Now Reading: US makes in-person visa interview mandatory for all minor applicants in India
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US makes in-person visa interview mandatory for all minor applicants in India
US makes in-person visa interview mandatory for all minor applicants in India
The US Embassy in India has clarified that all minor applicants, regardless of age, must appear in person for their consular visa interview. The rule applies to children from newborns to 17-year-olds,…
The US Embassy in India has clarified that all minor applicants, regardless of age, must appear in person for their consular visa interview. The rule applies to children from newborns to 17-year-olds, removing earlier age-based interview exemptions that allowed some minors to obtain visas without a physical appearance.
Parents or guardians can accompany a minor to the appointment but cannot appear on the child's behalf. Even infants must be physically present when the consular officer conducts the interview. The embassy said the measure is part of broader US visa-screening and security procedures, helping with identity verification, eligibility assessment, national security and public safety.
The clarification was provided during the embassy's 'Visa Friday' social-media session. Families applying for US visas for children should now plan appointments carefully and ensure the entire family can attend as required, rather than assuming an interview waiver will apply based on age.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The change closes a long-standing procedural gap that let families skip the consular interview for children under 14 by submitting documents by courier. For Indian families, the additional trip to a consulate, often in another city, adds both cost and time to what is already a months-long wait for visa slots. The US issued over 1.4 million visas in India in 2023, and minor applicants form a significant share. Parents should book appointments well in advance and budget for travel. The next data point to watch is whether the rule increases the already high no-show rate at consulates, which could further stretch appointment availability.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
