The U.S. State Department has scrapped its popular “drop-box” visa interview waiver program for most nonimmigrant visas, forcing more applicants to attend in-person interviews and even raising visa fees.
Effective September 2, 2025, nearly all travelers seeking U.S. visas must schedule face-to-face consular interviews, ending many age-based exemptions and renewal shortcuts.
The policy shift, coupled with higher application charges, is expected to lengthen processing times and drive up costs for millions of international visitors.
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Interview Waiver Program Scrapped
During the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. consulates expanded the Interview Waiver (or “drop-box”) program to let certain travelers renew visas by mail without appearing at the embassy.
Now that policy has been reversed. Under the new rules, “all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including those under age 14 and over 79, will generally require an in-person interview” with a consular officer.
This ends interview waivers for most visa categories, including common travel and work visas.
Previously, many repeat applicants — such as H-1B skilled workers, L-1 transferees, F-1 students, O-1 professionals, and B-1/B-2 tourists — could skip the interview if they met certain criteria.
Starting September 2, most applicants in these categories must appear in person, even for routine renewals.
Only a few narrow exceptions remain: Diplomats and officials (holders of A, G, NATO visas) are still exempt from interviews, as are applicants renewing a full-validity B-1/B-2 tourist visa (or Mexican border crossing card) within 12 months of expiration, provided they apply in their home country and meet eligibility criteria.
Even then, a consular officer can require an interview on a case-by-case basis. In short, the widely-used “dropbox” renewal process has been discontinued for the vast majority of travelers.
No Waivers for 57 Countries
In a further tightening, the State Department eliminated all interview waivers immediately for nationals of 57 countries deemed higher-risk.
For applicants from these nations – which reportedly include Afghanistan, Nigeria, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, among others – no exemptions are allowed at all, regardless of age or visa type.
Everyone from these countries must attend in-person interviews for U.S. visas going forward.
Diplomatic and official visas from these countries will continue to be handled through normal diplomatic channels, but no general waivers are granted.
Major source countries like India, however, are not on this list, meaning Indian applicants still have access to the limited waiver for recent B1/B2 renewals.
This move appears aimed at reducing security risks and visa overstays associated with certain countries.
However, it places an extra burden on travelers from those 57 nations, who now have zero “drop-box” relief and must undergo interviews for every visa application.
Consular resources in those regions could face even heavier backlogs as a result.
Stricter Application Process and Rules
Beyond ending interview waivers, U.S. visa procedures have tightened in other ways.
Applicants are now generally required to apply in their country of nationality or residence, rather than “visa shopping” in third countries.
As of early September 2025, nonimmigrant visa applications must be filed in the applicant’s home country (with only limited exceptions).
This new rule aims to reduce consular overload in popular third-country posts, but it can be inconvenient for those living abroad or seeking shorter waits elsewhere.
The State Department has also announced stricter rescheduling policies to discourage no-shows.
Beginning January 1, 2025, visa applicants will be allowed only one free appointment reschedule.
Missing an interview or attempting a second reschedule will forfeit the fee, forcing the applicant to pay a new visa fee to book another appointment.
Travelers are advised to lock in a date they can commit to, or risk incurring extra charges.
These changes arrive as U.S. consulates are already under strain. All applicants must now line up for interviews in person, so consular sections in high-demand countries expect increased workloads and fewer available slots.
In fact, U.S. authorities caution that visa appointment wait times will likely grow longer under the new system.
The average wait for a visitor visa interview in many cities had already stretched to several months in 2023-24; with waivers gone, those queues could lengthen further.
The State Department directs travelers to monitor the Global Visa Wait Times portal and plan accordingly.
Rising Visa Fees and Added Costs
The crackdown on visa processing comes alongside higher fees that increase the cost of visiting the United States.
In mid-2023, the U.S. raised its standard nonimmigrant visa application charges for the first time in a decade.
The fee for common B-1/B-2 tourist or business visas jumped from $160 to $185, and student/exchange visas (F, M, J) saw a similar increase. Petition-based employment visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R) rose from $190 to $205, and treaty investor/trader visas (E category) spiked from $205 up to $315.
These fees are paid per applicant, non-refundable, adding a higher upfront expense for families and frequent travelers.
More fee hikes are on the horizon. The U.S. government is expected to introduce a new “Visa Integrity Fee” of $250 for most visa applicants starting around October 2025.
This hefty surcharge – meant to fund better compliance monitoring – would be in addition to the regular visa application fee, though it may be refunded if the traveler strictly obeys U.S. immigration rules.
While not yet implemented, the prospect of an extra $250 charge is already raising concerns among travel industry groups.
Even those who don’t need a visa will face increased costs. Visitors from visa-waiver countries (like most of Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.) use the ESTA travel authorization, and its fee will nearly double from $21 to $40 at the end of September 2025.
From visa application fees to ESTA charges and possible bonds or integrity fees, the price of obtaining permission to enter the U.S. is climbing across the board.
Why It Matters For Travelers
For millions of prospective U.S. visitors – tourists, students, business travelers, and even workers – these policy changes translate into more hassle, delay, and expense.
The end of interview waivers means that even well-qualified repeat travelers must now schedule an in-person appointment, which in many countries can involve months of waiting and perhaps long trips to the nearest U.S. consulate.
Experts say “this will likely lead to longer wait times, added travel costs, and extended visa processing timelines” for applicants.
Young children and elderly travelers, who were previously exempt, now also have to appear at the embassy in person, which can be a significant inconvenience.
Travel industry analysts warn that making U.S. visas harder and costlier to obtain could deter potential visitors.
With backlogs already straining consulates, requiring interviews for virtually everyone may further slow the pipeline.
In fact, consular officers expect increased workloads and fewer available appointments, which could push wait times to new highs.
For time-sensitive travel like business conferences or semester start dates, delays in visa issuance can derail plans.
Immigration advocates and even U.S. businesses have raised concerns that excessive visa delays “will have negative effects on the U.S. economy”, especially if foreign tourists and students choose other destinations.
The timing is also notable. The United States is set to host major global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which should draw millions of international visitors.
However, stricter entry requirements and slow visa processing could mean some fans and tourists “can’t get the visas in time to come,” potentially causing the U.S. to miss out on economic gains from these events.
Travel and hospitality groups fear that if obtaining a U.S. visa becomes too onerous, prospective travelers might opt to vacation elsewhere.
Bottom line: Entering the U.S. now demands more preparation, more financial resources, and more patience.
Officials urge applicants to plan far ahead – start the visa process many months before your intended trip, and keep an eye on appointment availability.
Double-check all paperwork to avoid delays, and be mindful of the one-reschedule rule to avoid losing fees.
While these changes aim to enhance security and compliance, they undeniably make the U.S. visa application journey longer and costlier for legitimate travelers.
If you’re planning to visit the U.S., be prepared for new hurdles that could slow you down – and adjust your timeline (and budget) accordingly.
Sources: U.S. Department of State ; Boundless Immigration ; VisasNews.