By Gloria Nosa
The United States has announced a significant shift in its immigration process, mandating that from November 1, 2025, all immigrant visa applicants must attend their interviews either in the country where they live or in their country of nationality. This policy overhaul, unveiled by the Department of State (DOS), signals another tightening of immigration rules under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has consistently emphasized stricter border control and oversight.
Until now, applicants had the flexibility to choose a consular district that offered faster appointments or more convenient access, often traveling to neighboring countries where wait times were shorter. That option will no longer be available under the revised guidelines.
What the New Rule Means
The new rule applies broadly across all immigrant visa categories. This includes family-based visas for those joining relatives in the U.S., employment-based visas for skilled workers, and even recipients of the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program, popularly known as the “green card lottery.”
The Department of State explained that the decision is aimed at strengthening oversight, reducing fraud, and ensuring that applicants are evaluated within their own local context. Officials argue that conducting interviews in applicants’ home regions provides consular officers with better insight into an applicant’s ties to their community, financial background, and eligibility.
However, the rules allow only “rare exceptions”—such as medical or humanitarian emergencies. The department did not provide details about how such exceptions will be assessed or processed.
For applicants living in countries where U.S. embassies or consulates have been shut down, the DOS has designated alternate regional hubs where interviews must take place. This will likely affect applicants from politically unstable regions, such as parts of the Middle East and Africa.
Implications for Families and Employers
The changes are expected to add a new layer of difficulty for families hoping to reunite in the United States. Applicants may face longer wait times for appointments, higher travel expenses, and more stringent documentation requirements. For example, a Nigerian family whose U.S. visa cases were previously handled in Ghana or South Africa could now be required to wait longer for availability at their country of residence or travel back to Nigeria even if they had relocated abroad.
Immigration lawyers caution that the shift could also discourage employers in the U.S. from sponsoring skilled workers abroad. Companies will have to factor in possible delays, higher relocation costs, and uncertainty about when employees can begin work. Critics argue that the move undermines America’s ability to attract international talent in an already competitive global labor market.
One immigration attorney based in New York, speaking on the development, noted:
“This rule may look administrative on paper, but in reality, it imposes practical and financial burdens. Families separated across borders may now struggle to reunite, and U.S. businesses seeking highly skilled professionals could find the process slower and more expensive.”
Student Visa Applicants Get a Break
Interestingly, the U.S. has also announced that student visa applicants will continue to receive priority appointment scheduling. The DOS emphasized that ensuring international students can attend U.S. universities without major delays remains a priority. Education remains one of America’s strongest soft-power tools, with hundreds of thousands of foreign students contributing billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses.
This concession, however, highlights the contrast between America’s welcoming stance on temporary student migration and its more restrictive approach to permanent immigration pathways.
The Bigger Picture: Politics and Policy
The policy aligns with President Trump’s campaign rhetoric, which has consistently framed immigration as both a security issue and an economic concern. The administration has made moves to narrow asylum eligibility, reduce refugee admissions, and scrutinize employment-based immigration.
Analysts say the new visa interview requirement fits neatly into this broader narrative: a policy that appears administrative but has far-reaching consequences for global mobility. For many, it is yet another signal that the U.S. is becoming a less accessible destination for long-term migrants, even while it courts short-term visitors like students and tourists.
Looking Ahead
The Department of State reassured that “most applicants will not have their interviews canceled or moved,” but immigration lawyers are urging families and businesses to prepare for possible disruptions. Planning early, securing required documents, and budgeting for unexpected travel costs are now more important than ever.
For immigrant hopefuls, this policy change underscores the reality of a shifting U.S. immigration landscape: one where pathways to permanent residency are narrowing, requirements are tougher, and the road to the American dream is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.
