The U.S. Department of State has announced a new policy requiring all non-immigrant visa applicants to schedule their interview appointments at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence.

The directive, which took effect on September 6, marks the latest move in the ongoing tightening of U.S. visa regulations.

Previously, many applicants, particularly from countries with long visa appointment wait times, sought to bypass delays by applying in other nations where appointments were more readily available.

The new policy states that applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.

It warns that individuals who apply outside their country of nationality or residence may face significantly longer wait times for an appointment and risk losing their non-refundable application fees if their visa is denied.

Applicants must be able to prove residence in the country where they are applying.

The Department of State also noted that it may be more difficult for these applicants to qualify for a visa.

The new guidance does not apply to certain visa categories, including A, G, C-2, C-3, and NATO visas, as well as diplomatic or official visas.

The Department of State stated that rare exceptions may also be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies, or for foreign policy reasons.

This development follows a series of stricter U.S. visa rules implemented since the Trump administration, and is anticipated to increase wait times for a large number of applicants worldwide.