On February 18, 2025, the Department of State revoked its December 2023 interview waiver policy and updated its criteria for waiving nonimmigrant visa interviews. Under the new guidelines, only applicants in select visa categories—such as A-1, A-2, C-3 (with exceptions), G series, NATO, TECRO E-1, and those applying for diplomatic or official visas—or those renewing a visa in the same category (expired less than 12 months prior) qualify for a waiver. Applicants must also meet additional criteria regarding location, prior refusals, and ineligibilities. Previously, a broader range of applicants could qualify, but recent changes have led to canceled dropbox appointments and longer waiting times for in-person interviews. Applicants are advised to check consular post websites for the latest updates.
Please see the article for more information https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/interview-waiver-update-feb-18-2025.html
