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…

The Consular posts in India have been sporadically releasing interviews for B1/B2 visa applicants requiring in person appointments. Appointments were release for August, September and October of 2025. It may be recalled that earlier interview dates were available only for the later part of 2026. Interviews were available in consular posts in New Delhi, Kolkata,…

The Department of State has announced a new Temporary Final Rule (TFR) establishing a pilot program for visa bonds for certain B1/B2 visa applicants. This change is effective as of August 20, 2025. Based on the Department of Homeland Security’s FY 2023 Overstay Report, citizens of Malawi and Zambia applying for a B1/B2 visa may be required to post a bond as a…

In an announcement dated July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has notified that effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. DOS is implementing significant changes to its nonimmigrant visa interview waiver categories. These updates, superseding previous guidance from February 18, 2025, are crucial for both first-time applicants and those seeking to renew their…

The U.S. visa application center in India has announced that effective August 1, 2025, third-party/representative passport collection service will be discontinued. The announcement indicates that this is to ensure the safety and security of the passports and confidential documents of visa applicants If applicant has opted for collection of passport/documents, then, the applicant is required…

The consular posts world-wide revised the eligibility criteria for renewal of visa through the drop box (interview waiver program) earlier this year. Applicants eligible for the drop box are now required to submit the passport for renewal at least 15 calendar days prior to the expiry of 12 months from the date of expiry of…

The U.S. Department of State has implemented a major policy change requiring all F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants to make their social media profiles public for vetting. This immediate requirement adds a new layer of scrutiny to the visa application process. The stated goal is to enhance national security by…

The US Visa Scheduling portal < https://www.usvisascheduling.com > has recently rolled out some much-anticipated features aimed at improving the user experience for Indian applicants. Below is a quick look at the key enhancements: 1. Instant Fee Activation for UPI/QR Code Payments One of the most welcome changes is the instant activation of the visa fee when paid via UPI or…