US visa interview rules for minor children in India: What parents need to know
According to officials, physically seeing applicants helps with identity verification, eligibility assessment, national security and public safety. The measure is part of broader US visa-screening and security procedures.
The United States Embassy in India has announced a change in visa interview rules for minor children traveling to the US. Parents should now expect their children to attend the consular interview in person, regardless of the child's age. Previously, children below a certain age, typically under 14, could qualify for interview waivers under specific circumstances. However, this new procedure removes any age-based exemptions for minor applicants, with the exception only being made for applicants who are close to turning 18.
Both parents and guardians are allowed to accompany a minor to the appointment, but they cannot replace the child during the interview. This means that even babies and toddlers must physically appear before a consular officer. The purpose behind this rule is to ensure proper identity verification, eligibility assessment, and to conduct security checks, making the interview a crucial step in the visa process.
Families planning to travel with children should be aware of this change and make necessary arrangements. Bringing the child to the scheduled interview can prevent confusion and delays. The embassy advises that all family members must be present for the appointment to avoid any issues in processing the visa.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
