Published: January 5, 2022
As advised by the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State waived the in-person interview requirements for a specific set of nonimmigrant visa applicants. Authorized consular offices may continue to implement the said waiver until December 31, 2022. As new variants of the COVID-19 virus emerge, the government is implementing policies that prevent physical contact whenever possible.
Eligible Visa Applicants
The new authorization grants eligibility to applicants of the following visa types:
- H-1 visa
- H-3 visa
- H-4 visa
- L visa
- O visa
- P visa
- Q visa
Under previous issuances, the Secretary of State already waived the in-person interview requirements for the following applicants:
- F visa
- M visa
- J (academic) visa
- H2 visa
H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q Visas
With Previous Application
Consular officers may waive the in-person interview requirements for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q visa applicants who were previously issued any type of visa. Applicants previously refused a visa may not qualify. However, if the refusal was overcome or waived, and the applicants suffers no apparent or potential ineligibility, consular officers may forgo the in-person interview requirements.
First-Time Applicants
Consular officers may waive the in-person interview requirements for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q visa applicants who are:
filing their application in their country of nationality or residence
citizens of a VWP participating country; they must not suffer any apparent or potential ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using authorization under ESTA
F, M, and Academic J Visa
The Secretary of State extended the waiver for the in-person interview for students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants) until December 31, 2022. Further, these applicants must be citizens or nationals of a VWP participating country who have previously traveled to the United States using an ESTA authorization.
H-2 Visa
The Secretary of State also extended the waiver for H-2 applicants (temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers) until December 31, 2022.
Visa Renewal
The Secretary of State has indefinitely extended the waiver of the in-person interview requirements for applicants renewing a visa of the same class within forty-eight (48) months of their visa’s expiration.
Seek Legal Guidance
Immigration authorities issue waivers that come with strict and indispensable conditions. Many immigrants fail their applications because they did not comply with the said conditions. Avoid committing this grave mistake by partnering with trustworthy legal experts. ALG Lawyers is always at your service! Our team of seasoned and actively practicing Los Angeles immigration lawyers are ready to resolve your legal problems.
(Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers. Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from a qualified attorney based on their individual circumstances. Thank you.)