The United States Department of State has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa interview waiver policy, set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The updated guidelines significantly reduce the categories of applicants eligible to bypass in-person interviews with consular officers.

Under the revised rules, all non-immigrant visa applicants—including children under 14 and adults over 79—will generally be required to appear for interviews, except in limited circumstances. Exemptions will continue for:

·        Applicants seeking diplomatic or official visas (A, G, C-3, NATO, and TECRO E-1 categories).

·        Travelers renewing a B-1, B-2, or combined B-1/B-2 visa or border crossing card within 12 months of expiration, provided the prior visa was full-validity and issued when the applicant was at least 18.

·        Agricultural workers renewing H-2A visas within the same 12-month window under similar conditions.

To qualify for an interview waiver, applicants must also apply in their home country (or country of usual residence), have no prior visa refusals—unless overcome or waived—and present no grounds for ineligibility.

The update replaces the July 25, 2025 policy, which had briefly expanded interview waivers to a wider pool of applicants, including certain B-visa renewals. Consular officers, however, retain full discretion to require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis.

The State Department has urged applicants to consult official embassy and consulate websites for country-specific guidance on application requirements, procedures, and available services.