Portuguese 
Spanish 
American Visa Will Have New Rules Starting September 2: See What Changes. The US Embassy confirmed that the American visa will have new rules for in-person interviews, affecting mainly first-time applicants.
The American visa will have new rules starting September 2, according to a statement from the United States Embassy in Brazil, released this Monday (25) and cited by Estadão. The changes directly affect non-immigrant visa applicants, such as those for tourism and business, and aim to increase control over consular processes.
According to the new guidelines, all individuals applying for the visa for the first time will have to undergo an in-person interview. Those who are renewing their visa may be eligible for an interview waiver in some cases, provided they meet the deadlines and categories defined by American authorities.
What Changes With the New American Visa Rules
Previously, children under 13 years old and seniors over 80 years old could apply for the visa without an interview. With the new rules, this exemption no longer exists for first-time applicants, regardless of age. This means that a larger number of people will need to attend consulates and embassies for the in-person stage.
-
At 14 years old, she worked in a factory in Hong Kong, studied economics abroad, and then entered the Chinese real estate market, which helped change the landscape of Beijing.
-
While NATO secured more than $10 billion in missiles and space surveillance at a single forum, Brazil still spends 1.1% of its GDP on defense and is stalling its own anti-aircraft system.
-
Corn ethanol attracts R$ 23 billion in 21 new plants and prepares for a nearly 50% jump in Brazilian production by 2027, even with high interest rates.
-
A newly opened terminal in the middle of the Amazon has begun transporting soy and corn through Amapá, eyeing the queue of ships that is congesting the ports in the South.
On the other hand, those who already had a previous visa and simply wish to renew it may be eligible for a waiver of the interview, as long as the document expired no more than 12 months ago. This rule applies to tourist visas (B-2), business visas (B-1), and the combined B1/B2 model.
Who Will Be Affected By the Changes
In practice, first-time American visa applicants will be the most impacted. They will have to schedule in-person interviews in locations such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Recife, and Porto Alegre, where the consulates operate.
Meanwhile, Brazilians who already have a travel history to the United States and are only renewing their document will have a simplified process, as long as they meet the established requirements. This flexibility aims to reduce queues and waiting times, but also reinforces security controls in new issuances.
Why the United States Adopted the Change
According to the Embassy, the goal is to ensure greater security and standardization in visa issuance. The increase in demand for travel to the US has also put pressure on the consular system, requiring adjustments to balance the interview load with renewal requests.
Moreover, the US government seeks to provide more transparency in the process, following criticisms regarding long waits for appointments and differing treatment among applicant profiles. With the new American visa rules, the priority will be to expedite renewals while reinforcing the analysis in cases of first requests.
The announcement that the American visa will have new rules starting in September changes the routine for those planning to travel to the United States in the coming months. First-time applicants will need to prepare for interviews, while renewals can be done more efficiently.
Do you think this measure will make life easier or harder for Brazilians who want to travel to the US? Does the change bring more security or just more bureaucracy? Share your thoughts in the comments — we want to hear from those who experience this firsthand.
