U.S. Visas: New Rules for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine

The U.S. Department of State announced new rules for processing nonimmigrant visas. Applications can now only be submitted in a country of citizenship or permanent residence. The regulation covers tourist, business, student, and other visa categories, and has already come into effect.

According to the Department, applicants who try to file in third countries face higher chances of interview denials, while consular fees remain nonrefundable and nontransferable. Interview wait times are also expected to be much longer in these cases.

For countries without U.S. embassies, specific consular locations have been assigned. Russians must now apply in Astana or Warsaw. Belarusians are directed to embassies in Vilnius and Warsaw, while Ukrainians must apply in Kraków or Warsaw. More than fifteen countries are included in the list, such as Afghanistan (Islamabad), Cuba (Georgetown), Iran (Dubai), Libya (Tunis), Syria (Amman), Venezuela (Bogotá), and Yemen (Riyadh).

The new rules do not apply to diplomatic or official visa categories (A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO), or cases covered by UN agreements. Exceptions may be made for humanitarian, medical, or foreign policy reasons. Previously scheduled interviews will not normally be canceled.

The State Department advises applicants to carefully review the websites of the specific U.S. embassies and consulates for local procedures. The new mechanism follows similar changes for immigrant visas in August 2025 and reflects Washington’s broader policy of tightening and standardizing visa processes globally.

Additional measures include:
- Review of 55+ million existing visas, with possible cancellations for violations, criminal activity, or security threats.
- Monitoring of social media activity of applicants, with particular attention to anti-American or extremist content.
- Introduction of a visa integrity fee of $250 starting October 1, added to the existing $185 consular fee, raising the minimum visa cost to $435.
- Mandatory in-person interviews for most nonimmigrant categories from September 2, with limited exceptions.
- Security deposits ($5,000–$15,000) required for certain travelers from Malawi and Zambia due to overstays.

Since President Trump’s second term began, over 6,000 student visas have been revoked, more than double the previous year. The government has also suspended issuing work visas for foreign truck drivers, citing road safety and domestic employment concerns.

These rules mark a significant shift in U.S. visa policy, signaling a move toward stricter controls, higher costs, and fewer opportunities for third-country applications.