ARTICLE · 05 AUGUST 2025

What Applicants Need To Know About The Restrictions On The Visa "Dropbox" Program

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP

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On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that, effective September 2, 2025, it will be rolling back its interview waiver policy, ending a period of Covid-era flexibility for many individuals...

United StatesImmigration

On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced that, effective September 2, 2025, it will be rolling back its interview waiver policy, ending a period of Covid-era flexibility for many individuals seeking non-immigrant visas for the United States. Known by many applicants as the "Dropbox" program, interview waivers allowed for most non-immigrant visa renewals to occur without an in-person interview.

Who is Still Eligible for an Interview Waiver?

Under the rollback, the Department of State has maintained that interview waivers for applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas, as well as applicants of A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, and TECRO E-1 visas remain.

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