Reuters have allowed US to waive talks on H-1B and other visas until 2022

(Reuters) – The United States will allow its consular officers to waive pre-talks for H-1B and non-immigrant visa applicants over the next year to help reduce visa waivers, the State Department said Thursday.

“The COVID-19 pandemic caused a profound reduction in the department’s visa processing capacity,” it said in a statement. “As world travel recovers, we are taking these temporary steps to increase our commitment to reducing visa waiting times safely and effectively, while maintaining national security as our priority.”

Consular officers will be allowed to temporarily waive face-to-face interviews for nearly a dozen visa categories, including Professional Specialty Persons (H-1B visas), student visas, non-temporary agricultural and agricultural staff, student exchange visitors, among others. as well as athletes, artists and entertainers.

The full list of visa-free visa categories can now be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-waivers-of-the- interview-request- some-non-immigrant-visa.html.

The State Department has also stated that it has indefinitely extended the permit for visa renewal applicants of the same class to expire the prior visa and waive the personal interview within 48 months.

The U.S. State Department suspended all conventional visa services in most countries around the world in March 2020 due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Although services have been reinstated with limited capacity and priority, there is a one-month waiting period for some visa appointments due to long delays.