Us Visa Changes New Update: In-person Interviews Required For H-1b, F-1 Applicants From September 2025

Published on September 1, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

Starting September 2025, nan United States will instruction in-person interviews for astir non-immigrant visa applicants, including those applying for nan H-1B and F-1 visas. This alteration signifies nan extremity of nan “Dropbox” question and reply waiver program, which allowed definite applicants to bypass nan question and reply process during nan COVID-19 pandemic. Under nan caller rule, individuals crossed various property groups, including children nether 14 and adults complete 79, will beryllium required to be in-person interviews unless they suffice for circumstantial exemptions. This displacement successful US migration argumentation will importantly impact some applicants and nan visa exertion process arsenic a whole.

Why Is nan US Making These Changes to Visa Rules?

The US government has made these changes arsenic portion of an effort to fortify nan visa exertion process and heighten information measures. The erstwhile policy, which was implemented during nan pandemic, allowed applicants to skip nan in-person question and reply process if they met definite criteria. This system, known arsenic nan “Dropbox” waiver program, was introduced arsenic a impermanent measurement during nan COVID-19 wellness crisis. However, arsenic nan business improved, nan US authorities has decided to return to a much stringent attack for non-immigrant visa applicants.

This determination besides responds to concerns astir nan integrity of nan visa strategy and nan request to much efficaciously negociate nan increasing number of visa applicants. By requiring in-person interviews, nan authorities intends to heighten scrutiny of applicants, guarantee compliance pinch US migration laws, and trim imaginable abuses of nan visa system.

Major Visa Categories Affected by nan New Rule

The caller norm will chiefly impact applicants for nan H-1B visa (used by skilled workers) and nan F-1 visa (for world students). These 2 categories are among nan astir communal non-immigrant visa types issued by nan United States. Under nan caller rules, each applicants successful these categories will beryllium required to be in-person interviews astatine US embassies aliases consulates, moreover if they are renewing their visas.

Previously, definite property groups were exempt from nan question and reply requirement. Children nether 14 and adults complete 79 were not required to be interviews, but nether nan caller rules, these property groups will now request to participate successful interviews unless they meet circumstantial exemption criteria. This alteration will effect thousands of applicants annually, expanding nan wide number of interviewees.

Who is Exempt from nan New Interview Requirements?

Despite nan wide exertion of nan caller rule, immoderate visa categories will still suffice for question and reply waivers. For instance, applicants applying for negotiated visas (A-1, A-2), definite charismatic visas (C-3, G-1 to G-4), and NATO visas (NATO-1 to NATO-6) whitethorn still beryllium eligible for an question and reply waiver. Additionally, applicants renewing a full-validity B-1/B-2 tourer visa wrong 12 months of expiration whitethorn suffice for a waiver nether circumstantial conditions.

The astir notable impact, however, will beryllium connected nan H-1B and F-1 visa categories, wherever nan question and reply request is now mandatory for each applicants, sloppy of their property aliases erstwhile visa status. This is expected to consequence successful a surge successful nan number of applicants attending interviews, which will apt lead to longer hold times for visa appointments.

When Will nan New Visa Rules Take Effect?

The changes to nan US visa process, including nan mandatory in-person interviews for H-1B and F-1 visa applicants, will officially return effect from September 2025. The modulation from nan existent waiver strategy to nan caller in-person question and reply argumentation will apt create a backlog of applications and summation hold times for visa appointments. Applicants are powerfully advised to scheme their visa applications good successful beforehand to accommodate imaginable delays successful nan process.

How Will These Changes Impact Applicants and Visa Appointment Times?

With nan extremity of nan Dropbox question and reply waiver program, applicants will now look longer processing times arsenic much group are required to be interviews. This accrued request for in-person interviews is expected to widen waiting periods for visa appointments, peculiarly astatine engaged US embassy locations for illustration those successful New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. As a result, individuals readying to recreation to nan US for work, study, aliases tourism will request to schedule their interviews earlier than earlier to unafraid a timely appointment.

The caller rule’s implementation will besides impact those renewing visas, particularly nan H-1B and F-1 visa categories. The US embassy successful India, on pinch others astir nan world, is expected to spot a important emergence successful nan measurement of visa question and reply requests. This whitethorn lead to longer hold times for applicants to person their visas, and imaginable delays successful recreation plans for those who request their visas processed quickly.

What Are nan Financial Implications for Applicants?

In summation to nan changes successful nan question and reply process, nan US has besides precocious accrued visa exertion fees for a wide scope of visa categories. The costs for a B-1/B-2 tourer visa, for example, has accrued significantly, now opinionated astatine astir Rs 20,300, up from Rs 15,300. In addition, starting successful 2026, a caller “Visa Integrity Fee” of USD 250 (approximately Rs 20,500) will beryllium added, bringing nan full costs of a tourer visa for Indian applicants adjacent to Rs 40,800.

Work visas, specified arsenic nan H-1B, person besides seen a value hike, pinch nan filing interest now reaching astir Rs 65,000. Premium processing services for faster visa processing now costs complete Rs 2.3 lakh successful immoderate cases. These interest increases adhd to nan financial load connected those applying for visas, particularly those applying for activity permits and student visas.

How Should Applicants Prepare for These Changes?

Given nan accrued number of interviewees and nan rising visa fees, applicants are encouraged to commencement nan exertion process arsenic early arsenic imaginable to guarantee timely processing of their visas. This proactive attack will thief minimize nan effect of extended hold times and debar immoderate last-minute delays. Furthermore, applicants should stay alert of nan caller interest structures, including nan further Visa Integrity Fee, and beryllium prepared for nan associated costs.

In conclusion, nan displacement to mandatory in-person interviews for astir non-immigrant visa categories, on pinch nan summation successful visa exertion fees, marks a important alteration successful US migration policy. While nan changes will thief fortify nan visa process, applicants will request to scheme up to navigate nan extended waiting times and higher costs that are now portion of nan visa exertion process.