State Department narrows eligibility for nonimmigrant visa interview waivers

On February 18, 2025, the State Department rescinded the Biden Administration’s expansion of nonimmigrant visa interview waivers. The only individuals now eligible for a nonimmigrant visa interview waiver are for diplomacy-related visa categories and those who had a visa in the same category that expired less than a year before the new application. Individuals must also apply in their country of nationality or residence, have never been refused a visa, and have no ineligibility issues. Consular officers can also still require an in-person interview.