Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants must interview in their country of residences

On September 6, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced updated guidance which may serve to substantially restrict the availability of nonimmigrant visa appointments for third-country national applicants. DOS announced that effective immediately, applicants should schedule non-immigrant visa appointments in their country of nationality or residence, signaling a change in public messaging from the past several years. The update specifically states the following:

• 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.

• 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. See the list below to determine the designated location for NIV applications.

  

DOS further updated the list of nonimmigrant visa designated processing posts on December 12, 2025.

Nonimmigrant Visa Designated Processing Posts as of December 12, 2025

NATIONAL OF	DESIGNATED LOCATION(S)
Afghanistan	Islamabad
Belarus	Vilnius, Warsaw
Burkina Faso	Lome
Chad	Yaoundé
Central African Republic	Yaoundé
Cuba	Georgetown
Haiti	Nassau
Iran	Dubai
Libya	Tunis
Niger	Lome
Russia	Astana, Warsaw
Somalia	Nairobi
South Sudan	Nairobi
Sudan	Cairo
Syria	Amman
Ukraine	Krakow, Warsaw
Venezuela	Bogota
Yemen	Riyadh
Zimbabwe	Johannesburg

Applicants should also note the following:

• Residence Requirement: Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.

• Fees: Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa. Fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred.

• Appointment Availability: Wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments vary by location. Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.

• Existing Appointments: Existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally not be cancelled.

• Exceptions: This guidance does not apply to 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. Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.