USA reduces eligibility for visa interview waivers

The U.S. Department of State has announced changes to eligibility for in-person visa interview waivers, reducing the likelihood that students can qualify.

Under new guidelines published on February 18th, 2025 by the Department of State, consular officers can only apply for an interview waiver for F-1 or M-1 student visa applicants or J-1 exchange visa applicants if they previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application.

The latest guidance replaces the previous rules established under the Biden administration in December 2023, which allowed interview waivers for non-immigrant visa applicants who had previously held any other non-immigrant visa (not the same category) that had expired less than 48 months prior to the new application.

Further qualifying criteria for an interview waiver under the latest settings are that the applicant must be applying in their country of nationality or residence, have never been refused a visa previously, and have “no apparent or potential ineligibility”.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of State implemented a temporary policy of increased eligibility for in-person interviews as a means of addressing visa backlogs at consular posts around the world.

Prior to the previous announcement in December 2023, international education associations in the USA called for the interview waiver practice to be made permanent.

In a letter to the then Secretary of State Antony Blinken that same month, the American Council on Education said that the waiver had “allowed for faster processing for international students and scholars applying for F-1 and J-1 visas to study and complete research in the US”.

“We understand the need to address national security and immigration concerns during the visa application process and consular officers still retain the authority to require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis. Retaining the visa interview waiver, which only applies to a certain population, helps all international students and scholars by allowing the faster processing of visas overall while maintaining national security,” ACE said.

The letter was sent on behalf of other associations and organizations in the USA, including NAFSA Association of International Educators , ETS , the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.