USCIS announced the next phase of its expansion of premium processing services.
- Beginning January 30, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 premium processing requests for all new and pending I-140 petitions for E13 multinational executive and manager petitions and E21 NIW petitions.
- Premium processing for these I-140 petitions are to be adjudicated within 45 days.
- In March 2023, USCIS plans to further expand premium processing to pending Form I-765s filed by F-1 students for Optional Technical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT.
- This will be further expanded in April 2023 to initial OPT and STEM OPT applications. Exact details are expected to be announced in February 2023.
NONIMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEW WAIVERS PROCESS
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Department of State has expanded the
eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa interview waiver.
If you believe you are eligible for an interview waiver, review your local U.S. consulate’s website or appointment scheduling website to determine what is required to apply for a waiver.
Typically, consulates require you to schedule an appointment to drop off or allow you to mail in the following documents: DS-160 confirmation page, a valid passport, pre-paid courier packaging for passport/document return, the fee receipt, two passport style photographs, and the visa petition approval notice (such as Form I-797 approval notice).
Am I Eligible for an Interview Waiver?
Through December 31, 2023, you may qualify for an interview waiver for an initial nonimmigrant visa application if:
You fit in one these categories:
Applicant for F, H-1, H-3, H-4, academic J, L, M, O, P, and Q visas and were previously issued any type of visa; Applicant for a visa category included above, from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, and previously traveled to the United States under ESTA authorization;
Applicant for H-2 visa (temporary agricultural and non- agricultural workers);
You are applying at the consular post in your country of usual residence, and
You were not previously refused a visa in any classification unless the refusal was overcome or ground for inadmissibility was waived.
You may also qualify for an interview waiver, indefinitely, for a nonimmigrant renewal visa application if:
You are applying at the consular post of your usual residence; You have a previously issued U.S. visa in the same classification as the visa for which you are applying and your prior visa is still valid or has expired within the last 48 months;
Your prior visa is not annotated “Clearance Received” or “Department Authorization”;
Your most recent visa in the same classification for which you are applying was issued on or after your 14th birthday (For children under 14 years of age, interviews are rarely required.); Your most recent visa in the same classification for which you are applying was not lost/stolen or canceled; and
You were not previously refused a visa in any classification (with some exceptions).
