US Changes Rules for Non-Immigrant Visa Applications

The U.S. has updated the rules for non-immigrant visa applicants who are scheduling an interview, the State Department reports.

"U.S. non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants must schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of citizenship or permanent residence," the statement said.

Previously, it was possible to undergo an interview and apply for such a visa in any country.

Russia, Astana and Warsaw have been designated as application locations, as the U.S. does not conduct regular immigration visa operations in Russia.

The same applies to 16 other countries, including Belarus (its residents must apply at U.S. embassies in Vilnius and Warsaw) and Ukraine (Krakow and Warsaw).

U.S. non-immigrant visas include more than a dozen types of visas, including tourist B-2, business travel B-1, J visas for educational exchanges, journalistic I visas, and others.