US expands interview waiver eligibilty for some visa applicants

The U.S. Department of State has revised the eligibility criteria for nonimmigrant visa applicants who may qualify for an interview waiver. Consular officers now have the authority to exempt certain applicants from in-person interviews under section 222(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Categories Eligible for Interview Waiver

The updated policy applies to applicants under specific visa classifications, including:

• A-1, A-2, and C-3 (excluding attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials).
• G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, and NATO-1 through NATO-6.
• TECRO E-1 visa holders.
• Applicants for diplomatic or official visas.
• Individuals reapplying for a visa in the same category, provided their previous visa expired within the last 12 months.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for an interview waiver, applicants must:

• Submit their application in their country of nationality or residence.
• Have no prior visa refusals unless the refusal was successfully overturned or waived.
• Have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

Despite these waivers, consular officers retain the discretion to request in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis or due to local conditions. The Department of State advises applicants to check the respective U.S. embassy or consulate websites for specific application guidelines and operational updates.

This update replaces the previous interview waiver policy announced on December 21, 2023, the US State Department said in a statement.

US narrows dropbox eligibility for visa renewals

The United States recently revised the eligibility criteria for its Visa Interview Waiver, commonly known as the ‘dropbox’ facility, significantly reducing the renewal window. Effective immediately, only applicants renewing a visa in the same nonimmigrant category that expired within the last 12 months can use the dropbox option. This marks a sharp reduction from the previous 48-month eligibility period.

The change affects nonimmigrant visa holders, including H-1B and B1/B2 applicants, who previously benefited from the extended renewal window introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While no formal announcement has been made, Visa Application Centers (VACs) have begun enforcing the new rule, turning away applicants who do not meet the revised criteria.

Previously, individuals with visas that expired within the past 48 months could renew them through the dropbox process. This policy, implemented in 2022, aimed to reduce wait times at US embassies and consulates. The return to the pre-pandemic 12-month rule means that those whose prior visas expired more than a year ago must now undergo an in-person interview.