Green Card Interviews Now Happen in Your Country of Residence

The U.S. Department of State is now requiring immigrant visa (IV) applicants — the people seeking a green card through consular processing abroad — to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested, with limited exceptions. According to the announcement (Last Updated July 15, 2026), effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules immigrant visa applicants in their country of residence or, if requested, country of nationality. This article explains, in plain language, what the State Department announced and what it means for green-card applicants.

This is general information about a State Department policy update, not legal advice. You can read the official announcement directly at travel.state.gov.

(A related update applies to nonimmigrant (temporary) visa applicants — see our article on the nonimmigrant visa country-of-residence rule. This one is about immigrant visas — the green-card path.)

What the State Department changed

Per the announcement, the National Visa Center now schedules immigrant visa applicants in their country of residence — or, if requested, their country of nationality — effective November 1, 2025.

There's a specific path for applicants from countries without normal operations: residents of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine visa operations should apply at their designated immigrant visa processing post, unless the applicant is a national of another country with ongoing operations. The State Department lists the designated posts in the official announcement.

The practical rules applicants need to know

The announcement spells out several points that directly affect green-card cases:

• Existing appointments generally stand. Existing immigrant visa appointments will generally not be rescheduled or cancelled.

• Post-to-post transfers go through the NVC — not the consulate. Beginning immediately, if you want to transfer your immigrant visa case to a new processing post after the NVC has scheduled the appointment, you should contact the National Visa Center — not the consular section directly. The State Department directs applicants to use the NVC's Public Inquiry Form for this.

• You may have to prove residence. If you request to interview at a post other than your assigned consular processing post or your country of nationality, the NVC may request additional information to confirm that location is your place of residence, or to confirm whether an exception may apply.

• Rare exceptions exist. Exceptions may be made — rarely — for humanitarian, medical emergencies, or foreign-policy reasons.

• Diversity Visa applicants: coming later. The State Department says these changes will be applied to Diversity Visa (DV) applicants in future DV program years.

Why this matters for you

If you or a family member is pursuing a green card from abroad (immigrant visa / consular processing), this rule affects where the interview happens and how to change it if needed. The key practical takeaways: the NVC — not you or the consulate — controls the initial scheduling based on your country of residence (or nationality, if you request it); a change of post after scheduling must go through the NVC's Public Inquiry Form; and asking to interview somewhere else may trigger a request to document your residence. Getting this right avoids delays in a process that is already long, so it's worth confirming your assigned post and following the correct channel for any change.

Talk to a lawyer about your green-card case

If you or a relative has an immigrant visa case at the National Visa Center — or you're weighing where the interview should take place, or you need to move a case to a different post — the specifics of your residence, nationality, and case status determine the right approach, and using the wrong channel can add months. Carlos Maury Law is a national firm of former U.S. Immigration Judges. To talk about your situation, call (213) 769-0050. We speak Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will my immigrant visa interview be scheduled now?

Per the State Department, effective November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center schedules immigrant visa applicants in their country of residence — or, if requested, country of nationality. Residents of countries without routine U.S. visa operations apply at their designated processing post, unless they're a national of another country with ongoing operations.

How do I move my case to a different post?

After the NVC has scheduled your appointment, if you want to transfer to a new processing post, contact the National Visa Center using its Public Inquiry Form — not the consular section directly. If you request a post other than your assigned one or your country of nationality, the NVC may ask you to document your residence there.

Will my existing immigrant visa appointment change?

Generally, no. The State Department says existing immigrant visa appointments will generally not be rescheduled or cancelled.

Does this apply to the Diversity Visa lottery?

Not yet. The announcement says these changes will be applied to Diversity Visa applicants in future DV program years.

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This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Immigration law is complex and fact-specific, and policies change; consult a qualified immigration attorney about your situation and verify current requirements at travel.state.gov and the relevant embassy or consulate. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.