U.S. Visa Interview Waiver Requirements Change

The United States has reinstated stringent eligibility criteria for its Visa Interview Waiver, commonly referred to as the 'dropbox' facility, marking a return to pre-pandemic regulations. Effective immediately, applicants may only utilize the dropbox option if they are renewing a visa in the same nonimmigrant category, provided it expired within the last 12 months. Previously, a temporary provision introduced in 2022 allowed applicants whose visas had expired within 48 months to bypass the in-person interview—an emergency measure aimed at mitigating pandemic-induced backlogs.

This policy shift significantly narrows the renewal window and impacts nonimmigrant visa holders, including H-1B and B1/B2 applicants, who had previously benefited from the relaxed rules introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The return to the pre-pandemic 12-month eligibility rule means that only those whose prior visa expired within the past year can apply without an in-person interview.

While no official announcement has been made, Visa Application Centers (VACs) have reportedly begun enforcing the new policy, turning away applicants who no longer meet the revised criteria, according to The National Law Review.

For many travelers, renewing the same class of U.S. visa could now entail significantly longer wait times. The rollback of the 48-month renewal period to the pre-COVID 12-month limit will likely increase demand for in-person interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates, potentially leading to extended processing times.