DHS Halts Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Interview In 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is still looming, and resulting in a substantial decrease in the Department of Homeland Security’s visa processing capacity. In order to efficiently reduce visa adjudication times, on December 23, 2021, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applications through the end of 2022.

Below VISA types are covered under this policy:

H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P and Q: these types of visa applicants, when applying in their country of nationality or residence, can waive the interview requirement when they meet certain conditions. Consular officers have the discretion to waive the interview requirement for individuals applying for these visa types that were previously issued any type of visa. Applicants that have been refused a visa in the past do not qualify unless that refusal was overcome or waived, and there should be no apparent or potential ineligibility. Consular officers also have the discretion to waive the interview for the first time applicants who are citizens of a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country if there is no apparent or potential ineligibility and the individual has previously traveled to the United States using authorization under ESTA.

F, M, and Academic J: these applications have already been authorized to waive interview. One change to the previous policy that these applicants are citizen of a VWP participating country must have previously traveled to the U.S using an authorization obtained via ESTA to qualify. Other than that, the policy stays same that they can waive the interview requirement when they meet those conditions as we mentioned above.

H-2 (temporary agricultural and non-agricultural worker): follow previous policy that extend its authority for wavier of interview through December 31, 2022.

Lastly, this authorization has been extended indefinitely for those applications that just renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the prior visa’s expiration.

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