State Department Restricts Visa Interview Waivers at Consulates

The State Department has adopted a pre-pandemic policy for visa interview waivers at consulates, primarily allowing only those whose visa expired in the previous 12 months to skip in-person appointments.

Bloomberg Law previously reported that consulates in India—the largest source of workers on H-1B visas—had restricted eligibility for interview waivers. That policy will now apply across the board, according to a Feb. 18 policy update on the State Department’s website. Only diplomatic visa holders will otherwise be eligible for the waivers.

Prior to the change, travelers could skip an interview if their visa expired in the previous 48 months, a ...