The US State Ministry has issued a directive regarding the visa process, according to which, non -resident visa (NIV) applicants including Indians will have to schedule their interview only in their citizenship or legal residence country. This instruction of the department will be applicable with immediate effect.

The purpose of this order of the US government is to discontinue the easy methods already implemented by which people used to apply to near the nearby countries to get a visa early. According to the statement issued by the US State Department on Saturday (September 06, 2025), these new visa rules will be implemented globally.

Appointment will have to be taken in a country with citizenship

The statement said, ‘With immediate effect, the State Department has changed the rules of non-migrant visa. Now the applicant will have to take an appointment in the same country for interview, where they are citizens or where they live. The move will have a direct impact on those Indians who have applied for interviews in Singapore, Thailand and Germany to avoid domestic application in recent years.

After this decision of the US government, Indians who have to go to America early will not be able to take B1 (commercial) or B2 (Tourism) appointment abroad. Just in some extraordinary circumstances, in which the US does not usually do a visa interview, they can apply in a fixed embassy or consulate, but only when they are not living in any other country.

Number of pending applications may increase

This list includes citizens or residents of many other countries like Afghanistan, Cuba, Chad, Russia and Iran. According to industry experts, the number of pending applications before this ban may increase further. Earlier this year, the visa waiting period ranged from 3.5 months to 5 months in Hyderabad and Mumbai and it reached 9 months in Chennai.

This means that now most of the applicants have to appear in the American Embassy or Consulate, where they were previously exempted from personal interviews. The affected visa categories include H, L, F, M, J, E and O, even this rule is applicable for individuals above 79 years and children under 14 years of age.

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Us visa policy: The US has made a big change in visa rules. He has implemented a new law regarding any foreign national who visited Gaza Strip. According to the new rule, social media accounts will be investigated during a visa application on behalf of any foreign national who visited Gaza Strip after 1 January 2007. This decision has been taken by the US State Department under the direction of Secretary Marco Rubio. This rule has been applied to both all types of visa immigrants and non-immigrants.

It also includes student visa, tourist visa and diplomatic visits. In addition, employees and volunteers of non-governmental organizations (NGOS), who have worked in Gaza. These people will come under the purview of policy.

Digital surveillance in the name of security

The primary objective of the new policy is to identify the possible security risks of the people who have returned from Gaza. If any such content is found in a person’s social media or digital activities, which is considered a threat to the national security of America, then his visa application will be sent for inter-agency review. On the matter, Secretary Marco Rubio said that we have canceled more than 300 such visas since the beginning of 2025, including many students visas.

The target was made to those criticizing Israel?

According to reports, many foreign students, who criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Their visas have been canceled. This step also indicates restricting the criticism of America’s foreign policy. Whereas the US Constitution provides freedom of expression to every person, irrespective of its visa status.

Harvard University became the main target

The Trump administration has specially targeted Harvard University. Based on the protests in Harvard after the Gaza struggle, the administration demanded policy change from the university, which is as follows.

• Eliminating positive reservation.
• Screening of students who can be “opposed to American values”.
• Control anti -Jewish activities in the campus.

Federal funding of $ 2 billion has been stopped for rejecting these demands. The Homeland Security Department even said that Harvard is no longer eligible to host international students.

Is this policy against the spirit of the Constitution?

The United Nations, human rights organizations and many American academics have seen the move as ‘digital censorship’ and ‘violation of freedom of expression’. They believe that this policy is contrary to the democratic values ​​of America. This is an attempt to silence students and human rights activists. Puts foreign applicants in an atmosphere of fear.