U.S. Will Waive In-Person Interviews for H-1B, Other Work Visas

[sri_india]

WASHINGTON—The State Department is temporarily dropping an in-person interview requirement for some work-visa categories in 2022 to ease visa issuances, as the Covid-19 pandemic stretches into a third year, the department announced Thursday.

Applicants for H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas applying from abroad won’t be required to do an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate, typically the final step before a visa is issued. Those categories represent the most common visa types companies use to attract high-skilled talent from abroad.

Student visas and visas for temporary, seasonal workers have already been exempted from in-person interviews, and the State Department said those categories would continue to be exempted through the end of 2022.

The in-person interview has been one hurdle in the way of consulates issuing visas to the U.S. at pre-pandemic levels. Many consulates are operating at reduced capacity because of the pandemic. Roughly 60% of U.S. consulates are still partially closed, meaning they aren’t processing most work-visa types, according to a Cato Institute analysis of State Department data.

In a typical year, the U.S. would issue hundreds of thousands of visas in these categories. In the government’s 2019 fiscal year, for example, the State Department issued more than 188,000 H-1B visas and 77,000 L-1 visas to applicants living abroad.

 

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But because of the consulate closures, lines to immigrate have been growing longer, and the issuance of work visas at some consulates, including in India, have come to a standstill. Consulates that have reduced their operations generally give priority to processing permanent immigrants to the U.S. rather than temporary visa holders.

 

The logjam is one reason businesses cite to explain a continuing labor shortage in the U.S.

 

Jon Baselice, vice president of immigration policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the announcement.

“The critical factor going forward will be the extent to which consulates exercise these newly-granted authorities; the more the State Department uses them, the more beneficial they will be to American companies,” he said.

Interviews are expected to help the situation but not solve it entirely. As long as consulates continue to enforce social-distancing restrictions, they will likely continue to issue fewer visas.

[sri_india]

US waives in-person interviews for range of visas, including H-1B, for 2022

 

Amid growing concerns of surging COVID-19 cases, the US has announced that it will waive the in-person interview requirement for a range of visa applicants during the entire year in 2022, including for H-1B workers and students, many of whom are from India.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

 

The Department of State on Thursday announced that consular officers are now temporarily authorised, through December 31, 2022, to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based nonimmigrant work visas and their qualifying derivatives in the following categories: Persons in Specialty Occupations (H-1B visas), Trainee or Special Education Visitors (H-3 visas), Intracompany Transferees (L visas), Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O visas), Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers (P visas), and Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programmes (Q visas).

Additionally, the Secretary of State has extended consular officers' current ability to waive the in-person interview, through December 31, 2022, for the following other categories of nonimmigrant visas: Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Workers (H-2 visas), Students (F and M visas), and Student Exchange Visitors (Academic J visas), the press release said.

Embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis and dependent upon local conditions. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services, it said.

The state department said, "it recognises the many contributions of international visitors to our communities and campuses and the positive impact of temporary work visa holders on the US economy and is committed to facilitating nonimmigrant travel and reducing visa wait times."

The State Department also said it has extended indefinitely the authorisation to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the prior visa's expiration.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in profound reductions in the Department's visa processing capacity. As global travel rebounds, the US is taking these temporary steps to further commitment to safely and efficiently reduce visa wait times while maintaining national security as our priority, it added.

The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year. Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

From November 8, the US lifted all restrictions for fully vaccinated international travellers, including from India, but they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight to the country.

The new authorisation also applies to temporary workers applying for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q visas who meet certain conditions, including that they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence, the press release said.

Under this authority, consular officers have discretion to waive the visa interview requirement for individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or first-time individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously travelled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

The US is witnessing an astronomical surge in the Omicron variant, with infections jumping to 73 per cent of all Covid cases in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in omicron's share of infections in only one week.

Scientists in Africa first sounded the alarm about Omicron less than a month ago and on November 26 the WHO designated it as a variant of concern." The mutant has since shown up in about 90 countries, including in India.

Much about the Omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the US stand at 51,814,812 and 815,423 people have died due to the virus, according to the latest data by Johns Hopkins University.

[Anta Assamey]

Company marite kuda no need of interview aa...

[sri_india]

Just now, Anta Assamey said:

Company marite kuda no need of interview aa...

company marithy , you still eligible for dropbox ... aaa rule 3 -4 years back eee relax chesaru 

[Anta Assamey]

Just now, sri_india said:

company marithy , you still eligible for dropbox ... aaa rule 3 -4 years back eee relax chesaru 

Avuna... I missed this... Have to cross verify this information...

