US Visa Changes 2026: What Indian Applicants Need to Know

Published 2026-10-24 · 8 min read · By the Travlys visa team

Most Indian US visa applicants now need an in-person interview, must apply in India, and in many categories must make social media public. Here is what changed through 2025 and 2026, what is in force in October 2026, and what is still unsettled.

Since 2025, almost every Indian applying for a US visa must attend an in-person interview and apply at a US post in India. Students, H-1B workers, H-4 dependants and several other categories must also set their social media to public. The B1/B2 fee is still $185, the $250 visa integrity fee is law but we could not confirm it is being collected in India, and the $100,000 H-1B fee is blocked by court orders as of 24 October 2026.

At a glance: Interview waiver: mainly B1/B2 renewals within 12 months of expiry. Where to apply: your country of nationality or residence. Public social media: required for F, M, J, H-1B, H-4 and some other categories, not B1/B2. B1/B2, F, J fee: $185. H and L fee: $205. $250 integrity fee: in law, collection in India not confirmed. $100,000 H-1B fee: blocked by courts, employer-paid, not for existing visa holders. Visa bond: India is not on the list. B1/B2 wait in India: roughly 6 to 12 months.

Interviews are back for almost everyone

The State Department narrowed the interview waiver, also called dropbox, from 2 September 2025, and updated it again from 1 October 2025. All nonimmigrant applicants now generally need an in-person interview. That includes children under 14 and adults over 79, who were earlier exempt.

For most Indian families, the only remaining waiver is a B1/B2 renewal. To qualify, you must meet all of these conditions:

• You are renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2 or B1/B2 visa within 12 months of its expiry.
• You were at least 18 when that earlier visa was issued.
• You apply in your country of nationality or residence.
• You have never been refused a visa, unless that refusal was overcome or waived.
• You have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

Even if you qualify, a consular officer can still call you for an interview. F-1 students, H-1B workers and H-4 or F-2 dependants need an interview, including for renewals. In India, waiver applications can be dropped off free at the visa application centre in a consulate city. Other drop-off locations charge ₹1,500 per passport. You must be physically in India to apply from India.

You must apply in India

From September 2025, the State Department says applicants should book their interview at a US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. The US Embassy in India repeats this on its visa page and adds that visa fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

In practice, the old shortcut of booking a faster slot in Dubai, Bangkok or Frankfurt no longer works for most Indians living in India. If you legally live abroad, you can apply where you live. Narrow exceptions exist for diplomatic visas and for humanitarian or medical emergencies.

Public social media for students, H-1B and H-4

Online presence review started for F, M and J applicants in June 2025. It was extended to H-1B and H-4 applicants from 15 December 2025, and later to more categories. As of October 2026, the US Embassy in India lists A-3, C-3 (domestic workers), G-5, H-1B, H-3, H-4, F, I, J, M, K-1, K-2, K-3, Q, R-1, R-2, S, T, TN, TD and U.

If you are in one of these categories, set every social media account to public before your interview, and keep it public until your visa is issued. B1/B2 is not on the list, but every DS-160 asks for the social media handles you have used. Leaving one out can cause problems later.

The $250 visa integrity fee: in law, not clearly in force

The budget law signed on 4 July 2025 created a visa integrity fee of at least $250, which can rise with inflation. It applies to most nonimmigrant visas, including B1/B2, F-1, H-1B and dependant visas. It is due when a visa is issued, so you would not pay it if you are refused.

The fee can be refunded after your visa expires if you followed its conditions. That means no unauthorised work, and leaving within five days of your permitted stay ending, or getting an extension or green card in time. The refund is not automatic, and DHS has not published how to claim it.

Status in October 2026 is unclear. A July 2025 USCIS notice said the fee would be implemented in a future publication. We found no official notice that collection has started, and reports differ on which posts, if any, are charging it. Our advice is to budget for it and keep your I-94 records and boarding passes in case refunds open.

The $100,000 H-1B fee: blocked for now

A proclamation signed on 19 September 2025 added a one-time $100,000 payment to certain new H-1B petitions filed from 21 September 2025. It is paid by the employer. It was aimed at workers outside the US without a valid H-1B visa. USCIS says it does not apply to visas already issued, does not change renewal fees, and does not stop current H-1B holders from travelling.

The courts have since stepped in. On 8 June 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts vacated the guidance that put the fee into effect. On 24 July 2026, the First Circuit refused to pause that ruling, and DHS says it is complying. On 18 September 2026, a new proclamation extended the fee to 21 September 2027. On 30 September 2026, a court in California also blocked the agencies from enforcing it. DHS says it still plans to collect the fee if the orders are lifted, so this can change quickly.

Two related points. A separate proposed fee of about $103,000 on cap-subject petitions is only a proposal and not in force. And from the FY2027 season, the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level, so higher-paid roles get more entries.

Other changes for students and dependants

• F-1 duration of status: DHS published a rule on 17 July 2026 to replace duration of status with fixed admission periods of up to four years. A federal court blocked it on 14 September 2026, a day before it was due to start. For now, students are still admitted for duration of status with a 60-day grace period.
• H-4 dependants: H-4 applicants need an interview and public social media. The H-4 work permit (EAD) is still available. DHS has listed ending it as a long-term item, but has not published a proposed rule.
• Dependants and the $250 fee: if the integrity fee is collected, it is charged per visa, so each family member would pay it.

Fees and wait times in India

The application (MRV) fee is $185 for B1/B2, F, M and J visas, and $205 for petition-based visas such as H-1B and L-1. These have not changed since June 2023. You pay in rupees at the consular exchange rate shown when you pay.

Wait times are the biggest practical problem. Figures published from the State Department's Global Visa Wait Times tool in October 2026 put the wait for a B1/B2 interview at roughly 6 to 12 months across Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Mumbai and Hyderabad were consistently at the long end. Student and work visa waits were much shorter, mostly a few months. The tool is updated often and figures differ by city and by week, so check it for your post before you book flights or fix dates.

Visa bonds and travel bans: India is not on the lists

The State Department made its B1/B2 visa bond programme permanent on 3 August 2026, with bonds of up to $20,000 for nationals of listed countries. India was not on the list as of October 2026 reports. India is also not among the 39 countries restricted under the travel proclamation in force since 1 January 2026. Both lists can change at short notice.

What to do now

• Book early. With B1/B2 waits close to a year at some posts, apply as soon as your plans are firm.
• Check waiver eligibility before you book. If your B1/B2 expired more than 12 months ago, plan for an interview.
• Apply from India unless you legally live elsewhere.
• If you are an F, J, H-1B or H-4 applicant, set all social media to public and make sure it matches your DS-160.
• Budget an extra $250 per visa in case the integrity fee starts.
• H-1B employers and workers: track the court cases before filing new petitions for anyone outside the US.
• Keep your I-94 records and boarding passes. They help with any future fee refund and with your next application.

How Travlys helps

Travlys is an Ahmedabad-based visa consultancy. We have filed 5,000+ visas with a 98% approval rate. Our US visa service starts from ₹19,940 and covers your DS-160, fee payment, appointment booking, document checks and interview preparation. We also check whether you qualify for an interview waiver before you pay anything. WhatsApp us on +91 82009 18967.

Last checked: These rules were checked on 24 October 2026 against the sources listed below. US visa rules, fees and wait times change often, and some items here, such as the $250 fee and the H-1B court cases, were still changing on that date. Always confirm on the official sites before you apply.