Over the past few months, the U.S. has rolled out some of the most consequential tweaks to nonimmigrant visa processing. Some are already in force; others go live in the next few weeks. Interview waivers, location of application, a new Visa Integrity Fee, expanded social-media vetting, and a narrowly targeted visa-bond pilot, what these mean for outcomes and how applicants should respond.
Expect more in-person interviews:
On July 25, 2025, the State Department announced it is re-instituting in-person interviews for most first-time applicants and for many renewals, including minors under 14 and applicants over 79, with limited exceptions. For those who still qualify for an interview waiver renewal, the window has narrowed: your previous visa in the same class must have been valid or expired within the past 12 months, and you must have been at least 18 years old when that prior visa was issued. Most other temporary COVID-era flexibilities are gone. Effective September 2, 2025.
Families traveling with children and elderly travelers—should schedule for biometrics and interview appointments.
Apply where you live or are a national
As of September 6, 2025, the Department has underscored that nonimmigrant visa applicants are generally expected to apply in a country of their nationality or habitual residence. A handful of nationalities have designated locations outside their home countries due to operational or security realities (e.g., Afghans, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans), but for most people, “visa shopping” in third countries will be harder unless you clearly reside there on long term basis.
If you do not live in the country where you are trying to book an appointment, your case may be rerouted—or refused scheduling—unless you fit a listed exception.
New Visa Integrity Fee: $250 added to each nonimmigrant visa issuance
A U.S. law passed in July created a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” to be charged upon visa issuance to all nonimmigrant categories, in addition to existing MRV and reciprocity fees. The fee takes effect October 1, 2025, and—based on current reporting—is not waivable. The estimates suggest it takes the typical B1/B2 cost above $435 in many countries.
Budget for it. If you are mid-process now and your issuance happens on/after October 1, 2025, you should expect to pay the new fee.
Social-media checks: identifiers are required, and access scrutiny is expanding
Since 2019, most visa applicants must list social-media identifiers (handles) on the DS-160/DS-260 forms. The Department does not ask for passwords, but it does review information that is publicly available or otherwise accessible through lawful means.
In June 2025, State signaled expanded screening and vetting for certain categories (notably F, M, J) and said posts would instruct applicants to set their social-media profiles to “public” during processing to facilitate review.
If you are a student, exchange visitor, or vocational trainee, expect consular officers to look at your public online presence. Align what you disclose in your application with what is visible online and avoid inconsistencies.
Security bonds (pilot): real, but narrowly targeted (for now)
Beginning August 20, 2025, the U.S. launched a visa-bond pilot for certain B1/B2 applicants from specific countries with high overstay rates. Currently, nationals of Malawi and Zambia applying at designated posts may be asked to post a refundable bond—$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000—at consular discretion. The bond is refunded if you comply with visa terms. The pilot is limited in scope and geography.
Policymakers could expand or adjust the list in the future.
How these shifts will affect outcomes
More interviews and more chances to clarify. With the waiver window narrowed and age-based waivers curtailed, consistency and credibility in person count even more. Expect higher refusal risk for poorly prepared applications with weak ties, or mismatched travel plans, but well-documented cases may benefit from the dialogue an interview allows.
Country-of-residence filing should reduce “venue shopping,” making adjudication more uniform and cutting down on applicants chasing faster calendars in third countries. That helps posts allocate slots to resident demand, which can stabilize wait times over the medium term.
The Visa Integrity Fee raises the stakes. For many travelers, an extra $250 may prompt better self-screening—only those with genuine purpose and readiness will proceed. From the Department’s perspective, the fee partly offsets vetting and security costs; for applicants, It is a higher sunk cost if refused.
Expanded online-presence vetting rewards consistency, not curation. Officers are trained to weigh the totality of circumstances. Public profiles that contradict your stated study plans, work history, or finances will undermine credibility; neutral or consistent profiles neither hurt nor “guarantee” approval. There is no requirement to surrender passwords; the focus is on publicly visible content and lawful checks.
Visa bonds are designed to deter overstays, not trap travelers. For the narrow set of applicants affected, a bond can convert intent into an enforceable incentive. Expect officers to reserve bonds for higher-risk profiles; strong evidence of ties and compliance may avert a bond requirement altogether.
What applicants should do differently now
Plan for interviews. Assume in-person interviews unless you clearly meet an exception. Book early, prepare concise explanations of purpose, itinerary, funding, and ties. Bring evidence but use it surgically in the interview.
Apply where you live (or are a national). If you are abroad, document your lawful, stable residence in the country of application.
Budget for the integrity fee from Oct 1, 2025. If your issuance is likely after that date, account for the additional $250.
Tidy your online footprint. Ensure your public profiles do not contradict your stated plans, education, employment, or travel history. If your embassy instructs F/M/J applicants to temporarily set profiles to “public,” follow the post’s guidance. Never fabricate or delete material in a way that looks like you are concealing facts.
From an affected bond country? Over-document compliance. Prior travel and timely departures, employer letters confirming leave and return, property/family ties, and proof of return obligations can reduce the chance a bond is required—or support a lower bond.
For most applicants, the U.S. is shifting from pandemic-era flexibility back to classic, interview-centric adjudication, now augmented by online-presence vetting and new cost/compliance levers. Expect more interviews, stricter venue rules, a $250 issuance fee from October 1, 2025, and narrow bond requirements for specific nationalities. Well-prepared, credible applicants should still succeed—just build in time, budget, and meticulous consistency across your forms, documents, and public online persona.