India, Sept. 8 -- The US department of state has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments, making interview appointment scheduling mandatory in country of residence. This means Indians planning to travel to the US at a short notice will no longer be able to book a quick B1 (business)/B2 (tourist) appointment date from another country.

Applicants for US nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the US embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence, an update dated September 6 reads on US state department's website.

"Nationals of countries where the US government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must app...