Dept. of State (Embassies) issued a temporary rule where in person interviews and OATH may be waived by consular officers of certain repeat immigrant visa applicants due to COVID19 – effective 12/13/21 through 12/13/23
To qualify for the discretionary in-person waiver, an applicant must:
- Have been issued a U.S. immigrant visa on or after August 4, 2019;
- Seek immigrant visa in the same classification and pursuant to the same approved petition as previously issued immigrant visa, or an immigrant visa pursuant to the same approved petition as the previously issued visa but in a different classification because it was automatically converted due to the death or naturalization of the petitioner of the previously issued immigrant visa;
- Qualify for immigrant visa in the same classification, or another classification as the result of automatic conversion due to the death or naturalization of the petitioner of the previously issued immigrant visa, and pursuant to the same approved petition as the previously issued immigrant visa; and
- Have no changed circumstances that could affect the applicant’s eligibility for the visa.