By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The United States (US) Department of State on Saturday announced a new policy change for non-immigrant visa applicants.
The new policy which took effect immediately requires applicants to schedule their interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
The update, according to the State, supersedes all previous instructions on designated visa processing locations.
“Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine non-immigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere,” the Department said.
The list of designated locations covers nationals from conflict-affected or diplomatically restricted states such as Afghanistan (Islamabad), Belarus (Vilnius, Warsaw), Cuba (Georgetown), Iran (Dubai), Russia (Astana, Warsaw), Venezuela (Bogota), and Yemen (Riyadh).
The policy also requires applicants to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.
In the event that any applicants who have scheduled non-immigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa, the fees paid for such applications will not be refunded and cannot be transferred.
It also stated that applicants applying outside of their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait for an appointment for a longer period.
The Department also clarified that existing appointments would “generally not be cancelled.”
The new rules, however, do not apply to diplomatic, NATO, or UN-related visas.
Exceptions may also be granted for humanitarian or medical emergencies or foreign policy reasons.
Applicants are, therefore, advised to check their local embassy or consulate websites for details on requirements and wait times.