Big Shift in US Visa Process: Interview Waiver Policy Revised, Effective October 1

A latest update to the US non-immigrant visa process interview waiver policy has been made by the US Department of State, and it is set to take effect on October 1, 2025. However, this has the potential to affect millions of travellers and visa applicants worldwide. These new guidelines revise eligibility for interview waivers.

Are you one of those who want to know about the policy? If yes, then you have come to the right platform! Through this post, I have deeply discussed all the intricacies regarding the US Visa Process. Let’s not waste all the time and effort, and read all the given details, an informative approach below.

What’s Changing the US Visa Process?

As per the revided rules, now most non-immigrant visa applicants—including those under the age of 14 and over the age of 79 will from now on, need to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer.

Meanwhile, only a few categories of applicants will remain eligible for an interview waiver:

• Diplomatic and official visa holders, including those applying under symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants or personal staff), G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, and TECRO E-1.

• Applicants renewing B-1/B-2 visitor visas or Border Crossing Cards (BBBCC/BBBCV for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of expiration, provided the previous visa was issued for full validity and the applicant was at least 18 years old at issuance.

• Applicants renewing H-2A visas within 12 months of expiration, under similar conditions of full validity and a minimum age of 18.

Read more: ICAR Counselling 2025: A Long-Awaited Process

Additional Conditions for Waiver Eligibility

To qualify for an interview waiver, applicants must also meet strict requirements:

• Apply in their country of nationality or regular residence (with exceptions for diplomatic or official visa categories).

• Have never been refused a visa unless the refusal was formally overcome or waived.

• Have no apparent or potential ineligibility under US visa law.

Consular officers also retain the right to require an interview at their discretion, even for applicants who appear to qualify for a waiver.

Superseding Previous Rules

This new update replaces the July 25, 2025, Interview Waiver Update and that update took effect from 2nd September 2025, and then this sudden change was announced.

According to the earlier policy, diplomatic and official visa holders, as well as adults renewing B-1/B-2 visas, were free from in-person interviews. Now, this new policy tightens these things by introducing H-2A renewals into the waiver category.

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Impact on Applicants because of the US Visa Process

Through these changes, this can affect applicants in a negative way, as a larger pool of applicants, including children and elderly applicants, needs to appear for the interview now! Those were previously free from all the exempt easily.

Due to this, many people have to wait for a long time at US embassies and consulates. Especially, India, Mexico, and Brazil are already high visa demand countries, so they have to wait longer at US embassies and consulates.

If you are an applicant, then read carefully because you are all strongly advised to check the official websites of US embassies and consulates for up-to-date information on application procedures, operating hours, and service availability.

Why the Change in the US Visa Process?

The predominant reason for bringing this change is to improve security checks and in-person vetting, especially in high-volume categories. On the other hand, the Department of State did not provide detailed reasoning and an analytical view behind this strategic decision!

Do not miss out on reading on: August 2025 Monthly Current Affairs: Part 2!

Looking Ahead

If you have applied and are planning travel or renewals in late 2025 or early 2026 should prepare for possible scheduling delays. Do not forget to check all your documents before applying because things have become stricter than before with the new policies taking effect on October 1.