Indian students, visitors may face backlogs as US cancels third-country visa option

Indians applying for US student or visitor visas in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, or even European nations such as Germany, seeking to avoid backlogs in India, can no longer do so.

A release published on September 6 read, “Applicants for US nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments in the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.”

“Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency,” it added.

The DoS also mentioned, “Wait times for non-immigrant interview appointments vary by location. Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.”

According to the latest Department of State (DoS) directive, the US has mandated that non-immigrant visas such as visitor (B1/ B2), employment (H-1B and O-1), and student (F1) can be applied for only from the respective country where the applicants reside or are citizens of, with immediate effect.

This means that Indians who intended to expedite their visa process by applying from abroad, but haven’t yet applied, will now have to submit their applications only within India.