The Secretary of State has announced that they will waive the visa
interview requirements for most nonimmigrant professionals and students.
On December 23rd the Bureau of Consular Affairs posted
that they would waive the interview requirements for H1, H3, H4,
L, O, P, Q,
F, M and J visas through the end of 2022.
Stay tuned to find out
why they made this announcement and what the qualification criteria are,
and how this will help those who use these visas.
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First, why did the Department of State make this announcement?
As many of you know, in March 2020, the State Department suspended all routine
visa services in most countries due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Even though visa services have since resumed in many locations,
there is a significant backlog and limited availability of visa interview slots.
The State Department recognizes that the growing backlog was
preventing foreign workers from helping American companies
and was discouraging foreign students from attending American universities.
This new authorization will hopefully allow U.S.
embassies and consulates around the world to process visa applications more quickly
and start reducing the backlog found in larger countries like India and China.
So who is eligible and what are the qualifications?
According to the announcement that was posted on the Bureau of Consular
Affairs website, the following temporary employment nonimmigrant
visa applicants are eligible to have their visa interview waived.
H-1, which is largely H-1B specialty occupation
non-immigrants, H-3 nonimmigrant trainees or special education
exchange visitors, H-4 dependent family members,
L temporary intracompany transfer workers,
O Individuals with extraordinary ability
or achievement, P for athletes, entertainers,
performers and artists, and Q for exchange visitor programs.
In order to qualify, you must meet certain conditions,
including that you apply for the visa in your country of nationality
or residence,
that you were previously issued any type of visa, that you have never
been refused a visa or your refusal was overcome or waved,
and that you don't have any potential ineligibility.
In addition,
the secretary extended policies to waive the visa interview for certain students,
professors, research scholars, short term scholars and specialists
with F, M, and academic J visa applications through the end of 2022.
And finally, anyone renewing any visa within 48 months of expiration
is eligible for an interview waiver, which will be extended indefinitely.
If any of these apply to you, keep in mind that embassies and consulates
may still require an in-person interview depending on local conditions,
so be sure to check for detailed information.
I will include a link to local embassies and consulates in the description below.
So how will this change in policy affect the lives of temporary
workers, students and other nonimmigrant visa holders who rely on these programs?
One of the biggest benefits is the ability to travel.
Citizens from larger countries like India would often avoid traveling home
if they needed to get their visa stamped before returning to the US.
It will also ease the visa interview backlogs in countries
such as China and India.
And perhaps most importantly, it will encourage more bright
and talented people to come to the U.S.
for work in school.
What do you think?
Will this new policy make a difference or barely make a dent?
Leave me a comment below and let me know.
And in case you did not catch it, be sure to watch my previous video
where we walk through the story of Senator Manchin shutting down the build back
better bill and any immigration reform that it might have included.
I will include a link to that video here, and I will continue to bring you
additional updates as they're available, so be sure to subscribe.
Click here to watch this next video and I'll see you there.