Department of State Restricts NIV Interview Waivers at U.S. Consulates
On February 18, 2025, the Department of State (DOS) announced that it rescinded its December 2023 interview waiver policy. In the announcement DOS updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the in-person nonimmigrant visa interview:
- Applicants under the visas 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, or TECRO E-1;
- Applicants for diplomatic or official-type visas; and
- Applicants who previously held a visa in the same category that expired less than 12 months prior to the new application.
To be eligible for an interview waiver, applicants must also meet certain criteria, including that they:
- Apply in their country of nationality or residence;
- Have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and
- Have no apparent or potential ineligibility.
Prior to the announcement, consulates allowed visa applicants applying for any nonimmigrant visa classification who were previously issued a nonimmigrant visa in any classification (unless the only prior issued visa was a B visa) and were applying within 48 months of their most recent nonimmigrant visa’s expiration date to request a waiver of the in-person nonimmigrant visa interview.
Recently, applicants have been receiving cancellation of dropbox appointments and being instructed to schedule in-person interviews without further explanation. Also, the interview wait times search tool has been discontinued and the global wait times have not been updated since early January. These new changes can make it challenging for applicants to plan their visa processes, particularly in countries with high demand for U.S. travel.
Please note the interview waiver program is discretionary, and applicants may be called for an in-person interview at any time. For applicants in this situation, staying on top of visa renewal timelines and being prepared for the possibility of an in-person interview seems crucial.
