On December 23, 2022, the Secretary of State and the Department of Homeland Security announced the extension of the US visa interview waiver, which was previously only valid until December 31, 2022. Now, the US visa interview waiver is extended for an additional year through December 31, 2023.
This waiver allows consular officers to waive the in-person interview for certain visa applicants that meet specific conditions, and are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence.
Here is a breakdown of the conditions for the visa waiver:
The following applicants may be approved for a US visa interview waiver if they were previously issued any type of visa, have never been refused a visa (unless the refusal was overcome or waived), and who do not have apparent ineligibility.
- Certain first-time and renewing H-2 visa applicants
- F, M, and academic J applicants
- Individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants
The following applicants may be approved for a US visa interview waiver if they are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as long as they have no apparent ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained visa the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
- Certain first-time F, M, and academic J applicants
- Individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P and Q applicants
Additionally, if you are an applicant renewing a visa in the same classification within 48 months of your prior visa’s expiration, you are also eligible for an interview waiver.
Note
Consular offices may still require you to attend an in-person interview based on their own discretion. Check your embassy’s or consulate’s website for more information regarding this announcement.
For more information on this announcement, visit the travel.state.gov website.