September 5, 2025

DOS Will Now Require Immigrant Visa Applicants to Interview in Place of Residence or Country of Nationality

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) is now requiring immigrant visa applicants to apply for immigrant visas in the consular district designated for their place of residence or in their country of nationality.

Effective immediately, if an immigrant visa applicant would like to transfer his or her pending immigrant visa case to a new consular district after the National Visa Center (“NVC”) has scheduled an interview appointment, the applicant should contact the NVC directly through the public inquiry form and not the Embassy or Consulate.

In addition, if an immigrant visa applicant requests to be interviewed at an Embassy or Consulate outside their country of nationality, the NVC may request additional information to confirm that the location is the applicant’s place of residence or to confirm if an exception may be warranted.

The DOS may make rare exceptions for humanitarian, medical emergencies, or other foreign policy considerations.

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Copyright 2025. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This article may be changed with or without notice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of Enterline and Partners only.

Categories: Immigrant Visa

Tags: immigrant visa, U.S. Department of State (DOS)

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DOS Will Now Require Immigrant Visa Applicants to Interview in Place of Residence or Country of Nationality

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