New U.S. Visa Rules Start September 2: What’s Changing?

The U.S. State Department will end interview waivers for visa applicants from 57 countries starting Tuesday. The list of countries includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Egypt, Haiti, Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

Non-immigrant visa applicants from these countries, which include visitors, students, and skilled workers, will now need to appear in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Until now, many could qualify for “drop-box” processing or automatic renewals without an interview.

The rules sharply narrow who qualifies for waivers. Local consulates will implement the changes based on State Department guidance.

Who Loses Waiver Privileges?

Previously, children under 14 and adults over 79 were exempt from interviews. So were many in categories such as H-1B (skilled workers), L-1 (intra-company transfers), F-1 (stud