New U.S. Visa Appointment Rule: Where B1/B2 Applicants Should Apply
The country where you book your U.S. visa interview now matters far more than it used to. The Department of State expects nonimmigrant visa applicants — including B1/B2 visitors — to apply in their country of nationality or legal residence, rather than choosing whichever embassy happens to show the shortest waiting time.
Last updated: 5 September 2026. Post-specific practice can differ and does change — confirm the current instructions on the official source linked at the end and on your embassy’s own website before you pay anything.
What the updated instruction says
The Department of State updated its guidance on where nonimmigrant visa applicants should be interviewed. The principle is simple: you apply where you belong — the country you are a citizen of, or the country you legally live in. Consular posts still have discretion to accept applicants from elsewhere, but that is now the exception rather than a normal option, and several posts either decline such requests or place them well behind local applicants.
The reasoning is practical: officers at the post covering your home or residence can read local documents, understand local employment and financial records, and interview you in a context they know. An officer in an unrelated country cannot.
Check the effective date before you plan
The exact date this instruction took effect, and how each post applies it to appointments booked earlier, are stated on the official page and on individual embassy websites. Confirm both before you book or reschedule.
Where you should book your interview
- Your country of nationality — the country that issued your passport.
- Your country of legal residence — where you actually live, with a status that allows you to stay.
- If your own country has no functioning U.S. visa service, the Department of State designates which post handles those applicants. Follow that designation rather than picking a post yourself.
How to prove legal residence
Residence means a status that lets you live in the country, not simply being present there. Documents that normally establish it include:
- A residence permit card or foreigner’s ID issued by that country
- A long-stay national visa (type D) or an equivalent long-term authorisation
- A temporary protection or asylum-seeker document, where that is your status
- Municipal registration of your address, in countries that issue one
- An employment contract, study enrolment or tax registration supporting the same picture
A short-stay Schengen visa, a visa-free tourist entry or a hotel booking is not residence. Neither is an expired permit. If your permit is currently being renewed, carry both the expired card and the official confirmation that the renewal is in progress.
What this means for Ukrainians living abroad
A Ukrainian citizen who legally resides in Belgium can normally apply in Brussels. The same logic applies elsewhere: legal residence in Poland means applying in Poland, residence in Germany means applying in Germany, residence in the United Kingdom means applying in the UK. Many Ukrainians in Europe hold temporary protection status, which is documented with a residence card — bring that card, and be ready to show it both when booking and at the interview.
If you are a Ukrainian citizen still living in Ukraine, follow the current official designation of which post handles Ukrainian applicants. Do not assume it is whichever neighbouring country is easiest to reach.
Why applying in an unrelated third country backfires
Booking in a country you have no connection to used to be a common tactic for beating long queues. It now carries real costs:
- The post may refuse to schedule you, or cancel the appointment once it sees your documents.
- Non-resident applicants are frequently given the slowest slots, so the shorter advertised wait never materialises.
- Your ties — job, family, property, finances — sit in a country the officer cannot readily assess, which makes your case harder to present, not easier.
- You pay for travel and accommodation on top of the visa fee, for an interview that may not happen.
The fee is generally not transferable or refundable
The $185 MRV application fee is paid into the appointment system of a specific country. As a rule it cannot be moved to another country’s system, and it is not refunded if you change your mind or if the post declines to interview you. Treat the choice of country as a decision you make before paying, not after.
The key point
Decide where you are entitled to apply first. Pay the fee second. Doing it the other way round is what turns a scheduling question into lost money.
Appointments that were already scheduled
If you booked an interview abroad before the guidance changed, do not assume it still stands. Some posts honour existing appointments, others review or cancel them. Sign in to your appointment account, read any notice from that embassy, and contact the post if anything is unclear — now, rather than at the security desk on the day.
DS-160 location and interview location must match
The DS-160 asks which embassy or consulate you will apply at, and the confirmation barcode is tied to that answer. If you change country, the safe approach is to complete a new DS-160 for the correct post and use that confirmation for the interview. A mismatch between the form and the interview location causes problems at check-in and can cost you the appointment.
What this means for applicants
For most people this simplifies the decision: you apply where you live or where you are a citizen, and stop comparing waiting times across countries. Pay closer attention if you live abroad on a status that is hard to document, if your residence permit is expiring or being renewed, or if you have already paid a fee in a country you have no link to. In those cases, sort out the paperwork before booking.
Checklist before you pay the fee
Work through this in order:
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply in another country because the wait there is shorter?
That is exactly what the updated guidance discourages. You may be refused an appointment, given the slowest available slot, or turned away on the day — and the fee stays paid.
I am Ukrainian and live in Poland with a residence card. Where do I apply?
In Poland. Your legal residence there is what gives you the right to apply locally, so bring the residence card to the interview.
Does a Schengen tourist visa count as residence?
No. A short-stay visa or visa-free entry allows you to visit, not to reside. Residence requires a permit or an equivalent long-term status.
Can I transfer my $185 fee to another country?
Generally no. The fee belongs to the appointment system of the country where it was paid, and it is not refundable. Check the rules of that specific system before assuming otherwise.
I already have an appointment in a third country. What should I do?
Check your appointment account and that embassy’s notices now. If the appointment is at risk, you can decide calmly whether to rebook where you live, instead of discovering the problem on interview day.
Conclusion
Choosing the right post is now part of preparing the application, not an afterthought. Apply where you are a citizen or where you legally live, make the DS-160 match, and pay only once that is settled. If a long wait is the real problem, look at legitimate options instead — see our article on the $750 paid expedited appointment, and our guide on where to apply if you live between countries.
How EasyVisaPath can help
EasyVisaPath is an independent visa-support service. We help you identify the correct post, complete the DS-160 accurately, and assemble proof of residence before you pay. Learn more about our support.
Disclaimer
EasyVisaPath is an independent visa-support service and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State or any U.S. government agency. Visa decisions are made exclusively by U.S. consular officers. This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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