USA updates visa interview waiver guidance

In an update published at the end of December and implemented from January 1st, 2024, the Department of State said that the Secretary of State in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security had determined that certain categories of interview waivers “are in the national interest” and will remain until further notice, to be reviewed on an annual basis.

Under the latest arrangements, non-immigrant visa applicants in any classification, including student visas, can be eligible for a visa interview waiver if they have previously been issued with a non-immigrant visa (except a B visa) and are applying within 48 months of the most recent visa’s expiry.

In late 2021, the US Department of State announced the authority for consular officers to waive interviews for certain non-immigrant visa applicants who had previously been issued with a visa, and for first-time applicants from countries in the visa-waiver program through to the end of 2022. This was later renewed until the end of 2023 by a further update.

Interview waivers for first-time applicants from US visa-waiver countries are therefore no longer available under the new rules.

International education associations in the USA had called for an extension of the interview waiver scheme for student visa applicants.

In late November, the U.S. for Success Coalition – a recently launched body formed by nine US-based associations and organizations including ETS , NAFSA , IIE and AIRC  – wrote to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security urging for the interview waiver to be made permanent practice in order to free up resources.

The organization said in the letter, “The in-person visa interview waiver authorities implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic recognized the positive impact of international students and certain non-immigrant workers to the United States.

“The goal was to facilitate travel and reduce visa interview wait times while maintaining national security. The interview waivers have resulted in shorter visa appointment wait times, along with faster visa application processing at many embassies and consulates around the world. Most importantly, having the authority to waive the in-person interview requirement allows consular officials to allocate limited resources toward visa applicants who require further scrutiny.”

They argued that continuing interview waivers was in the national interest for the US to remain competitive on the global stage for international student talent and said that the State Department would not be able to keep up with their caseload without the continuation of the scheme.