The United States State Department has announced that, effective September 2, 2025, the categories of nonimmigrant visa applications that may be eligible for a waiver of the personal interview with a consular officer will be updated.  As of September 2, 2025, the only nonimmigrant visa applicants eligible for a waiver of the in person interview will be the following:

• • Applicants classifiable in the A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1 nonimmigrant categories;
  • Applicants for diplomatic or official-type nonimmigrant visas;
  • Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa’s issuance.

Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil must also meet all three of the following criteria to qualify for an interview waiver:

• • They must apply in their country of nationality or residence;
  • They must never have been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived);
  • They must have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

The State Department notes that consular officers may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis and for any reason.

The announcement also states that visa applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79 will be required to undergo personal interviews. Persons in these age groups were previously generally eligible for waivers of the personal interview.

The State Department’s announcement effectively eliminates the “Dropbox” Interview Waiver mechanism that has been in place at a number of United States consulates for some years now. Under this mechanism, visa applicants renewing a visa in the same nonimmigrant classification that had expired within the past 12 months were normally exempt from the personal interview requirement.

The expansion of the personal interview requirement will undoubtedly result in a dramatic increase in the workload of consular officers reviewing nonimmigrant visa applications. This will in turn lead to longer wait times to obtain appointments at consulates. Individuals who are planning to travel internationally and will require a new visa stamp to return to the U.S. should plan ahead, and individuals with confirmed “dropbox” appointments after September 1, 2025 should check the status of their appointments and reschedule the appointments for an in-person interview if necessary.