Washington: The US has reduced the eligibility period for visa interview waiver from 48 months to 12 months. Visa interview waiver is commonly known as the dropbox process. This change is likely to affect thousands of non-immigrant visa holders, including H-1B, F-1 and B1/B2 visa holders.
While the US Embassy in India has not confirmed the change, online visa processing platform Atlease said it updated its eligibility criteria last week.
“While no official announcement has been made, the change is now being implemented and applications that have expired for more than 12 months will no longer be accepted,” an Eatalys spokesperson said, Business Standard reported.
Now many applicants will have to appear for personal interview
Previously, if a person’s previous visa expired within the last 48 months, they could renew their visa using the dropbox system. This expanded policy was introduced during the pandemic to reduce consular backlogs. The new change means many applicants will now have to appear for in-person interviews, which could put more pressure on the visa system.
According to the National Law Review, the change is likely to cause travel delays and disruptions for nonimmigrant visa holders, including H-1B, F-1, B1/B2, L-1, and O-1 visas.
Demand for personal appointments may increase in US consulates
Now applicants will be eligible for the dropbox process only if their visa has expired within the last 12 months and they are in the same category. Those who do not meet this requirement will have to schedule a personal interview, which could result in increased demand for in-person appointments at US consulates. There could be long wait times for visa interviews, especially in high-volume cities. This could lead to potential disruption for business travellers and professionals needing quick renewals. This change is also likely to impact Indian students in the US.
What will be the impact on students?
Siddharth Iyer, chief operating officer, OneStep Global, told Business Standard, “The recent policy change in the US visa renewal process for students (F-1) represents a significant adjustment, especially for applicants in India. With the eligibility period for interview waivers reduced, some students may face longer wait times and additional steps to renew their visas. While this adjustment represents a return to pre-pandemic rules, it comes at a time when demand for international education is high.”
“This change is intended to simplify the process, but it may pose challenges for students who fall outside the updated eligibility period. However, it is important to note that many students will still have ample opportunities to renew their visas through the regular process,” he said. “Those affected by this change should stay informed, plan their renewals in advance, and continue to contact their university’s international offices or visa advisors for guidance,” he added.
Delay in Visa Appointment in India
Getting a visa appointment in India is already a lengthy process. The wait time for a B1/B2 (business and tourism) visa interview in 2022 reached over 999 days. While it has improved since then, the wait time is still long-
- Delhi and Mumbai: More than 440 days
- Chennai: 436 days
- Hyderabad: 429 days
- Kolkata: 415 days
Why the change in policy?
According to Business Standard, the US Embassy in Delhi said, “The US State Department is conducting a full review of all visa programs directed under Executive Order 14161. This is all the information we have at this time.”
- Identifying high-risk countries for potential entry restrictions
- Strengthening refugee screening processes
- Evaluating visa programs for security vulnerabilities
- Increasing surveillance on foreign nationals already in the US
- Implementing measures to encourage the inclusion of immigrants into American society
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