On September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) updated its website to report that applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas must now schedule their visa interview appointments “in their country of nationality or residence.”
For many years, consulates across the globe have generally accepted third-country national (TCN) appointments, where an applicant for a U.S. visa applies in a country that is not their country of residence or nationality. From a technical perspective, consulates have always had the ability to restrict TCN appointments on an individual basis, but this update from the DOS represents an overall stop to TCN visa processing. Importantly, the update confirms that: “existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally not be cancelled.” Despite that, if you have a scheduled visa appointment in a third-country location, it is important to check for any communications from the consulate regarding your appointment.
The update also includes a chart for nationals of certain countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations. That chart is pasted at the end of this alert. The guidance additionally notes the following in terms of exceptions to this policy: “This guidance does not apply to applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO visas, applicants for diplomatic-type or official-type visas (regardless of classification), or applicants for any visa for travel covered by the UN Headquarters Agreement. Rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.” At this time, it is unclear how a request for an exception may be made.
This update follows a similar notice from DOS in late August regarding immigrant visa processing, where “The Department of State is now requiring immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested, with limited exceptions. Effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center will schedule immigrant visa applicants in their country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality.”
We recognize that this change will limit the options for E-3 and H-1B1 applicants, who will now likely be forced to return home for any visa reissuance, among many other impacted visa types. Additionally, the update does not define the term “residence”, so we will continue to monitor for clarification on whether “residence” is defined differently than what we have commonly known when it comes to visa applications (for context, previously an individual on a student visa in a country would meet residence requirements for consular purposes in that country, it is unknown whether that continues to meet the residence requirement or if it is something more restrictive, such as requiring lawful permanent residence in a country to qualify.).
We will continue to monitor this issue. For any questions regarding a specific case or circumstances, please contact your BIL attorney.
Designated Locations for Nonimmigrant Visa Processing
| NATIONAL OF | DESIGNATED LOCATIONS(S) |
| Afghanistan | Islamabad |
| Belarus | Vilnius, Warsaw |
| Chad | Yaoundé |
| Cuba | Georgetown |
| Haiti | Nassau |
| Iran | Dubai |
| Libya | Tunis |
| Niger | Ouagadougou |
| Russia | Astana, Warsaw |
| Somalia | Nairobi |
| South Sudan | Nairobi |
| Sudan | Cairo |
| Syria | Amman |
| Ukraine | Krakow, Warsaw |
| Venezuela | Bogota |
| Yemen | Riyadh |
| Zimbabwe | Johannesburg |
