DOS Restricts Interview Waiver Program Without Announcement

U.S. consulates have started restricting the previously expanded visa interview waiver program.  Without publicly announcing a policy change, the Department of State suddenly changed the criteria for qualifying for an interview waiver. Going forward, qualifying for an exemption of an in-person visa interview requires the applicant to (1) be applying for a visa in the same NIV classification as their prior visa; and (2) the prior visa must have expired within the last 12 months or still be valid.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants who do not meet the new criteria for an interview waiver must schedule an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate to apply for their visa. Because this policy change occurred without prior public announcements, it has caused problems for applicants who scheduled interview waiver (also known as “drop box”) appointments.  Some of these applicants have traveled to their country of nationality or residence only to be told to schedule an in-person interview appointment instead.

This policy change will result in far more interview appointments being required going forward, which in turn will lengthen appointment wait times. As such, applicants should carefully plan their travel and visa application accordingly.

For those that need to reschedule for an in-person interview appointment, the process will likely differ between consulates, so applicants must follow instructions pertaining to the consulate they will be applying with.

If you have further questions, please contact your Immigration Law Group Attorney, or call our office at 408-432.9200.