Navigating Consular Interviews in 2025: H-1B, O-1, F-1, and Beyond
Recent changes at the U.S. Department of State have ended the interview waiver program and eliminated third-country visa interviews, reshaping how nonimmigrant applicants must approach consular processing. If you’re pursuing an H-1B, O-1, F-1, E-2, or another nonimmigrant visa, consular interviews are once again a central part of the process.
Manifest’s Principal Immigration Attorney, Nicole Gunara, and Düden Freeman, a former U.S. Diplomat and founder of Idelirë Consulting (Visas 101), will walk you through what these policy shifts mean in practice. Having served as a Consular Officer overseas and in the United States and adjudicated tens of thousands of visas, Düden brings unparalleled insight into what applicants can expect at the interview window—both the pitfalls and the opportunities.
In this session, we’ll cover:
What the end of interview waivers means for applicants in 2025
How the elimination of third-country visa interviews impacts planning
Practical preparation strategies for E-2, H-1B, F-1, and O-1 interviews
What consular officers are really looking for during adjudication
This webinar will give you a clear, insider-informed understanding of the new consular landscape—and the confidence to prepare for your own interview.
About Düden Freeman
Düden, a former American Diplomat, is the founder of Idelirë Consulting, the company behind Visas 101. Düden has been on both sides of the Consular window, as an applicant, petitioner, and a Consular Officer, and she understands the weight of every consular decision from both the applicant's and the Consular Officer's perspectives.
She has personally interviewed and adjudicated tens of thousands of nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants. Düden served with the Department of State in Mali, Spain, Malaysia and at the Atlanta Passport Agency. She is the recipient of two Cable of the Month Awards and Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards at the Department of State.