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US Tightens Immigrant Visa Interview Rules effect from November 1, 2025
The U.S. Department of State has officially announced an upcoming alteration to its policy regarding the designated locations for immigrant visa applicant interviews. This policy change is slated to commence on November 1, 2025. Under the new regulations, all individuals applying for immigrant visas will be required to attend their interviews within the specific consular district in which they maintain their current residence. However, the policy also includes a provision allowing applicants to submit a request to have their interview conducted in their country of nationality if they have a preference for that location.
The Department of State generally requires that applicants for immigrant visas undergo interviews within the consular district designated for their region of residence, or within their country of nationality if a specific requirement applies. Exceptions to this rule are uncommon.
Interview Location
- As of November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center will register immigrant visa applicants in their home country or, upon request, their country of nationality.
What are the New modifications apply to all immigrant visa categories?
Immigrant visa categories, including the DV-2026 Diversity Visa program, impacted by this change. Applicants residing in countries lacking regular visa services must submit their applications at designated processing locations.
Interviews for candidates will commence in their existing consular districts on November 1, 2025. Candidates may opt to interviewed within their own nation. Citizens of countries with suspended or delayed regular visa processing should apply at their designated immigrant visa processing site, unless they are citizens of a country with ongoing visa operations.
Beginning September 2, 2025, most non-immigrant visa applicants will be required to attend an in-person interview, as announced by the U.S. Department of State. Immigrant visa appointments generally cannot be canceled or rescheduled. Applicants seeking to transfer their case to another consular district should contact the National Visa Center once an appointment has been scheduled.
How to apply?
Candidates must use the National Visa Center’s Public Inquiry Form since they are unable to get in touch with the consular office directly. The National Visa Center may request additional documentation from individuals seeking to interview outside of their assigned consular district or country of origin.
Most existing visa appointments will remain unchanged. Individuals wishing to transfer their case to another consular district must use the National Visa Center’s Public Inquiry Form; direct requests to consular sections will not accepted. The State Department reserves the right to grant exceptions for humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy reasons.
Immigrant Visa Designated Processing Posts
Residents of nations with suspended or paused routine visa operations must submit applications at their designated immigrant visa processing post, unless they are nationals of countries with active visa operations.
| Resident of | Designated post(s) |
| Afghanistan (except Special Immigrant Visas) | Islamabad |
| Belarus | Warsaw |
| Eritrea | Addis Ababa, Nairobi |
| Haiti | Nassau |
| Iran | Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Yerevan |
| Libya | Tunis |
| Niger | Abidjan |
| North Korea | Guangzhou |
| Russia | Warsaw, Almaty (IR-5), Tashkent (IR-5) |
| Somalia | Nairobi |
| South Sudan | Nairobi |
| Sudan | Cairo |
| Syria | Amman, Beirut (for Palestinians with Syrian Travel Documents) |
| Venezuela | Bogota |
| Yemen | Djibouti |
| Zimbabwe | Johannesburg |
What Applicants Should Do Now?
- Check your jurisdiction on the official U.S. Embassy/Consulate website.
- Gather proof of residence documents early to avoid last-minute issues.
- Book appointments only within your designated consulate’s location.
- Monitor official updates from the U.S. Department of State for any clarifications.
This update introduces a new policy designed to enhance the consistency and efficiency of interview scheduling, superseding previous guidance.
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