The U.S. Department of State announced consular officers have the option to waive in-person interviews for certain visa categories if the individual has an approved petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Qualifying visas include:

Immigrant Visas:

  • H-1B Visas for Persons in Specialty Occupations,
  • H-3 Visas for Trainee or Special Education Visitors,
  • L Visas for Intracompany Transferees,
  • O Visas for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement,
  • P Visas for Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers, and
  • Q Visas for Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programs.

Non-Immigrant Visas:

  • H-2 Visas for Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Workers,
  • F and M Visas for Students, and
  • Academic Visas for Student Exchange Visitors.

In addition, the State Department has indefinitely extended the option to waive in-person interviews for visa renewals within the same visa class within 48 months of the expiration of the prior visa. Specific qualifying requirements include a previously issued visa of any type, individuals must have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and those who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility, or first-time individual petition. In addition, individuals must be from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), provided there aren’t any issues of ineligibility and have traveled to the United States using authorization from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Check your local consulate or embassy for all the details.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, visa wait times have escalated tremendously, causing several months to wait for some visa appointments. These flexibilities are created to give consular officers the option to waive in-person interviews to reduce the backlog.

In March 2020, as the pandemic was expanding, the State Department suspended all routine visa services. This was both for the protection of the applicants and the consular staff. While services have been reinstated, many have limited capacity and are processing visas on a priority basis. As a result, some visa appointments continue to experience extreme backlog.

Consulates and embassies may continue to require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis, depending on local conditions. It is imperative individuals check their local consulate or embassy website for updates and more details. Remember, the State Department is simply giving consular and embassy officials the option to waive in-person interviews. There is no mandatory requirement to hold, or not hold, the in-person interview.

ILBSG continues to monitor all immigration policies and keep our clients informed. If you have questions or would like to see how we can help you with your immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. We put our expertise and experience to work for you to ensure you get the right advice.

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