China Eases Travel for Indians and Chinese, While US Tightens Visa Rules for Indian Applicants

Beijing’s visa-free window and what it means

As of mid-2025, China has been expanding visa-free entry and transit policies, which could benefit travellers from India and China under certain circumstances. One of the major changes is the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy, allowing eligible foreign nationals to stay without a visa in certain Chinese cities if they are transiting to a third destination.

China also offers a 30-day visa-waiver for travellers entering Hainan, and group cruise or tourist entries in specific regions. National Immigration Administration+1 While India is not currently listed among the countries enjoying a general 30-day visa waiver for mainland China, these evolving policies could benefit certain travellers from the region under group, transit, or special tourism programmes.

US visa changes: what’s new, and how they affect Indians

Meanwhile, the US has tightened its non-immigrant visa (NIV) procedures in ways that significantly impact Indian applicants:

Interview location restricted: Indian applicants for visas such as B1/B2 (tourism/business) must now book visa interviews at U.S. embassies or consulates in India, rather than choosing faster slots abroad

Longer waiting times and limited interview slots: This shift has led to longer queues and potentially delayed travel plans, especially in cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, where interview backlogs already run into several months

Fewer interview exemptions: The U.S. has scaled back its “interview waiver” (dropbox) programme, meaning more applicants — including students and professionals — may now be required to attend in-person interviews. 

These changes are expected to disproportionately affect Indian travellers seeking business trips, education, or employment in the US, as they can no longer bypass lengthy queues via third-country consular appointments. Experts warn that planning ahead, applying earlier, and preparing documentation thoroughly is now more crucial than ever