You Might Be Able To Get Your Next Visa Without An Interview, Check Your Eligibilty

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Has your U.S. visa recently expired?

Did you know that you might be able to get your next visa without an interview?

If you previously received a U.S. visa that expired within the last 12 months (for H&L work visas) or 48 months (for certain other visa classes) and you are returning to the U.S. for the same purpose of travel, then you may qualify under our Interview Waiver Program (IWP). The IWP allows you to skip the interview if you meet certain criteria.

Overview
Repeat travelers to the United States may, under some circumstances, renew their visas without appearing at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate for an interview. Additionally, some governments allow their citizens to travel with a valid visa in an expired passport, provided the traveler also has a valid passport. If your government allows travel with a valid visa and a combination of an expired and valid visa, then the U.S. government will allow you to travel to the United States with your old passport containing a valid visa and your new, valid passport.

Qualifications
You may submit your visa application at a Team Stanley location as either an Interview Waiver or Drop-Box submission and proceed without a consular interview if you meet all of the following qualifications:

INTERVIEW WAIVER PROGRAM “DROP-BOX” CHECKLIST
If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, you qualify for our Interview Waiver Program “Drop-box”. You do not need to schedule an appointment at a Visa Application Center. Please log in, create your profile, proceed with your application, and print two copies of the submission letter. Drop off your passport along with the listed documents mentioned on the submission letter at one of our 11 service centers.

Eligibility Criteria for all applicants except child below 14 years of age and applicant above 80 years of age or older:

• I have a previous U.S. visa in the same class as the visa for which i wish to apply
• My most recent visa was issued in India
• I received my visa after January 1, 2008
• My most recent visa (in the same class for which I am applying) was issued on or after my 14th birthday
• I have no refusals for a visa in any class after my most recent visa issuance
• If I am applying for an H or L (individual) visa, my prior visa in the same class is still valid or expired within the last 12 months.OR
• If I am applying for any other class of visa, my prior visa in the same class is still valid or expired within the last 48 months.
• Note: Blanket L1 visa applicants do not qualify for the Interview Waiver Program, but Blanket L2 spouses are eligible.

Eligibility Criteria for Child below 14 years of age:

• I am applying before my 14th birthday.
  Note: Children under 14 must submit a photocopy of each parent’s passport biographic information page. If either parent has a visa, you should also submit a photocopy of each parent’s visa. If no parent has a visa and no parent is applying for one, then you should provide documentation regarding the purpose of the trip and a photocopy of the visa of the accompanying adult.

Eligibility criteria for applicants over 80 years of age:

• I am applying on or after 80th birthday
• My most recent visa application was not refused.

INTERVIEW WAIVER PROGRAM CHECKLIST
If you can answer “yes” to all of the following questions, you may qualify for the Interview Waiver Program. Please schedule an appointment at a Visa Application Center to have your photograph taken and fingerprints collected.

Eligibility Criteria for all applicants:

• I have a previous U.S. visa in the same class as the visa for which I wish to renew
• My most recent visa was issued in India
• I received my visa after August 1, 2004 but before January 2, 2008
• My most recent visa (in the same class for which I am applying) was issued on or after my 14th birthday
• I have no refusals for a visa in any category after my most recent visa issuance
• My prior visa in the same class is still valid or expired within the last 48 months.

Note: Blanket L1 visa applicants do not qualify for Interview Waiver Program, but Blanket L2 spouses are eligible.

Note: Using the interview waiver or drop-box service does not guarantee visa issuance. In some cases, you may be required to appear for a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, for example, if you submit an incomplete and/or inaccurate application. Submit your application well in advance of your planned travel to allow for the possibility that a visa interview will be necessary.

How to Apply
Step 1

Pay the visa application fee and any reciprocity fee associated with your visa. This webpage lists all of the visa fees associated with the most common nonimmigrant visa types. Instructions for how to pay your fees are available on this webpage.

Step 2

Complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form. After completing the form, print and save your confirmation page.

Step 3

Register an account on this webpage. Follow the steps to schedule an interview. Answer the questions carefully.

If you meet the requirements for interview waiver:

• Schedule an appointment at one of our Visa Application Centers where your fingerprints and photo will be taken.
• Your current passport
• Your current or most recent visa
• Supporting documentation in original and one photocopy required for your visa type
• Children applying through IWP or drop-box should submit photocopies of their parents’ visas and one photograph taken within the last six months (conforming to the guidelines on this webpage). Note: Children under 14 years of age are not required to attend the appointment at the Visa Application Centre. Accompany/Guardians/Parents should carry the above documents.

If you qualify for drop-box submission, you will receive a drop-box submission letter containing a document checklist. Print two copies of the drop-box submission letter. Drop off your passport along with the listed documents mentioned on the submission letter at one of the 11 service centers.

• Your current passport
• Your current or most recent visa
• One copy of the drop-box letter
• One photograph taken within the last six months (conforming to the guidelines on this webpage). In the vast majority of cases, YOU MAY NOT SUBMIT THE SAME PHOTOGRAPH THAT APPEARED ON YOUR LAST VISA. Failure to submit a valid photograph will delay the processing of your case.
• Supporting documentation in original and one photo copy required for your visa type
• Children applying through IWP or drop-box should submit photocopies of their parents’ visas.

Step 4

Deliver your documents for IWP at one of our Visa Application Centers or drop-box visa application to a Team Stanley Office. Bring the second copy of your document checklist with you. A Team Stanley employee will review your document checklist before accepting your application for delivery to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

Note: Failure to submit the above documents as per criteria will delay the processing of your case.

Step 5

If additional information is needed to complete processing of your case, you will be informed by email. If your application is approved, your passport and visa will be delivered for pickup to your selected Document Collection center you specified when you scheduled your interview. Details on passport delivery are available on this webpage.

For more details at: ustraveldocs