- Only in country of residence/nationality
- No refunds or transfers abroad
- Longer waits if applied outside
The U.S. government has introduced a new visa rule requiring all non-immigrant visa applicants to attend interviews strictly in their country of residence or nationality. This policy takes immediate effect and is meant to stop applicants from applying in other countries for convenience.
As reported by Eko Hot Blog, the new measure marks a clear end to the practice known as “consulate shopping,” where applicants tried to bypass long queues by booking interviews in third countries. The rule is firm: unless you live there, you can no longer schedule an appointment at that embassy or consulate.
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The U.S. Department of State explained that while existing appointments remain valid, applicants should be ready to show proof of residency when applying. Those who book interviews outside their country of residence risk losing application fees, facing longer wait times, and possibly not being attended to. Importantly, there will be no refunds or transfers if the application is made in the wrong location.
For Nigerians and others across Africa, this means that interviews must now be handled at the U.S. embassies or consulates within their countries of residence. For example, Nigerians must process applications at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the Consulate in Lagos, unless they hold residency elsewhere.
The State Department also outlined specific arrangements for applicants from countries where U.S. embassies are closed or limited. Afghans, for instance, are assigned to Islamabad; Belarusians to Vilnius or Warsaw; Iranians to Dubai; Russians to Astana; Venezuelans to Bogota; and Yemenis to Riyadh.
These cases highlight how applicants in affected nations will need to travel further but still under strict consular assignment.
This development is expected to bring tighter control, more orderly scheduling, and reduced abuse of the visa process. However, the changes also mean applicants must plan more carefully, as traveling abroad for faster processing is no longer an option.
Exceptions will still apply in emergencies, humanitarian cases, or specific policy reasons, but these will be rare and strictly monitored. For most applicants, the message is clear: apply where you live, or risk losing time and money.
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