Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence Effective date: September 6, 2025 --- Key Updates Nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants must schedule visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence. Nationals of countries where routine NIV operations are suspended must apply at designated U.S. embassies or consulates (see list below). This guidance supersedes all previous instructions on visa application locations. --- Designated Locations for NIV Processing for Nationals of Countries Without Routine Visa Operations | National of | Designated Location(s) | |-------------------|--------------------------------| | Afghanistan | Islamabad | | Belarus | Vilnius, Warsaw | | Chad | Yaoundé | | Cuba | Georgetown | | Haiti | Nassau | | Iran | Dubai | | Libya | Tunis | | Niger | Ouagadougou | | Russia | Astana, Warsaw | | Somalia | Nairobi | | South Sudan | Nairobi | | Sudan | Cairo | | Syria | Amman | | Ukraine | Krakow, Warsaw | | Venezuela | Bogota | | Yemen | Riyadh | | Zimbabwe | Johannesburg | --- Important Notes for Applicants Residence Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate residence in the country where they apply if applying based on residency. Fees: Fees paid for interviews scheduled outside the applicant's country of nationality or residence are non-refundable and non-transferable. Appointment Availability: Wait times for interviews outside the applicant's country of nationality or residence are significantly longer. Existing Appointments: Generally, existing NIV appointments will not be canceled. Exceptions: Applies only to nonimmigrant visa applicants. Does not apply to: A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas; diplomatic or official visas; travel under UN Headquarters Agreement. Rare exceptions may be granted for humanitarian, medical emergencies, or foreign policy reasons. --- Additional Information Applicants should consult embassy or consulate websites for specific visa application procedures and current operational status: usembassy.gov This update impacts all visa applicants worldwide and aims to streamline adjudications by requiring applicants to apply primarily in their country of residence or nationality. --- Contact & Resources Travel.State.Gov: Official site for U.S. visa and travel information. Embassies & Consulates locator: usembassy.gov Visa global wait times: Global Visa Wait Times --- This summary captures the comprehensive update by the U.S. Department of State regarding processing locations for nonimmigrant visa applicants as of September 6, 2025.