DOS Now Requires Nonimmigrant Visa Interviews in Applicant’s Country of Residence: Third Country National (TCN) Eliminated
- visa code
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in Their Country of Residence
Last Updated: September 6, 2025
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has dramatically changed its policy for nonimmigrant visa applicants, immediately ending most third-country national (TCN) visa processing. Effective September 6, 2025, applicants must schedule NIV interviews at U.S. embassies or consulates located in their country of nationality or residence.
Key Changes and Eliminations
Third Country National Processing Eliminated: Scheduling U.S. visa interview appointments in a third country (where you do not reside) is no longer permitted except in rare, tightly defined circumstances. Applicants must now interview in their country of nationality or residence.
Designated Posts for Special Circumstances: Nationals from countries lacking routine NIV operations are assigned to specific designated embassies or consulates (e.g., Afghans to Islamabad, Russians to Astana or Warsaw, Iranians to Dubai)
Implications for Visa Applicants
Residence Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate legal residency in the country where they schedule their interview. Attempting to apply from elsewhere, unless required by DOS designation, will make qualification much harder.
Fees
The visa fee is nonrefundable and non-transferable. Scheduling and paying for an interview outside one’s country of residence or nationality risks denial and loss of fee. The fee paid by applicants at TCN and awaiting to schedule interviews will lose the fee. They must repay the visa fees once the profile is transferred back to their country of residence or nationality.
Appointment Wait Times
Expect significantly longer wait times for appointments if applying outside the country of residence or nationality. DOS cautions that processing may be substantially delayed in these cases.
Existing Appointments
Current appointments are generally not being cancelled; however, new applications must follow the updated rules.
Applicant's Profiles Must Be Updated
Applicants who created profiles or transferred their profiles to the TCN country must transfer the profile back to their country of nationality or residence.
Exceptions
Exempted Visa Types: Diplomats, UN travelers, NATO personnel, and certain official visas (A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO) retain flexibility and may be processed more broadly.
Humanitarian Grounds or Emergencies: Rare exceptions may be made for medical emergencies or urgent humanitarian needs, subject to consular discretion.
Designated Processing Posts
Country | Designated Location(s) |
Afghanistan | Islamabad |
Belarus | Vilnius, Warsaw |
Chad | Yaoundé |
Cuba | Georgetown |
Haiti | Nassau |
Iran | Dubai |
Libya | Tunis |
Niger | Ouagadougou |
Russia | Astana, Warsaw |
Somalia | Nairobi |
South Sudan | Nairobi |
Sudan | Cairo |
Syria | Amman |
Ukraine | Krakow, Warsaw |
Venezuela | Bogota |
Yemen | Riyadh |
Zimbabwe | Johannesburg |
Next Steps for Applicants
Check Consulate Websites: Review embassy and consulate websites for detailed requirements, operating status, and your designated post.
Prepare Documentation: Be ready to prove residence where you apply, and ensure you understand your location’s unique requirements.
Avoid Unnecessary Third-Country Applications: Unless specifically directed by DOS or qualifying for an exception, apply in your home country or your legal country of residence to avoid significant delays and financial loss.
This new guidance supersedes all previous instructions regarding visa application location and processing.
For more detailed information, refer to official Department of State communications and embassy announcements. This update can be found here.
Applicants who enjoyed shorter wait times under the relaxed Third Country National (TCN) policy, especially those applying for F-1 (student) and B1/B2 (visitor) visas, will be most affected by the policy reversal, as these categories benefited the most from the previous flexibility.
It must be noted that DOS eliminated TCN for Immigrant Visa Applications and this can be found here and the current DOS update Eliminating TCN for Nonimmigrant Visa Applications was expected.
TCN processing is nearly eliminated. When a specific consular post does choose to accept TCN applications, it is generally for rare humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy exceptions. As a result, applicants pursuing TCN interviews can expect significantly longer wait times.
Given that the DOS is aware applicants often travel to different countries to secure earlier visa interview appointments, it appears unlikely that the policy will simply maintain TCN processing at pre-COVID-19 levels.