The State Department’s updated immigrant visa interview location guidance makes residence the central factor in where many immigrant-visa applicants are scheduled.
State’s July 15, 2026 update says applicants are required to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested, subject to limited exceptions. The underlying National Visa Center scheduling change took effect November 1, 2025.
Why the two dates matter
This is not accurately described as a brand-new July 15 rule. The page was updated July 15, but it explicitly states that beginning November 1, 2025, NVC would schedule immigrant-visa applicants in the country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality. For historical reporting, the November effective date and July clarification should be kept separate.
Who is affected?
The guidance applies to immigrant-visa applicants using consular processing. That can include Indian nationals pursuing employment-based or family-based green cards abroad. It is not the same procedure used by an applicant filing adjustment of status with USCIS inside the United States.
Country of residence versus nationality
An Indian citizen residing in India would ordinarily have the same country for both purposes. But an Indian citizen genuinely residing in another country may have a different designated consular processing location. State also permits an applicant to request processing in the country of nationality. If an applicant seeks a different post that is neither the assigned place of residence nor country of nationality, NVC may ask for information establishing residence or supporting an exception.
What if the appointment is already scheduled?
State says existing immigrant-visa appointments generally will not be rescheduled or cancelled. If an applicant wants a post-to-post transfer after NVC has scheduled the interview, State instructs the applicant to contact the National Visa Center rather than the consular section directly. The NVC Public Inquiry Form is the designated route identified in the guidance.
Why this matters to Indian employment-based applicants
An Indian employment-based applicant may wait many years before a visa number and interview become available. During that time, the person may move between countries for work or family reasons. A consular processing case created years earlier can therefore contain a location that no longer reflects the applicant’s actual residence. The July clarification gives readers a concrete procedural point: where a transfer is needed after scheduling, contact NVC rather than independently attempting to shift the case through the consulate.
Hypothetical example
An Indian-born employment-based immigrant is living in Dubai when NVC prepares the case for interview. If the assigned processing post reflects the person’s UAE residence, that can be consistent with the State policy. If the applicant instead wants to interview in India based on nationality, the applicant can request that location. If an interview has already been scheduled and the applicant wants another post, the current guidance directs the transfer request through NVC.
Countries without routine visa operations
State separately addresses residents of countries where routine U.S. visa operations are unavailable. Those applicants generally use the designated immigrant-visa processing post unless another nationality or residence situation applies. This exception prevents the residence rule from being read as requiring an interview at a post that does not actually provide the necessary service.
Exceptions
Rare exceptions can be made for humanitarian reasons, medical emergencies or foreign-policy considerations. The word “rare” matters. Applicants should not assume travel convenience, airfare cost or preference for a shorter queue automatically qualifies for an exception.
