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The U.S. State Department extended a policy that grants consular officers the authority to waive in-person interviews for certain temporary employment and academic-based nonimmigrant visa applicants and for any nonimmigrant visa applicants renewing a visa that has expired within the last 48 months.
Key Points:
Additional Information: The State Department continues to advise applicants to check the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to confirm which services are being offered and to find more information for applying for a visa without an interview.
BAL Analysis: The State Department first introduced the interview waiver policy expansion in March 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy was extended in December 2021. While the extension of the interview waiver authorities through 2023 benefits some applicants, consular officers may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis. At this time, visa services at many U.S. embassies and consulates are limited due to closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. BAL continues to monitor the administration’s response to the pandemic and will provide updates as information becomes available.
This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
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