Travelers who require a visa to visit the United States may now face longer wait times after the Trump administration enacted a new rule over the weekend.
The State Department said Saturday that nonimmigrant visa applicants are expected to schedule interviews at their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and warned that those who apply elsewhere “might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa.” The latest requirement applies to tourists, business travelers, students, temporary workers and other short-term visa seekers.
The change comes after many travelers seeking short-term visas to the United States began applying in other countries to sidestep long interview wait lists at home, a backlog made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The announcement added that applicants must demonstrate that they live in the country where they submit their application.
The State Department designated alternative locations for residents of 17 countries without routine visa services. Haitians, for example, must head to Nassau in the Bahamas to apply for a visa, while Syrians must apply in Amman, Jordan.
The State Department said that fees paid for interviews scheduled outside of applicants’ home countries will not be refunded, and these applicants should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The announcement said that existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally not be canceled and added that the latest guidance does not apply to diplomats, government officials, or anyone traveling on special visas, usually affiliated with foreign governments. People traveling for the United Nations are also exempt.
The new requirement raises concerns about longer wait times to enter the United States, especially ahead of landmark events next year. The 2026 men’s World Cup, for instance, is expected to draw record attendance and surpass the 1994 U.S. edition. It also comes at a time when international travel to the United States is declining. About one million fewer international visitors came to the United States in the first half of the year compared with a year earlier, a drop of about 3 percent, according to government data. In July, the travel research firm Tourism Economics forecast a full-year decline of 8 percent.
At some U.S. consulates, the wait time for a visa interview is more than a year on average, including in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and Hermosillo, Mexico, with 17.5 and 22.5 months, according to the State Department’s list of global visa wait times. In Guadalajara, the wait is more than 11 months. In Bogotá, Colombia, the average wait is 13 months.
The new rule follows the Trump administration’s decision last month to require some business and tourist visa applicants to post bonds of up to $15,000, a measure aimed at deterring overstays as part of its broader immigration crackdown. Over the summer, the United States also put in place a “visa integrity fee” of at least $250 for international visitors, which is added to existing visa costs.
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Coral Murphy Marcos is a business reporter.
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