The Department of State (DOS) has recently updated its Visa Appointment Wait Times page to include estimated wait times for nonimmigrant visa applications eligible for an interview waiver. After discussing concerns with members of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA), the DOS confirmed that it would review potential enhancements to provide more visibility to applicants. The additional fields on their website now include visa wait times for:
Interview Waiver Visitors (B1/B2)
Interview Waiver Students/Exchange Visitors (F, M, J)
Interview Waiver Petition-Based Temporary Workers (H, L, O, P, Q)
As a reminder, applicants must check the individual U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate website to determine if their case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview. The DOS Liaison Committee notes that not all posts have provided all of the additional fields, but new information and updates will continue to be made available. It is important to note that the process to request an expedited visa interview varies by location. For expedite requests, AILA members should refer to the instructions on the visa section of the website of the U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate where the interview will take place. In all cases, applicants must first submit the DS-160, pay the application fee, and schedule the first available interview appointment before submitting an expedite request.
