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Consular Officers Allowed to Waive In-Person Interviews for the F, M and J-1 Visas

1.5 minute read
"The US Department of State (DOS) recently announced that F, M, and J-1 Visa applicants may get their interview requirements waived by their consulate. Foreign nationals from all over the world apply for the F-1 Visa, the M-1 Visa, and J-1 Visa as students, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists."
Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on:  Oct 17, 2021
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The US Department of State (DOS) recently announced that F, M, and J-1 Visa applicants may get their interview requirements waived by their consulate. Foreign nationals from all over the world apply for the F-1 Visa, the M-1 Visa, and J-1 Visa as students, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists. 

The DOS authorized consular officers to process visa applications without conducting an in-person interview for certain candidates. 

Who Is Eligible for an Interview Waiver?

Candidates in the above-mentioned student visa categories will be eligible for an interview waiver if:

  • They have been previously issued a US Visa, including a tourist visa and have never been denied a visa, and have no ineligibility or potential of ineligibility
  • They are from a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and have no ineligibility or potential for ineligibility

Over 39 countries are part of the VWP, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. While this interview waiver is available, not everyone will be exempt from the requirement. Applicants from non-VWP countries like India and China will still need to attend the interview. Even applicants from VWP countries may need to attend an interview and submit biometric information if their previous visa was issued when they were less than 14 years old.

Why Was this Waiver Introduced?

Immigration experts have been calling for the government to reduce visa delays faced by international students by introducing different alternatives to in-person interview requirements. The US government has asked all consular sections to renew their processing capacity during the worldwide pandemic.

International students are extremely important to the US economy and its development, therefore, this measure was introduced as a way for making their journey to the US easier. Aspiring Master’s and MBA students can take advantage of the new changes in the US immigration system under the Biden Administration. 

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