India, Aug. 17 -- Parents seeking a US visa for their children are not permitted to attend the consular interview without the child, even if the child is an infant. The US Embassy in India has explicitly stated that every minor visa applicant, irrespective of their age, is required to be present in person at the interview window.

The clarification was provided in a "Visa Friday" video released by the embassy on X, which addressed a prevalent misconception among parents that very young children might be exempt from the requirement. The embassy emphasized, "It is mandatory for the visa officer to see all applicants of every age during the interview process," specifically citing both newborns and 17-year-olds as examples.

The necessity for...