U.S. Department of State Visa Application Updates - August 2025

Visa Interview Waiver Update

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced on July 25, 2025, that it will update the categories of applicants eligible for a waiver of the non-immigrant visa interview. The revised visa interview waiver policy eliminates the option for F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa holders to apply for a new visa without having to appear for a visa interview. The new policy will take effect on September 2, 2025. As a result, Drexel's student's, scholars, and employees who have previously qualified for an interview waiver will now be required to appear in person for a visa interview effective September 2.

New Visa Integrity Fee

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which was signed into law on July 4, 2025, introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee. This fee will apply to most non-immigrant categories, including F-1/F-2 students, J-1/J-2 exchange visitors, H-1B/H-4 dependents. Travelers using Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are not subject to this fee. Details regarding the payment process and timeline for the fee are still unclear, and we are waiting for additional information. ISSS will closely monitor these developments and will provide updates as more information becomes available. For further details, please consult Klasko's blog: "The One Big Beautiful Bill's Visa Integrity Fee Explained".

Changes to U.S. Visa Reciprocity Schedules

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) revised the visa reciprocity schedules for many countries, reducing the validity of several non-immigrant visa categories to three months and single entry. These changes are not retroactive and apply only to visas issued on or after the effective date. To view country-specific visa validity and entry terms, visit the Department of State Visa Reciprocity Table.

For more details and updates, refer to NAFSA's Summary "DOS Reduces Validity of New Visas for a Number of Countries".

Global Visa Wait Times

With the recent resumption of visa appointment scheduling for F-1 and J-1 student visa applicants, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has resumed reporting wait times for visa appointments for these categories. For the latest information about visa wait times, please consult the Department of State's Global Visa Wait Times page.