Quick Takeaways
- Updates supersede prior guidance that expanded availability of mail-in visa applications
- Must be applying in country of citizenship/residence for same visa classification and only if visa expired within previous 12 months
- Special exceptions for certain visas issued to foreign government officials, diplomats, NATO personnel, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office E-1s
On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (‘DOS”) issued updated guidance for visa applicants permitted to waive the in-person interview requirement and, instead, apply for an initial visa or renewal via the DOS’ prescribed mail-in procedure. Consistent with the Trump Administration’s directive for Consular Officials to perform “extreme vetting” at U.S. Consulates abroad, far fewer visa applicants are now permitted to avoid appearing at U.S. Consulates abroad, thereby increasing the odds that such applicants will face even longer wait-times to secure in-person appointments for interviews that will allow them to obtain a new visa or renew a previously-expired version of the same.
In particular, whereas applicants had long been able to mail-in paperwork to secure an initial or renewed visa so long as they had been issued ANY nonimmigrant visa that expired within the preceding 48 months, DOS’ updated guidance states that interview waivers may only be granted to nonimmigrants seeking the same visa classification while the previously issued visa either is still valid or has expired within 12 months of submitting the application. Likewise, H-2 workers seeking their initial visa are now absolutely required to appear in-person for their interview, with mail-in applications only available for first-time submissions of visas for government officials, diplomats, NATO personnel, or participants in the niche Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (“TECRO”) E-1 program.
Consistent with prior practice, the updated guidance states that a nonimmigrant may only utilize the mail-in option if they are physically present in their country of nationality or residence, have never been denied a visa that was not subsequently overcome or waived, and do not have any apparent bars to admissibility. And as always, a nonimmigrant eligible to mail-in a visa application may nevertheless be required to appear in-person, on a case-by-case basis, should the U.S. Consulate require or as local conditions deem necessary.
Though not as widely available as before, the mail-in option remains a valuable tool for eligible nonimmigrants who may not want or be able to wait for an in-person interview. We invite you to contact our office if you have any questions regarding your nonimmigrant visa application.
