US Associations Call for Covid Visa Interview Concessions to be Permanent

The organisations, which include the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, NAFSA Association of International Educators , the Council of Graduate Schools and ETS, the administrators of the TOEIC and TOEFL exams, thanked the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the measures and said, “continuing these helpful improvements will enable us to rebound from the severe impact the pandemic has had on study and travel in the United States”.

In the letter, the group of organisations urged, “In particular, we urge you to permanently maximise alternatives to in-person visa interviews by providing waivers, virtual interviews, extension of visa eligibility waivers, and all other practicable options.

“We appreciate the policy guidance to avoid duplicative in-person interview screening of visa applicants who have already been vetted and received a visa to travel to the United States in the past. This wise use of limited resources both protects our security and reduces backlogs. We expect that there are now sufficient data to demonstrate the effectiveness of this policy, and we urge you to make permanent the visa interview waiver process in regulation in order to reduce future uncertainty or confusion.”

In December 2021, the Department of State announced that for the duration of 2022, US embassies would be able to waive in-person interview requirements for international students who had received any US visa. First-time visa applicants from visa-waivers countries who had previously travelled to the US on an ESTA are also be eligible for visa interview waivers under the temporary measures.

The group also urged the Department of State to adopt the measures called for by a group of 23 cross-party Senators last year, who suggested for a range of policies to expedite the student visa process and ease the backlog of applications.

At the time of writing, the waiting times for student visa interviews listed by the Department of State’s estimate tool vary dramatically by consular post. Currently, the wait time for a student visa interview in New Delhi or Mumbai is estimated at 437 days.

In the letter, the organisations said that competitor countries such as Canada and the UK have been pursuing international education strategies, increasing work rights for international students, and making it easier for international students to migrate permanently.

Click here to access the letter sent to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.