The Department of State, (DOS), in collaboration with
the Department of Homeland
Security, (DHS), is granting consular officers the
discretion to waive the in-person interview requirement for
some nonimmigrant visa applicants through
2022, provided the applicants meet certain
conditions.
Overview
Effective Dec. 23, 2021 and currently valid
through the end of 2022, U.S. consular officers
may waive the in-person interview requirement for applicants
who are renewing a visa in any category within 48 months of its
expiration.
Additionally, the waiver applies to certain temporary
workers who are applying for an initial H-1B, H-3, H-4,
L-1 individual, O, P or Q visa. The interview
waiver also extends to citizens or nationals of a
country in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), provided they have
previously traveled to the U.S. based on authorization
through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization
(ESTA) and they have no apparent or potential
ineligibility.
