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WASHINGTON: A new US policy to deny in-person interviews for certain non-immigrant visa applicants takes effect Friday, the State Department said.
The ministry said the move aims to reduce visa waiting times, as in some places applicants have to wait more than a year to get an interview date.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a deep reduction in the department’s visa processing capacity,” it said in a statement.
“As global travel recovers, we are taking these interim steps to continue our commitment to safely and efficiently reduce visa wait times while maintaining national security as our priority.”
The State Department says the move is intended to reduce wait times for visas
Beginning Friday, U.S. consular officials will have the temporary authority to cancel in-person interviews for nearly a dozen visa categories, including persons in specialty occupations (H-1B visas), student visas, temporary agricultural and nonagricultural workers, student exchange visitors, as well as athletes. artists and artists.
The department said it recognizes the positive impact temporary work visa holders have on the U.S. economy and is committed to facilitating nonimmigrant travel and reducing visa wait times.
“We are pleased to announce that consular officers are now temporarily authorized until December 31, 2022 to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based nonimmigrant work visas and their qualified derivatives.”
The permission to waive a personal interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the expiry of the previous visa was also extended indefinitely.
U.S. embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis and depending on local conditions.
Applicants are encouraged to check the websites of embassies and consulates for more information on this development, as well as current work status and services.
Posted in Dawn, December 28, 2021
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