The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has officially rolled back “Dropbox” (interview waiver) eligibility to pre-pandemic rules—effective September 2, 2025, most applicants must now attend in-person interviews again.

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• No more 48-month grace period—only those with a prior full-validity B-1/B-2 (or Border Crossing Card) that expired within the last 12 months may still qualify for a waiver.
• Interview exemptions for applicants under 14 or over 79 have been removed.
• Only a narrow group remains eligible for dropbox waivers: diplomatic and official categories (A-1, A-2, C-3 except staff, G-1 to G-4, NATO-1 thru 6, TECRO E-1), or qualifying B visa renewals under strict conditions

Why it matters: If you were counting on Dropbox to speed up visa renewals for H-1B, L, F, J, O, or similar categories, those options are now off the table for most. Expect longer appointment wait times, rising workloads for consulates, and potential delays in visa processing