On February 18, 2025, the US Department of State announced a new policy requiring more foreign nationals to attend in-person interviews to apply for nonimmigrant visas. 

The announcement rolls back a Biden Administration policy which had allowed visa applicants to qualify for the interview waiver program—and thus bypass the in-person interview requirement—if they (a) had been issued a nonimmigrant visa in any classification (except the B visitor visa category), and (b) were applying within 48 months of their most recent visa expiration date. From Waiver to Waitlist: Fewer Travelers Can Skip the US Visa Interview | Insights | Mayer Brown