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Typically, applying for a visa for the USA is not that easy and, above all, time-consuming. But with the so-called Interview Waiver Program or Visa Reissuance Program, certain applicants have the opportunity to renew their visa conveniently by mail instead of in a personal interview at the consulate.

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What is the Interview Waiver Program?

Under the Interview Waiver Program, certain applicants may, under precisely defined conditions

  • apply for a US visa without an in-person visa interview appointment and
  • submit the application documents by mail.

This means that, exceptionally, the visa can be issued without an interview and you do not have to go to the US consular section.

Until the introduction of this rule, all visa applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 had to appear in person at the US consulate or US embassy without exception.

The Interview Waiver Program is also known as the Visa Reissuance Program or Visa Renewal Program.

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Attention:

Using the Visa Reissuance Program does not automatically guarantee that your US visa will be granted. In addition, applicants may be summoned for an interview if necessary despite applying for a visa by post.

Requirements for the Interview Waiver Program

For the postal submission of documents (mail-in procedure), all visa applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

  • application is made for US visas of categories B, C, D, E, F, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, Q, R or W
  • applicants are younger than 14 years or older than 79 years
  • applicants apply for the US visa in the country of their own citizenship or residence permit and are physically present in the country of application
  • applicants qualify for the visa category applied for
  • there is neither a visa refusal nor an ESTA denial
  • there are no violations of immigration or criminal law

Depending on the visa category and the US consulate or US embassy, further conditions may apply.

Furthermore, a distinction is made as to whether this is your first visa for the USA or whether you already have a US visa in the same category.

Re-application for the same visa category ("extension"):

  • The US visa of the same category was approved in a personal interview at a US consulate / US embassy
  • The last US visa applied for is still valid or has not expired for more than 48 months
  • The passport including US visa is still on hand

The following special regulations apply to student visas:

  • J visa applicants have the same SEVIS number as in the initial application
  • F and M visa applicants are still in the same program or educational institution as in the initial application

First-time application for certain visa categories

  • Any other US visa (except B visa) has already been approved in a personal interview at a US consulate / US embassy
  • The US visa of any other category (except B visa) is still valid or has not expired for more than 48 months
  • The passport including US visa is still on hand

Note

  • Anyone who has had a visa denial or criminal violation cannot qualify for the Interview Waiver Program.
  • L Blanket applications do not qualify for the postal submission process, an interview is required.
  • Applicants should be available to the consulate for further questions or a (possible) subsequent invitation to a personal appointment
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Application Procedure for the Interview Waiver Program

Those who wish to take advantage of the Interview Waiver Program must follow these steps to submit their visa application documents.

  1. To apply for a US visa, you must first create an online profile on the website of the visa information service CGI Federal Inc. In the profile, among other things, some yes / no queries are made regarding the interview waiver access requirements.
  2. If applicants meet the above requirements and thus qualify for the Interview Waiver Program, they will be notified of this by a message in their online profile and can then choose whether to submit the application by mail. Alternatively, they still have the option of scheduling a regular appointment. If applicants choose to submit by mail, they will receive an interview waiver confirmation letter in their profile and will be prompted to send an email regarding the completion of their visa application documents.
  3. On the interview waiver confirmation letter you will find all the information about the submission procedure, which please follow exactly. In addition, you will also find payment information for shipping costs and address details. If applicants do not follow these requirements, the visa application process may be delayed by the US authorities.

The submission process varies from US consulate to US consulate worldwide. Please inform yourself in time about the exact requirements and process steps at the relevant US mission, e.g. on the website of the official visa service provider.

In the German US consulates or the US embassy, the processing times for the postal submission procedure are around 2 weeks (from the time the application documents are sent to the US consulate / US embassy until the passport including the visa is returned to the applicant).

Attention:

Finally, we would like to expressly point out once again that neither the waiver of the personal interview appointment nor the granting of a visa can be guaranteed.

The US consulate or the US embassy reserves the right to invite applicants to a personal interview at the US consulate or the US embassy despite their qualification for the Visa Waiver Program.

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