Where the employee can schedule an interview
State’s instructions direct nonimmigrant visa applicants to schedule an interview in their country of nationality or residence. Someone applying on the basis of residence must be able to demonstrate residence there.
For nationals of countries without routine U.S. nonimmigrant visa operations, State identifies designated processing posts, unless the person resides elsewhere. That makes the employee’s nationality, residence and the post’s operating status relevant to the appointment search.
A shorter queue abroad is not the whole location decision
The instructions warn that applying outside the relevant country of nationality, residence or designated processing post can make it harder to qualify and can involve significantly longer appointment waits. Fees for those applications cannot be refunded or transferred.
State says existing appointments generally remain in place, with applicants notified of cancellations at particular posts. The published guidance also identifies official-travel exceptions and rare exceptions for humanitarian, medical or foreign-policy reasons. The consulate’s own instructions remain part of the process.
Ordinary work-visa renewals generally need an interview
Under the interview-waiver policy effective October 1, 2025, nonimmigrant applicants generally require an in-person interview, including applicants younger than 14 or older than 79. A visa renewal alone does not establish eligibility to skip that interview.
The policy lists limited exceptions, including specified diplomatic or official categories and qualifying B-visa and H-2A renewals. It does not list a general renewal exception for ordinary H-1B, L-1 or O-1 visa applicants. Consular officers can still require an interview in an otherwise eligible case.
Read the work-visa column when checking wait times
The global wait-time table available for this briefing was updated October 21, 2026. It separates petition-based H, L, O, P and Q appointments from visitor and student categories. A visitor-visa wait shown for a city is therefore not the relevant work-visa estimate.
State updates the table monthly and says its averages do not guarantee an appointment within a particular period. Consulates add slots regularly, and their scheduling systems show the appointments actually available to book or reschedule.
| Timing question | What the official information addresses |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Nationality, residence, designated-post instructions and any applicable exception. |
| When an interview may be available | The relevant visa-category estimate and the consulate’s live appointment system. |
| When visa processing will finish | The individual consular case, including any additional administrative processing. |
An interview date and a completed visa are different milestones
State’s administrative-processing guidance explains that some applications need additional processing after the interview and that the duration depends on the individual case. The interview estimate does not settle that later stage.
For an employer tracking a holiday absence, the distinction matters: a scheduled interview confirms an appointment, while visa issuance and passport return are later events. The agency links below provide the current location policy, waiver categories, appointment estimates and processing guidance.
Sources
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Immigration outcomes depend on individual facts and current agency guidance.