No more easy renewals! US tightens visa rules, drops waiver from 48 to 12 months

Arab Times

4 days ago

The US is tightening the B1/B2 visa interview waiver policy starting September.
DUBAI, July 28: The United States will significantly tighten its visa interview waiver policy from September 2, 2025, impacting thousands of travelers renewing B1/B2 visas for business and tourism. The eligibility window for bypassing an in-person interview will be reduced from 48 months to just 12 months, the U.S. Department of State announced.
Under the current rules, B1/B2 visa holders whose visas expired within the past 48 months can apply for renewal without undergoing a consular interview. However, beginning in September, only those whose visas expired within the past 12 months will be eligible for this waiver. What changes:
Until September 1, 2025: Interview waiver applies to applicants whose previous B1/B2 visa expired within 48 months.n
From September 2, 2025: Only applicants whose visa expired within the past 12 months qualify for an interview waiver.n
This change means a greater number of visa applicants will now be required to attend face-to-face interviews at U.S. consulates. Experts warn this could place additional pressure on visa processing infrastructure, especially in high-demand countries like India, where over 700,000 B1/B2 visa applications were processed in 2023.
The updated rule affects more than just B1/B2 visa holders. Students on F-1 visas and professionals under H-1B who previously qualified for waivers may now also be required to appear in person if their prior visa expired over a year ago.
While the dropbox facility — which allowed applicants to submit their renewal documents without visiting a consulate — will still be available, the pool of eligible candidates will shrink significantly. Additionally, U.S. consular officers maintain the authority to request an interview from any applicant, even if they meet waiver criteria. Who still qualifies for interview waivers?
Despite the tightening of eligibility, certain groups will continue to be exempt:
Children under 14n
Adults over 79n
Applicants for diplomatic and official visas (A-1, A-2, G-1 to G-4, NATO, TECRO E-1)n
Renewals of diplomatic/official visasn
Certain Mexican nationals with valid Border Crossing Cards applying from their home country, with no visa refusals or disqualificationsn
In a separate update, the U.S. has introduced a new Visa Integrity Fee of $250, applicable across all major non-immigrant visa categories including B-1, B-2, F, M, H-1B, and J. The fee will be charged at the time of visa approval, not during application, and is subject to annual revision based on inflation.
'There are no exemptions for these groups,' the U.S. State Department noted in a consular advisory.
The combination of increased interview requirements and the new fee marks a significant shift in U.S. visa policy, aiming to enhance scrutiny and improve visa system integrity.