[sri_india]

Just now, Anta Assamey said:

Avuna... I missed this... Have to cross verify this information...

when you book your appointment , it will ask series of questions including this one .... earlier if you choose changed employer , it shows you have to attend interview , now it shows you are eligible for dropbox 

[Anta Assamey]

Just now, sri_india said:

when you book your appointment , it will ask series of questions including this one .... earlier if you choose changed employer , it shows you have to attend interview , now it shows you are eligible for dropbox 

Inta confident ga cheptunavu ante... That is good for me... Nenu inka interview ki povala ani thinking ...

[sri_india]

4 minutes ago, Anta Assamey said:

Inta confident ga cheptunavu ante... That is good for me... Nenu inka interview ki povala ani thinking ...

yes , confirmation froom expert anil gupta

[Anta Assamey]

8 minutes ago, sri_india said:

yes , confirmation froom expert anil gupta

[Netflixmovieguz]

20 minutes ago, Anta Assamey said:

Company marite kuda no need of interview aa...

Vuncle..company marithee vellali anni rule leduu. Last stamp hyd or same location and not expired or expired in th e last couple of months unttee you are eligible for Dropbox 

[Sarvapindi]

already slot booked aithe how

[JackSeal]

30 minutes ago, sri_india said:

company marithy , you still eligible for dropbox ... aaa rule 3 -4 years back eee relax chesaru 

What about first time h1b after change of status from f1… eligible for Dropbox ?

[Anta Assamey]

16 minutes ago, Netflixmovieguz said:

Vuncle..company marithee vellali anni rule leduu. Last stamp hyd or same location and not expired or expired in th e last couple of months unttee you are eligible for Dropbox 

I was in the wrong notation previous ... Thank you for clearing it.... 

[Sandy_14]

Mine expired in 2016. Am I  eligible with new waiver rule?

[toranam]

1 hour ago, sri_india said:

US waives in-person interviews for range of visas, including H-1B, for 2022

 

Amid growing concerns of surging COVID-19 cases, the US has announced that it will waive the in-person interview requirement for a range of visa applicants during the entire year in 2022, including for H-1B workers and students, many of whom are from India.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

 

The Department of State on Thursday announced that consular officers are now temporarily authorised, through December 31, 2022, to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based nonimmigrant work visas and their qualifying derivatives in the following categories: Persons in Specialty Occupations (H-1B visas), Trainee or Special Education Visitors (H-3 visas), Intracompany Transferees (L visas), Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O visas), Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers (P visas), and Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programmes (Q visas).

Additionally, the Secretary of State has extended consular officers' current ability to waive the in-person interview, through December 31, 2022, for the following other categories of nonimmigrant visas: Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Workers (H-2 visas), Students (F and M visas), and Student Exchange Visitors (Academic J visas), the press release said.

Embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis and dependent upon local conditions. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services, it said.

The state department said, "it recognises the many contributions of international visitors to our communities and campuses and the positive impact of temporary work visa holders on the US economy and is committed to facilitating nonimmigrant travel and reducing visa wait times."

The State Department also said it has extended indefinitely the authorisation to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the prior visa's expiration.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in profound reductions in the Department's visa processing capacity. As global travel rebounds, the US is taking these temporary steps to further commitment to safely and efficiently reduce visa wait times while maintaining national security as our priority, it added.

The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year. Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

From November 8, the US lifted all restrictions for fully vaccinated international travellers, including from India, but they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight to the country.

The new authorisation also applies to temporary workers applying for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q visas who meet certain conditions, including that they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence, the press release said.

Under this authority, consular officers have discretion to waive the visa interview requirement for individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants who were previously issued any type of visa, and who have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility; or first-time individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q who are citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), provided they have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously travelled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).

The US is witnessing an astronomical surge in the Omicron variant, with infections jumping to 73 per cent of all Covid cases in the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in omicron's share of infections in only one week.

Scientists in Africa first sounded the alarm about Omicron less than a month ago and on November 26 the WHO designated it as a variant of concern." The mutant has since shown up in about 90 countries, including in India.

Much about the Omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the US stand at 51,814,812 and 815,423 people have died due to the virus, according to the latest data by Johns Hopkins University.

Is it for whose visa expired 48 months back? or for every one? please confirm