US Department of State Updates Visa Interview Waiver Eligibility for Most Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants
Effective September 2, 2025, the US Department of State will significantly reduce the types of visa applicants eligible for a waiver of interview at US Consulates. Most nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to schedule an appointment and undergo an in-person interview with a US consulate officer as part of the application process for both new entry visas and renewal of visas of the same visa type.
This could potentially make wait times for US consulate appointments longer. We advise all students and scholars to schedule the first available appointment date and inform the ISO (students) or ISchO (scholars). An advisor can consult with you once informed of your interview date. MIT international students and scholars should always consult the travel and visa web pages of the ISO and ISchO, respectively, as well as speak with an advisor in the ISO or ISchO before traveling.