On Saturday, September 6, 2025, then again on October 10, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) issued an announcement, effective immediately, directing nonimmigrant applicants to schedule their visa appointment at a consular post in their country of citizenship or residence.
On July 25, 2025, the Department of State announced that, effective September 2, 2025, all applicants for a nonimmigrant visa, regardless of their age, will generally need to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer. Visa interview waivers will remain available in limited circumstances, as described in the Department of State announcement.
It is now possible at most US embassies and consulates to make an appointment for an interview for an F or J visa. However, the expanded screening that is now required will lengthen the time between the visa interview and the issuance of the visa.
The Department of State has announced that scheduling of F and J visa application appointments will resume soon. Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for appointment availability.
On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation titled: Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. The proclamation will become effective at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on June 9, 2025.
On May 28, the Department of State announced plans to revoke visas for some Chinese students, including those with "connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." "Critical fields" were not identified in the announcement. The State Department also announced plans to revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.
In an effort to increase its screening and vetting of individual beneficiaries, USCIS may request that a beneficiary of a pending H-1B petition appear for a "biometrics" appointment at a designated USCIS Application Support Center for the collection of a digital picture, signature and fingerprints. Beneficiaries who are selected for a biometrics appointments should receive an appointment letter from USCIS with further details and instructions.
On 4/5/2025, the U.S. Department of State announced it revoked all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and would not issue visas to South Sudanese passport holders.
Read the full press statement "Defending America’s Security through Visa and Travel Restrictions on South Sudan" on the U.S. Department of State website.
On 2/18/2025, the US Department of State announced changes to the eligibility criteria for nonimmigrant interview waivers, also known as "drop box appointments." If you qualify for a visa interview waiver, you can apply for a visa without an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.