Effective December 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State will expand its online presence review to include all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents. This vetting requirement, already applied to F, M, and J student and exchange visitor visas, now extends to a major employment-based category. Key Requirement All applicants in the H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J visa categories are…

All U.S. visa applicants need to attend a personal interview except certain category of non-immigrant visa applicants who are eligible for the interview waiver program. Visa application process in India has two parts, first the biometric appointment and the second is the actual visa interview.  Biometric Appointment at the Visa Application Center Applicants under the…

The U.S. Department of State has issued updated guidance requiring most nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule their visa interviews in their country of nationality or in their country of legal residence. This update replaces earlier guidelines on third-country processing and is intended to streamline the global visa appointment system. Key Policy Changes 1. Applicants Must…

The U.S. Consular Exchange Rate has been adjusted to INR 92 per US dollar. This modification will impact both non-immigrant and immigrant visa fees, as well as charges for services provided to U.S. citizens.It may be recalled that the previous rate was INR 87 per US dollar and this was revised in Jan 13, 2025.This…

On September 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation that introduces major changes to the H-1B visa program. This new policy, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 21, 2025, requires a $100,000 payment to be submitted with all new H-1B petitions. Key Provisions and Who They Affect The new proclamation, titled “Restriction on Entry…

Important Update to U.S. Visa Interview Waiver Policy Effective October 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will implement further changes to the nonimmigrant visa interview waiver program. This update, which supersedes prior guidance, and when compared to the July 25, 2025 release, this has expanded the scope of interview wavier eligibility to certain…

As of November 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of State requires that immigrant visa applicants generally interview in the consular district of their country of residence or, if they request it, in their country of nationality. This change is intended to standardize the process and reduce logistical complications. Key Details of the New Policy Primary Interview Location: The National Visa…

The recent USCIS policy update on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), effective August 15, 2025, represents a significant shift from the previous policy. The change primarily affects the chart from the monthly Visa Bulletin is used to determine when a visa “becomes available” for CSPA age calculation. This distinction is critical because it can…

The U.S. government has announced a significant update to its nonimmigrant visa policy. Effective immediately, nationals and citizens of the following countries, including those seeking to renew a previously held visa, are now required to attend an in-person interview with a consular officer: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cabo…

We had recently reported that the Department of State has significantly restricted the scope of visa interview waiver program which comes into effect on September 2, 2025. Following this, we have noticed that interview waiver appointments are not available for any category of visa for the past few days. For certain categories, including the H…