The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that only certain geographic locations are acceptable for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F and J students and scholars, effective September 6, 2025. Nonimmigrant visa applicants should schedule their F or J visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. For visa applicants from a country in which there are no operating U.S. visa services, there are specific designated locations.
This announcement applies to first-time F or J visa applicants and current F or J visa holders who need to apply for a valid F or J visa to re-enter the U.S. The change limits what is called Third-Country National (TCN) applicants, meaning an F or J nonimmigrant student or scholar applies for a U.S. visa in a country that was not their country of citizenship, nationality, or residence.
In addition, DOS has ended its visa interview waiver policy, effective September 2, 2025.
What are the possible impacts of this change on F-1 and J-1 students?
Students are advised to consider the following before traveling outside the U.S. during their academic program:
- Plan in advance so you have enough time to secure your visa without disrupting your studies or practical training.
- If your current F or J visa is expired or will expire before you plan to return to the U.S. in F or J status, you should consider whether travel outside the U.S. is necessary or feasible, especially during the fall or spring semester.
- If you are traveling to a country where you are not a national or resident, and your current visa will not be valid on your date of return to the U.S., ensure that you have enough time to travel to your country of nationality or residence to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 student visa. Wait times for visa appointments vary by location.
- Your F-1 or J-1 immigration status requires you to be enrolled full-time, attending classes in-person, and making satisfactory academic progress. Your F-1 or J-1 SEVIS status is dependent on maintaining the rules of your visa type. If you are unable to return to the U.S. to maintain student immigration status, your SEVIS record may have to be terminated. This will affect your visa application and ability to timely return to the U.S.