The US Department of State (DOS) is going to significantly reduce the eligibility for “Dropbox” appointments, which are also called interview waivers for nonimmigrant visas. An in-person interview at a consular post will be mandatory for almost all nonimmigrant visa applicants under the new policy, including those looking to renew work visas.
The amended regulation maintains interview waivers for only three categories of applicants. The first is that interview waivers will still be available for holders of specific diplomatic and official visas, including those with A-1, A-2, G-1 through G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, and TECRO E-1 classifications. Additionally, waivers may be available to applicants for other official or diplomatic-type visas.
Individuals renewing full validity B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visas, as well as Mexican citizens renewing border crossing cards, fall into the third and most restrictive category if their previous visa expires within 12 months. In order to renew a B visa without an interview, applicants must meet a number of requirements. They need to be at least eighteen years old when their last visa was granted, apply in their home country, have never had a visa denied unless it was overturned or waived, and not be ineligible in any way. Comparing these restrictions to earlier rules, the pool of eligible renewal candidates is greatly reduced. There is no assurance that candidates would avoid interviews even if they fulfill the restricted waiver requirements. In order to address security or other issues that may come up during the application assessment process, consular officers have the power to demand in-person interviews on an individual basis for any reason.
U.S. embassies and consulates around the world will probably see a significant rise in interview numbers as a result of this policy shift. If they need to renew their visa or apply for a new one, applicants should prepare for lengthier wait periods for visa appointments. Since implementation may differ by region, the DOS encourages applicants to visit the websites of each embassy and consulate for comprehensive information regarding local procedures and current working status.
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Luke Bowman
The Law offices of Luke Bowman