Mexico Joins Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Bahamas, Cuba and Others to Face New Entry Changes to US as Government Imposes Home Country Rule Under One Big Beautiful Act: Everything You Need to Know

Published on December 5, 2025

Mexico joins Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Bahamas, Cuba, and others in facing new entry changes to the US as the government imposes the Home Country Rule under the One Big Beautiful Act, requiring visa applications in applicants’ home countries. This major shift in U.S. visa policy aims to streamline the application process by centralizing visa applications to consulates in the applicants’ country of nationality or legal residence. The new rule eliminates the ability to apply in third countries with shorter wait times or perceived higher approval rates, affecting applicants from countries with long wait times like Mexico and Brazil. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about these changes, their impact on travelers, and how the Home Country Rule will reshape the U.S. visa application process for countries like Mexico, Canada, and beyond.

What Was Consular Shopping?

Consular shopping was a practice where foreign nationals could apply for US non-immigrant visas at any US Embassy or Consulate globally, not limited to their country of residence. This allowed applicants to choose consular posts with faster processing times or perceived higher approval rates.

• Faster Appointments: Applicants from countries with long visa appointment wait times, such as India or China, often traveled to third countries with shorter wait times (e.g., Thailand, Mexico, or Barbados) to get their visa in a matter of weeks.
• Perceived Higher Approval Rate: Many believed that certain U.S. Embassies or Consulates were more lenient or “sympathetic” to specific nationalities or visa types, leading applicants to seek posts where they thought they had a better chance of approval.

However, this system led to complications and inefficiencies, and the U.S. government ultimately decided to eliminate consular shopping to streamline the visa application process.

The New “Home Country Rule”

The “Home Country Rule” was introduced to end the practice of consular shopping. This new policy mandates that non-immigrant visa applications must be filed at the US Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of nationality or legal residence.

• Centralized Application Location: Applicants can no longer apply in any country of their choice. They must apply in their home country or country of legal residence unless they can prove long-term legal residence in another country.
• Increased Scrutiny: Applicants applying outside of their home country will face additional scrutiny, longer processing times, and a higher likelihood of visa denial.

The shift to this system aims to ensure a more consistent and fair process while reducing administrative burdens for U.S. embassies handling a surge of applications from third countries.

Canada: Minimal Impact, But Some Changes Ahead

For Canadian nationals, the “Home Country Rule” will not drastically change the application process since Canadians have often been exempt from needing a visa for most non-immigrant categories. However, if they do need a visa, they will now be required to apply at a U.S. consulate in Canada or prove legal residence elsewhere, eliminating the option to apply in a third country.

Mexico: Bigger Impact with Longer Wait Times

Mexican nationals, who previously used consular shopping to bypass long wait times in Mexico, will now face the reality of applying for visas at the U.S. consulate in Mexico. With higher demand, wait times are expected to increase, making the visa application process more challenging.

Brazil: No More Bypassing Long Waits

Brazilian nationals will now face longer wait times at the U.S. consulate in Brazil as the new rule eliminates the ability to apply in other countries with shorter processing times. As a result, applicants must be prepared for longer delays when seeking a visa.

Colombia: Say Goodbye to Shorter Wait Times Abroad

Colombian nationals who once took advantage of consular shopping to avoid long wait times in Colombia will now be required to apply for visas at the U.S. consulate in Colombia. This change will lead to higher demand and increased wait times for all applicants.

Bahamas: From Flexibility to Longer Waits

Bahamian nationals, who previously had the freedom to apply for U.S. visas at other consulates with shorter wait times, will now be required to apply at the U.S. consulate in the Bahamas. This will lead to an increase in demand and longer appointment wait times.

Cuba: Limited Options and Longer Waits

Cuban nationals will experience the most significant impact, as they have fewer options for visa processing. The new rule will force Cubans to apply at designated U.S. consulates, and the limited capacity for visa processing will lead to longer wait times and more complex procedures.

Mexico joins Canada, Brazil, Colombia, the Bahamas, Cuba, and others in facing new entry changes to the US as the government imposes the Home Country Rule under the One Big Beautiful Act, requiring visa applications in applicants’ home countries.

Conclusion

Mexico joins Canada, Brazil, Colombia, the Bahamas, Cuba, and other countries in facing new entry changes to the U.S. as the government enforces the Home Country Rule under the One Big Beautiful Act. This shift requires visa applicants to apply at U.S. consulates in their country of nationality or legal residence, eliminating the option to bypass long wait times or perceived higher approval rates in third countries. While this change aims to streamline the visa application process and create a more consistent system, it also means that applicants from these nations must now prepare for longer processing times and potentially more scrutiny. The Home Country Rule marks a significant shift in U.S. visa policy, affecting travelers from across the globe.