These waivers also apply to qualifying students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists (F, M, and academic J visa applicants). However, these waivers apply to temporary workers who need H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, or Q visas subject to certain conditions, and also provided they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence. More appointments are likely to become available in the ensuing weeks and especially in August-September 2022 and onwards,” she said.Īt present, several non-immigration visa applicants applying for US visas may be eligible for interview waivers only if they meet certain criteria. Before travelling to India, they should, in fact, check for appointments frequently so that they can book one when dates do become available. “Even for drop-box applications, in case of visa interview waivers, H-1B visa holders who travel to India, need appointments to drop off the paperwork. Immigration lawyer Poorva Chithani elucidates this procedure.
Kumar doesn’t know when she will finally be able to meet her parents again. There are still no dates available on the online booking system. If Kumar had an interview waiver and is unable to get the procedures done on time, one can only imagine getting an interview date for him is much more strenuous. Kumar’s situation gets complicated because her son, who is on H4 dependent visa, is now above 14 years old and is not eligible for a visa interview waiver. The reality, however, is there are no dates available for the next few months and so she cannot plan the trip.
Since the pandemic, Kumar hasn’t visited her parents in Bengaluru and is now trying to surpass the challenge to get a drop box appointment as she needs to get a visa stamp before she goes back to the US after her visit. She is an employee of an IT firm situated in Texas and has been an H-1B visa holder for eight years. Shalini Kumar (name changed) shares the excruciating experience. Other than the issue of unavailability of dates for visa interviews or painstaking time is taken for submitting documents where interviews are being waived off, there is an added risk of administrative delays or security checks that could further delay the processing time of H-1B visas. Individuals who are eligible for interview waivers are also experiencing delays in just getting dates at the US embassy and consulates. This is because they need a valid stamp on their passports before they travel back to the US. Indians holding H-1B visas in the US are facing hurdles in planning international trips or visiting their family back in India.
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