In recent years, the U.S. has enacted a variety of changes to its visa and immigration policies. These changes are affecting not only individuals and families wishing to move to the U.S., but also businesses that help them relocate, moving companies, immigration service providers, global mobility departments, etc.

For companies in the international relocation market, understanding how U.S. visa policies are shifting and how those shifts influence demand, lead generation, costs, and risk is vital. 

This article will explain the major new U.S. visa policy changes, show how they are impacting international relocation trends, and suggest what relocation companies can do to counteract or adapt to these effects, including how a service like Relocately can help generate U.S.-bound leads and how providers can capture those.

Recent U.S. Visa Policy Changes: What’s New

Several important changes to U.S. visa policies have taken effect in 2024–2025, each with significant consequences for the relocation market.

First, visa suspensions have been introduced for certain immigrant and nonimmigrant categories. By presidential proclamation in June 2025, nationals from countries deemed uncooperative in sharing security data or facilitating removals have seen their visa options restricted. While exceptions exist for immediate relatives and current visa holders, this change has effectively blocked new applications from several countries, creating uncertainty and slowing or halting many relocation plans.

Another critical shift is the tightening of interview rules. Applicants for nonimmigrant visas (with the exception of those entering under the Visa Waiver Program or certain diplomatic cases) are now required to attend interviews in their country of citizenship or legal residence. Previously, many people scheduled interviews in third countries with shorter wait times. With this option eliminated as of September 2025, wait times are expected to rise significantly in countries with already overloaded U.S. consulates.

Enhanced vetting has also been rolled out, particularly for student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J categories). Applicants must now submit their social media handles and, in many cases, provide consular officials access to their online accounts. This heightened scrutiny, announced in mid-2025, adds more complexity, deters some prospective students, and increases the likelihood of delays.

Additionally, the longstanding “Visa Interview Waiver” or “Dropbox” program has been curtailed. Fewer applicants are now eligible to renew visas without an in-person interview, meaning more people must travel to consulates, further increasing time and cost.

U.S. policymakers are using visa rules more directly as a foreign policy tool. Countries that cooperate on deportations or security sharing may see favorable treatment in visa allocations, while those deemed non-cooperative face restrictions. This introduces an additional layer of unpredictability for individuals and companies depending on which country clients are moving from.

Alongside these restrictions, the Trump administration has also introduced new premium pathways to U.S. residence. The Gold Card visa offers an expedited route for foreign nationals willing to make a $1 million “gift” to the Department of Commerce (or $2 million if sponsored by a corporation), along with a $15,000 vetting fee. This program is positioned as a replacement for traditional EB-1 and EB-2 immigrant visa categories, though questions remain about its broader implementation and legal framework. A higher-tier Platinum Card visa has also been proposed at the $5 million level. This would grant recipients the ability to reside in the U.S. for up to 270 days per year without being taxed on non-U.S. income, although unlike the Gold Card, it is not currently framed as a direct path to citizenship. 

Together, these programs represent a significant shift in U.S. visa policy: adding high-cost “buy-in” options for wealthy individuals, while tightening access and raising hurdles for many traditional applicants.

Data & Trends: What the Numbers Show

The impact of recent U.S. visa policy changes is easiest to see in two areas: how many work visas are being approved, and how long applicants are waiting for them.

• In FY 2024, the U.S. approved over 10.9 million visas, a strong rebound from pandemic lows.

• Work-related categories such as H-1B and L-1 visas continue to make up a significant share, showing sustained demand from global companies and skilled professionals.

• The countries with the most visas in 2024 where: Mexico, China, The Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Covering over half of the visas.

• In high-demand countries like Mexico, China and the Dominican Republic visa interview wait times often stretch into many months, and sometimes over a year.

• The end of third-country interview options has further increased backlogs, making it harder for applicants to bypass delays.

• Students and exchange visitors now face stricter vetting and documentation checks, which discourages some applicants and lengthens the approval process.

From these numbers, one trend is clear: while visas are still being granted in large volumes, the process is slower, less predictable, and more costly than before. For relocation companies, that means planning ahead, preparing clients for delays, and focusing on the applicants most likely to succeed has never been more important.

How These Changes Affect the International Relocation Market

For companies whose business depends on people moving to the U.S., recent visa policy shifts have five clear effects:

• Longer wait times and uncertainty: With third-country interviews no longer possible and stricter vetting in place, securing a visa can now take months—or even more than a year in high-demand countries.

• Higher costs: New fees, extra travel for consular appointments, and added documentation requirements make relocations more expensive for both clients and providers.

• Greater risk of cancellations: Tighter enforcement means more delays and denials, leading to abandoned moves, wasted logistics, and missed start dates for jobs or studies.

• Shifts in demand by country: Some markets are shrinking under heavy restrictions, while others remain more accessible and therefore more attractive for relocators.

• Increased need for support: Clients now expect relocation firms to guide them through the maze of interviews, paperwork, and compliance. Companies that step up will have a clear competitive edge.

Impact by Country

The impact of these changes is far from uniform. In June 2025, Trump’s administration introduced a proclamation that completely excluded nationals from certain countries deemed uncooperative in sharing security data. For these applicants, relocations to the U.S. have effectively stopped.

Elsewhere, the elimination of third-country interviews has hit hardest in countries such as India, Brazil, and Mexico, where local consulates are already overburdened. Applicants now face wait times stretching into many months, delaying entire relocation timelines.

In contrast, countries with faster consular processing or fewer restrictions remain more favorable sources of demand. For moving companies, this shift underscores the importance of diversifying markets and focusing on clients with the strongest visa prospects.