00:00In a major decision, individuals applying for a U.S. non-immigrant visa must now schedule their
00:15visa interview, appointments in their country of citizenship or legal residence, according to a
00:22significant policy change announced by the U.S. Department of State. The rule which took effect
00:27immediately ends a practice long used by many travelers, particularly Indians, who sought to
00:34bypass lengthy wait times at U.S. consulates in their home countries by applying through facilities
00:40abroad. The State Department said in its latest notification that applicants must be able to
00:46demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying if the place of application is based
00:52on their residency. The new rule applies to all non-immigrant visa categories, including those
00:57for tourism B2, business B1, students and temporary workers. Applicants who schedule interview outside
01:04their country of nationality or residence may face greater difficulty qualifying. Application fees in
01:10such cases will neither be refunded nor transferred, the department clarified. Those applying outside
01:16their home country should expect significantly longer waits. On the other hand, Indians have long
01:22engaged in a practice called visa shopping, applying for a visa from a country other than their primary
01:29or longest-day destination, often because the process is faster or easier. This trend become especially
01:36common during the surge in air travel after the COVID pandemic. Faced with extensive backlogs and long wait
01:42times for visa interviews, many Indian applicants travel to countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Germany,
01:48or Brazil to secure quicker appointments. The new rule eliminates this option. With more applicants now
01:54required to apply from India, wait times are expected to increase further. In fact, short-term visa interview
02:00appointments in India already range from three and a half months at embassies and consulates. All non-immigrant visa
02:07applicants, including children under 14 and seniors over 79, are now generally required to attend an in-person
02:14interview with the councillor officer. With that, new US short-term visa rule means longer waits for Indians.
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