US Visa Interview Waiver Scheme to End: What Will Change and How It Will Affect Travellers
From 2 September 2025, the United States will discontinue its Interview Waiver Programme — popularly known as the Dropbox facility — for most non-immigrant visa categories, including work and student visas.
At present, this programme allows certain eligible applicants renewing their visas to submit documents at a designated location without attending an in-person interview at a US consulate. Eligibility generally depends on factors such as a clean visa history or belonging to specific age groups. This has been a major relief for many travellers, especially in high-demand countries like India, where securing interview slots can be difficult.
With the new rule, almost all applicants will now be required to appear for an in-person interview with a US consular officer, effectively ending most exemptions.
The change, announced on 25 July, is part of the US government’s push to tighten security and falls under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, signed on 4 July. While US officials claim the move will improve screening, immigration experts warn it will lead to increased backlogs and longer wait times — particularly affecting Indian applicants, including thousands of H-1B professionals.
Who Will Be Affected
The revised policy covers almost all non-immigrant visa categories, including:
- H-1B, H-4 (work visas)
- L-1 (intra-company transfer visas)
- F & M (student visas)
- O-1 (for individuals with extraordinary ability)
- J (exchange visas)
Even children below 14 and senior citizens over 79 — who were earlier exempt — will now have to attend interviews. Many B-1/B-2 tourist and business visa renewals will also come under the new rule, with only limited exceptions.
Limited Exceptions
Interview waivers will continue in select cases:
- Holders of diplomatic or official visas (A-1, A-2, C-3 — except attendants or personal staff — G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 to NATO-6, and TECRO E-1).
- Some B-1/B-2 tourist and business visa renewals — but only if strict conditions are met:
- Visa must be full-validity and renewed within 12 months of expiry.
- Applicant must have been at least 18 years old when the earlier visa was issued.
- No history of visa refusal or ineligibility.
- Application must be filed in the applicant’s country of nationality or residence.
Even in such cases, consular officers can insist on an interview if they choose.
Impact on Travellers
Ending the Dropbox facility for most categories is expected to increase demand for interview slots at US consulates. This could mean:
- Longer waiting times for appointments.
- Travel delays and rescheduling headaches.
- Possible employment start date disruptions for H-1B and other work visa holders.
- Academic schedule conflicts for students.
Some applicants have already been affected — a few August and early-September Dropbox appointments have been cancelled and replaced with interview requirements.
What You Should Do
If you are currently eligible for a Dropbox renewal, try to complete the process before 2 September to avoid a mandatory interview. Employers and universities should prepare for possible delays in onboarding. Keep checking US embassy/consulate websites for updates.
Other Visa-Related Updates
- CSPA Rule Change: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated how the Child Status Protection Act is applied. A visa will now be considered “available” for CSPA age calculations based on the Final Action Dates chart in the State Department’s Visa Bulletin. This could particularly impact children of Indian and Chinese high-skilled immigrants, increasing the risk of “ageing out” before getting permanent residency.
- Visa Integrity Fee: From 2026, the US will introduce a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee”, adjustable for inflation. It is designed as a refundable deposit if the visa holder complies with all rules.
