U.S. Embassies Update Interview Waiver: Now Available Only Within 12 Months of Visa Expiration

U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide have updated their Interview Waiver and visa renewal policies for non-immigrant visas following a revision by the U.S. Department of State. The new policy limits interview waivers to applicants whose visas have expired within the last 12 months, down from the previous 48-month window for visa renewals.

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu has also updated its website to reflect this new policy. Previously, interview waivers were available for visa renewals within 48 months of expiration.

Applicants for B1/B2, F, H1B, H4, J, and certain L, M, and O non-immigrant visa categories must create an online profile and submit their application. Once they meet the required qualifications, they should print two copies of their interview waiver confirmation page and submit them to one of the six document distribution centers.

After reviewing the application, consular officers will determine whether the applicant needs to attend an interview or if a visa can be issued without one. If an applicant is deemed ineligible for the waiver, their application may be rejected, and an in-person interview may be required.

To qualify for a non-immigrant visa renewal, applicants must be present in Nepal and must either be Nepali citizens or have been residing in Nepal for at least the last six months. The applicant must be renewing the same visa type and applying within 12 months of the visa’s expiration date. Applications made more than 12 months after the visa has expired will not qualify for the interview waiver. Furthermore, applicants must have had an interview for a visa issued on or after January 1, 2008.

The previous visa must have been issued for the full duration of the visa type, which for Nepali applicants is typically five years. The previous visa should not have been canceled, lost, or stolen. The applicant’s name, birthdate, nationality, and place of birth must match across both applications, or they must provide proof of any changes. Additionally, applicants should not have overstayed their previous U.S. visa or applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) during their last U.S. visit.

Applicants seeking an interview waiver due to age must have applied after their 80th birthday or before their 14th birthday. For children under 14, both parents must hold valid visas, or at least one parent must have applied for a visa renewal in the same category as the child.

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If applicants are eligible for the interview waiver, they are required to submit several documents. These documents include a printed waiver confirmation from the online account, a current passport with at least six months of validity (excluding U.S. residency), and the DS-160 confirmation page. Applicants must also provide the visa application fee payment receipt, a recent photograph taken within the last six months, and any additional documents specific to their visa category, such as an I-20 for F or M visas or transcripts for academic visas.

For children under 14, additional documentation is required, including the valid visas and biographical information pages of both parents’ passports, along with the child’s birth certificate.

If parents do not hold U.S. visas, children will not be eligible for the interview waiver. Meeting the interview waiver requirements does not guarantee visa issuance, nor does it guarantee the waiver of the interview. Even if an interview is waived, the applicant may still be required to submit biometric information, such as fingerprints.