State Department clarified that waivers are maintained for certain categories of diplomatic and official visas, such as A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6 and TECRO E-1.
The interview will also be waived in some cases of visa renewals, such as tourist or business visas (B-1, B-2 and B1/B2), provided they are fully valid and requested within 12 months of the expiration of the previous visa.
Holders of H-2A visas and Border Crossing Cards for Mexican nationals may also benefit from the waiver, provided they comply with the established conditions.
However, the State Department itself cautioned that even if an applicant qualifies for the waiver, consular officers may require a case-by-case interview.
Impact on waiting times
The new policy comes at a time when visa interview wait times are already showing notable increases.
Between January and August of this year, appointments for visitor visas increased by an average of 69%, while student interviews grew by more than 250%, according to official figures.
This is causing concern among immigration experts and lawyers, who warn that the return to mass face-to-face interviews could aggravate overcrowding at consulates.
Criticism and doubts
Immigration policy specialists have pointed out that the measure may create impractical situations.
A frequent example is that of families where parents maintain a valid visa or can even renew it without an interview, but minor children – including infants – must now appear in person.
“It is absurd to think that a six-week-old child should go to a consular interview while his or her parents do not,” opined Cecilia Esterline, an analyst at the Niskanen Center, in a previous commentary on the subject.
Similarly, Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown warned that requiring additional interviews will make wait times even longer and reduce the efficiency of the system.
Safety as a priority
A State Department spokesman defended the decision, assuring that Donald Trump’s administration seeks to ensure “the highest standards of national and public safety.”
For Washington, in-person verification remains the most reliable tool for detecting fraud, verifying identities and preventing security risks.
Consequently, although the measure generates concern in the migrant community, it reflects a stricter trend in the control of visas.
The State Department emphasized that the goal is to protect the integrity of the system and strengthen confidence in the U.S. admissions process.
What’s coming in October
With the entry into force of the new guidelines on October 1, thousands of applicants will have to prepare for interviews that were not previously required.
U.S. embassies and consulates around the world will be challenged to manage a higher volume of appointments in a context of high demand.
Thus, the U.S. visa application process enters a new stage, where in-person attendance is once again the rule and waivers the exception.
This article was originally published in Nueva News.
Filed under: Changes in visa interviews
