Indians can no longer apply for short-term US visas—including student (F-1), visitor (B-1/B-2), and work visas (such as H-1B and O-1)—from third countries like Vietnam, Thailand, or Germany.

This new policy, introduced by the US State Department on September 6, mandates that visa applications must be processed only in the applicant’s country of citizenship or legal residence.

The change is expected to exacerbate already long wait times and remove the flexibility applicants previously had in securing quicker interviews abroad.

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