In a sweeping set of announcements this week, the U.S. government revealed major changes to how immigrants and their families navigate America’s complex visa process—changes that promise to reshape not only where interviews are held but also how applications are scrutinized and enforced. For those hoping to reunite with loved ones or start a new chapter in the United States, these developments carry far-reaching consequences, affecting everyone from families separated by borders to multinational companies recruiting global talent.
On September 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) declared that, beginning November 1, 2025, all immigrant visa applicants must complete their interviews in the consular district assigned to their place of residence or, if requested, their country of nationality. According to Boundless, this marks a significant departure from the previous system, which allowed applicants to choose more convenient or faster-processing consulates—a flexibility that often helped families reunite quicker or eased travel burdens for those in countries with limited U.S. consular presence.
The new policy applies to all immigrant visa categories, encompassing family-based and employment-based applications, as well as Diversity Visa lottery winners for the DV-2026 program year. The National Visa Center (NVC) will generally maintain existing appointments to minimize disruptions, but the overall approach signals a tightening of the process. For applicants living in countries where routine visa operations are suspended or paused—think Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela—the DOS has designated alternative processing posts in third countries. For instance, Afghan applicants will now interview in Islamabad, Iranians in Abu Dhabi, Ankara, or Yerevan, and Russians in Warsaw, Almaty, or Tashkent.
“The new rules reduce flexibility for applicants, potentially extending separation periods, increasing travel costs, and complicating planning,” Boundless reported. Families may find themselves facing longer waits, higher expenses, and the added stress of navigating unfamiliar countries just to attend an interview. The DOS has noted that rare exceptions will be made for humanitarian or medical emergencies, but the criteria for such exceptions remain vague, and applicants may need to provide substantial proof of residence to qualify.
The ripple effects extend beyond families. For U.S. employers sponsoring international talent, the rule change introduces new hurdles into workforce planning and immigration timelines. Companies with global operations or those actively recruiting foreign workers will need to recalibrate hiring projections, budget for additional travel costs, and coordinate more closely with immigration attorneys. The policy is especially challenging for businesses hiring from countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, where interviews must now occur in third countries, creating new delays and bottlenecks for filling essential roles. As Boundless explained, “Delays in securing key international talent could impact business operations and competitive positioning in global markets.”
Just one day after the State Department’s announcement, on September 4, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unveiled another major shift: plans to form a new police force of roughly 200 federal law enforcement officers focused on detecting and deterring immigration application fraud. According to Newsweek, these officers will be trained, authorized to carry firearms, and given the power to arrest applicants or attorneys who prepare fraudulent petitions. The new force will be recruited and trained over the coming months and then embedded within immigration offices nationwide.
USCIS Director Joe Edlow told The Wall Street Journal, “I'm not expecting this to have a chilling effect on applications. I'm expecting this to have a chilling effect on fraudulent applications, and that's what I want.” The agency, which is primarily responsible for issuing green cards, visas, and citizenship, has traditionally kept its distance from immigration enforcement to encourage immigrants to come forward with personal information. However, this move is part of a broader effort under the Trump administration to marshal resources for immigration enforcement and curb migration, as reported by Newsweek.
USCIS has recently expanded the factors it considers when evaluating applicants. These updates include social media vetting for content that could be deemed hostile to U.S. values and an updated policy manual to penalize "anti-American" acts. The director now holds the authority to order expedited removal proceedings and direct investigations into civil and criminal violations of immigration law under the agency's jurisdiction.
“USCIS has always been an enforcement agency. By upholding the integrity of our immigration system, we enforce the laws of this nation,” Director Edlow said in a press release. “As Secretary Noem delegated lawful authorities to expand the agency's law enforcement capabilities, this rule allows us to fulfill our critical mission. This historic moment will better address immigration crimes, hold those that perpetrate immigration fraud accountable, and act as a force multiplier for DHS and our federal law enforcement partners, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
Not everyone is convinced this is the right move. Greg Siskind, founding partner at Siskind Susser, told Newsweek, “After 9/11, Congress decided it was a priority to split up the Immigration and Naturalization Service and keep enforcement separate from benefits adjudications. If President Trump wants to return to the old strategy, he needs to have Congress' approval. It's a basic separation of powers question, whether you agree with the policy or not.”
For many immigrants and their advocates, the dual policy changes signal a new era of heightened scrutiny and reduced flexibility. The State Department has advised applicants and employers to plan ahead and work with experienced immigration attorneys to prevent delays and ensure compliance with the new rules. For those in the midst of the process, it’s now crucial to check the designated immigrant visa posts for their country, confirm assigned interview locations with the NVC, and prepare for the possibility of additional documentation requirements—especially if requesting exceptions for humanitarian reasons.
Meanwhile, businesses must brace for more complex hiring and onboarding processes. Human resources departments are urged to build in extra time for visa processing and to budget for the increased costs associated with international travel to designated interview locations. Strategic workforce planning is now more important than ever, particularly for industries like technology and healthcare that rely heavily on international talent.
The new USCIS police force, set to take effect 30 days after publication, adds another layer of enforcement to the already intricate immigration process. While the agency insists the crackdown is aimed squarely at fraudsters, some worry it could have broader implications for the trust and openness that are vital to a functioning immigration system.
As the landscape shifts, one thing is clear: those navigating America’s immigration system—whether individuals, families, or employers—must stay vigilant, informed, and prepared for more rigorous oversight and fewer options than before.
