US Department of State set to announce a general waiver of requirement of consular interview for certain immigrant visas in April 2023

[ElGrandeDoodel 37]

Anyone else heard anything about this?

I just got wind of it via this (very dodgy looking) youtube video.

 

It's referred to on this more legitimate legal news website:

Quote

Immigrant Visa Interview Waivers: DOS expects to issue a final rule in April 2023 that would allow consular operations to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain immigrant visa applicants.

 

Which cites this bulletin from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs:

Quote

The Department intends to amend its regulations at 22 CFR part 42 to permit waiver of the general requirement that an immigrant visa applicant appear personally before a consular officer for an interview and to execute their application in person.

 

So, I think it is true though there is very little concrete, reliable-seeming information on it, including the types of visas impacted.

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved from CR1/IR1 spousal visa forum to US Immigration news & discussion ~~

 

41 minutes ago, elgrandedoodel said:

It's referred to on this more legitimate legal news website:

It appears you have to register to read the article but from a brief preview, seems like the visa interview waiver applies to employment visas:

”The interview waiver policy applies to certain applicants for the following visa categories: H-2 temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers; F..”

 

41 minutes ago, elgrandedoodel said:

Which cites this bulletin from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs:

This is not new and appears to be another amendment to an existing regulation (22 CFR 42.62 and 42.67) which are the same as the ones in the bulletin you linked:

 

“This temporary final rule (TFR) provides flexibility for consular officers to waive the personal appearance of certain repeat immigrant visa applicants who were approved for an immigrant visa in the same classification and on the same basis as the current application on or after August 4, 2019.…”

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/waiver-for-personal-appearance-and-interview-requirements-for-certain-immigrant-visa-applicants-issued-visas-on-or-after-august-4-2019.html
which lead to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/13/2021-26657/waiver-of-personal-appearance-and-in-person-oath-requirement-for-certain-immigrant-visa-applicants

 

I don’t see this being applied to “regular”, never-interviewed-before applicants. I don’t see the possibility that the DOS will waive immigrant interviews and effectively issue visas that upon entry automatically grant an LPR status to people that have never been interviewed in person by the consulate. I believe that would be a serious national security problem.

Edited February 7, 2023 by powerpuff