The new regulations may exclude from the visa interview requirement anybody applying for non-immigrant visas (including students) who were previously granted a non-immigrant visa (other than a B visa) and who are applying within 48 months of the prior visa’s expiry.
The eligibility for student visas has been impacted by changes made by the US Department of State to the interview waiver process for non-immigrant visa applications.
The modifications were verified in an update at the end of December, and they will take effect on January 1, 2024. These arose from the decision made by the Secretary of State and the Department of Homeland Security over which interview waiver categories were “in the national interest.”
These exclusions will remain in effect until further notice, pending yearly reviews.The new regulations may exclude from the visa interview requirement anybody applying for non-immigrant visas (including students) who were previously granted a non-immigrant visa (other than a B visa) and who are applying within 48 months of the prior visa’s expiry.
Candidates must fulfill additional requirements, such as applying from inside their nation of citizenship or residency, to be eligible for an interview waiver. They never had a visa rejected (unless the decision was overturned or rescinded). possess neither potential nor obvious ineligibility. First, the US Department of State permitted consular employees to forego interviews for some non-immigrant visa applicants who had already received a visa in late 2021.
This requirement was expanded to include first-time applicants from nations covered by the visa waiver program until 2022. Later on, it was extended to the end of 2023.
However, interview exemptions are no longer granted for first-time applicants from US visa-waiver nations due to recent modifications. Despite this, consular representatives could still need face-to-face interviews depending on the circumstances or local characteristics.
The State Department stated: “We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, as well as to learn more about the embassy’s operating status and services.”