The United States has additional tightened its non-immigrant visa norms, together with stipulations for interview waivers. From Sept 2, all non-immigrant visa candidates, together with candidates underneath 14 and the ones over 79, “will normally require an in-person interview with a consular officer”, barring a couple of exceptions, america state dept stated in a July 25 replace.One exception comprises “candidates renewing a complete validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa… inside three hundred and sixty five days of the prior visa’s expiration, and who had been no less than 18 years previous on the time of the prior visa’s issuance”. “To be eligible for an interview waiver (candidates renewing a complete validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa), candidates should additionally meet positive standards, together with that they (a) observe of their nation of nationality or place of dwelling, (b) have by no means been refused a visa (until such refusal used to be conquer or waived), and don’t have any obvious or attainable ineligibility,” the replace says.In-person interviews would possibly nonetheless be hung on a case-by-case foundation: US “Consular officials would possibly nonetheless require in-person interviews on a case-by-case foundation for any explanation why,” america state division replace says.Quickly into President Donald Trump’s 2d time period in place of work, america had this Feb reverted to the pre-Covid interview waiver situation of a similar elegance visa expiring inside three hundred and sixty five days of making use of for a similar.In Nov 2022, when the wait time for B1/B2 (trade and tourism visa) interview in India had crossed 999 days (touching nearly 3 years), america had larger the eligibility for similar elegance drop field visa renewal – which doesn’t require an interview – from three hundred and sixty five days to 48 months.As of now, the state dept website online presentations the B1/B2 moderate interview wait time is 14 months in Chennai, 9.5 months in Mumbai; 8 months in Delhi, and six months in Kolkata. “Candidates will have to take a look at embassy and consulate internet sites for extra detailed details about visa utility necessities and procedures, and to be told extra concerning the embassy or consulate’s running standing and services and products,” the July 25 replace provides.