US Visa Rule Change: In-Person Interviews For H1-B, F-1 Applicants From September 2025

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-08-31 19:34:10 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-01 00:16:16

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A new ruling for US visa applicants since the pandemic could impact hundreds of thousands of international scholars, students, and workers. As of September 11, 2025, all H-1B and F-1 visa applicants will be required to attend in-person interviews to receive visas. The new rule, announced by the US State Department, is a significant change from the previous waiver of in-person interviews, a policy that had been unchanged for two decades. According to the State Department, the personal interviews, which will be required for applicants in these categories regardless of age, will help ensure that the applicants are who they claim to be, mitigating fraud and protecting national security. While the department says it will continue to prioritize interview waiver requests for other categories of visas, it signals a stronger screening process for the increasingly competitive US-based career and education opportunities.

The new mandate is a measure that proponents claim will improve the screening process while mitigating fraud and enhancing national security. Meanwhile, critics assert that this will add further congestion and delays to the already overstretched visa process. The interviews will be conducted at US embassies and consulates abroad, and the State Department noted that, as with domestic applications, applicants may pay a premium for expedited service.

This ruling will affect hundreds of thousands of individuals, aspiring to study, work, and research in the US. While the State Department maintains the interview waiver for other categories, the new ruling suggests a stronger screening process for what is increasingly a more competitive opportunity.

The impacted visa categories include the high-skilled H-1B visa, which is popular among foreign professionals, including those working in the tech industry. The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for students wishing to pursue academic or language studies in the US. These applicants, ranging from those pursuing higher education to vocational training, will now undergo in-person interviews.

Those in other categories, such as A-1, A-2, C-3, G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, and TECRO E-1, may still qualify for interview waivers based on the State Department's criteria.

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