US is waiving in-person interviews for more visa applicants -

US is waiving in-person interviews for more visa applicants; here’s how long you have to wait if you’ve not made the cut

The United States(us open) has once more expanded the scope of its visa waiver program, in a bid to shorten the wait times for visa appointments.

Travelers with “freedom got” or “division approval” on their previous visas can now use the interview/meeting waiver process to apply for a new visa.

On Twitter, the development was announced as “More good news for U.S. visa renewals!” by the US Embassy in India. It stated

Interview waivers are available to applicants who renew any visa in the same category within 48 months of its expiration.

Consular officers have been authorized by the Department of State to waive in-person interview requirement for certain visa categories, including F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J visas, for applicants who had previously been issued any type of visa and are applying in their country of nationality or residence. usd to inr

This authorization/approval does not apply to candidates applicants who have a previous refusal that was not subsequently waived or overcome. where is my train

However, consular officers may request/might demand an in-person interview if additional information is required from applicants.

It can take up to three weeks after a passport has been accepted at the Visa Application Center for applicants applying through the interview waiver process to receive their passport or receive notification that their passport is ready for pickup. usa time

Last year, the United States of America extended the waiver program until December 31, 2023, for

Certain H-2 (brief farming and non-rural specialists) applicants
Certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants)
Applicants for certain temporary worker visas such as H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q, who have an approved individual petition from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and fulfill specific criteria, can waive in-person interviews.

Consular officers are authorized to waive the visa interview requirement for several visa categories. This includes certain first-time and renewing H-2 visa applicants, and for certain F, M, and academic J, and individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants who have been issued any type of visa previously, have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility, and have not been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived. In addition, citizens or nationals of VWP participating countries who have previously traveled to the U.S. us time now with ESTA authorization may also qualify for a waiver if they meet certain criteria.