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US visa renewal: Not 4 years, only 12-month window for interview waivers
Travel agents urged travellers not to delay their renewals as current appointment availability for visa interviews is significantly delayed
- PUBLISHED: Tue 25 Feb 2025, 5:36 PM
Travellers whose B1 or B2 US visa has expired will now have to go through the regular application process, as the US Department of State has updated its visa renewal policy.
Effective February 18, 2025, the eligibility period for an interview waiver has been reduced from 48 months to 12 months, meaning only applicants whose previous visas expired within the past year may qualify for a waiver.
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According to the official website of the US Department of State, B1 and B2 visas are non-immigrant visas for people who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa), for tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).
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Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism, said that earlier, during the post-Covid period, applicants could renew visas by post to facilitate the process more efficiently. "Once a US visit visa expired, the person had 48 months to send it for renewal. Prior to Covid, this did not exist, and travellers had to apply for a new visa to enter the US by going through the same procedure of applying and then appearing for an interview,” said Subair.
"We have been applying for over 50 travel and business visas a month and also receive over 20 visa renewal applications every month on behalf of our clients," he added.
With the updated rules, travellers now have only one year to renew their visas instead of four. “Eligibility also requires applying in one’s home country or country of residence, having no prior visa refusals (unless waived), and no apparent ineligibilities. Certain diplomatic and official visa holders remain exempt. Consular officers still have the discretion to require interviews,” said Subair.
The official website confirms this policy change, stating that consular officers may waive in-person interviews for specific applicants under the Immigration and Nationality Act section 222(h).
Libin Varghese, sales director at Rooh Tourism and Travel, urged travellers not to delay their renewals.
“Many of our clients have been lenient about the renewal process because they previously had four years to do so. Now, with only one year, it is crucial to act quickly,” said Varghese.
“For people whose visas are nearing expiry, even with a few months left, they can apply for renewal now. Visas that expired before February 18 will not be considered for a waiver,” added Varghese. He also mentioned that the current appointment availability for visa interviews is significantly delayed. “In Abu Dhabi, the earliest available appointment for a visa interview is in July next year.”
According to the official website, consular officers still hold the authority to require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis, considering local conditions. Travellers are encouraged to check the US embassy and consulate websites for further details about visa application procedures and operating status.
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.