The decision comes amid pressure on the system: wait times for tourist and business interviews (B1/B2) remain high at numerous consulates. The Consular Affairs website publishes, with monthly updates, average waits and next available appointments; at some posts in the region they have recently exceeded a year, with peaks in cities such as Bogotá or Hermosillo, despite efforts to add slots on a regular basis. The State Department urges applicants to check the system frequently to reschedule if earlier dates appear.
Ending the so-called “third-country processing” adds to other regulatory changes in 2025. Among them is the relaunch—limited and by country—of a bond program for B1/B2 visas aimed at nations with high overstay rates. Under the current notice, citizens of Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia must post guarantees of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, at consular discretion, refundable upon full compliance with visa conditions. The requirement applies regardless of where the visa is requested and obliges travelers to enter and exit through designated ports of entry.
In addition, as of October 1, 2025, the new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” applies to most nonimmigrant visa applicants. This fee, created by law, is added to existing payments and, according to the approved framework, could be refunded once the visa expires if the traveler proves full compliance with all conditions. The regulation provides for the amount to be updated annually for inflation starting in 2026. Various industry analyses have warned that the higher cost could affect the accessibility of the process and tourist flows to the United States.
For applicants, the practical change is clear: they will need to plan further in advance from their country of residence, gather documentation proving that tie—when applicable—and consider that, if they try to secure an appointment in another country, they may face significantly longer waits with no right to recover fees already paid. The State Department notes there are limited exemptions—such as A and G categories, among others—and that in humanitarian situations or for foreign-policy reasons, a case-by-case exception may be considered. The official recommendation remains to check the embassy or consulate website for specific requirements and current procedures before planning any travel.
This new framework also arrives less than a year before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, an event expected to draw record crowds. In that context, certainty about where to apply and transparency on wait times are key for business travelers, students, conference attendees, and, of course, sports fans planning their trips. With queues still strained by pandemic backlogs and pent-up demand, consolidating processing in the country of residence is intended to reduce dispersed applications and ease consular management, even if in the short term it means logistical adjustments for millions of system users.
In short, the United States is refocusing nonimmigrant visa processing on the applicant’s country of nationality or residence, designating special posts where services are unavailable, keeping additional control measures such as selective bonds in place, and adding a $250 integrity fee. Together, these elements call for more careful planning by applicants and close monitoring of official information published by consular authorities.
