Indians who need to travel to the United States for business or tourism will no longer have the option of securing quick B1/B2 visa appointments in other countries, a major shift that ends the “third-country” route to faster US visa interviews.
Effective immediately, the US Department of State now instructs all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including Indian citizens, to schedule interview appointments strictly at the US Embassy or Consulates in their country of residence.
This means urgent travellers can no longer travel to locations like Thailand or Singapore for expedited appointments, bringing a halt to a workaround that had gained popularity amid rising visa wait times in India.
End of the “Third-Country” Shortcut
For several years, due to the substantial backlogs at US posts in India, many applicants pursued faster B1/B2 visa appointments by booking slots in neighbouring countries.
The US government’s latest directive marks a decisive end to this practice, with the new rule making it clear that all interviews for nonimmigrant visas (including B1 for business and B2 for tourism) must be held in the applicant’s home country or country of legal residence.
This update supersedes previous policies, largely in response to the uneven distribution of “appointment shopping,” where applicants from high-demand countries used third-country consulates to jump the queue. Now, only rare exceptions will be permitted, and these will be tightly regulated, subject to consular officer discretion.
Implications for Last-Minute Travellers
The discontinuation of the “quick appointment abroad” option has significant impact, especially for Indians facing emergency work travel or personal commitments. US Embassy officials have pointed out that the new policy is designed to restore fairness and orderly processing for all applicants.
However, with wait times at major Indian consulates still ranging from six to over ten months, the inability to circumvent these delays may disrupt urgent business meetings, conferences, or family events. The US State Department has advised all visa applicants to allow for much longer advance planning and to expect further scrutiny on appointment scheduling.
This move is seen as a standardisation effort, reducing the risk of inconsistency and confusion for both applicants and consular staff.
Limited Exceptions and Consular Officer Discretion
Starting September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has also mandated that nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those applying for B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas, must attend an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
This marked the end of many age-based exemptions and interview waivers that previously allowed certain applicants, such as children under 14 and adults over 79, to skip the interview process. Even those renewing visas in the same category will generally be required to appear in person, except for a few narrow exemptions subject to consular officer discretion.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
While the US aims to strengthen the fairness and security of its visa system, this policy puts genuine hardship on Indians needing to travel urgently.
The Logical Indian calls upon both governments to collaborate on transparent and compassionate emergency systems for those in unavoidable situations.
