The change and its date
The Department of State published revised guidance September 18, 2025, effective October 1, 2025.
Most nonimmigrant applicants, including many children and older adults, generally require an interview; limited exceptions include specified official categories and certain recent B-visa, border-card, and H-2A renewals.
Current status
Effective and superseding the Department's July 25, 2025 interview-waiver update.
This status is stated as of September 5, 2026. Readers should check the linked agency page before relying on it because court orders, implementation instructions, form editions, and agency guidance can change.
Why the distinction matters
Meeting the listed criteria makes a person potentially eligible for waiver, but a consular officer may still require an interview for any reason.
An announcement date, publication date, effective date, filing date, and decision date can produce different consequences. Keep a dated copy of the official instruction that governed the action actually taken.
Practical preparation steps
This archive explains public information; it is not individualized legal advice. Do not change status, travel, employment, benefits, or filing strategy without checking the current rule and obtaining qualified legal advice where needed.
- Check the embassy's current appointment instructions
- Do not assume age alone creates a waiver
- Keep the prior visa and refusal history accurate
- Prepare for an interview even when requesting waiver