The Department of State recently changed the eligibility requirements for the Visa Interview Waiver appointments, or Dropbox appointments, for Indian nationals.
Previously, it allowed Indian nonimmigrant visa applicants to waive the visa interview if they were renewing their nonimmigrant visa in any nonimmigrant classification and were applying within 48 months of their most recent nonimmigrant visa’s expiration date.
Now, the rules have changed from a visa in any nonimmigrant classification to the visa in the same classification as the previous visa and reduced the visa validity from 48 months to 12 months.
Because of this sudden change, as of today, Visa Application Centers are turning away applicants who were scheduled for a Dropbox appointment but do not meet the new requirements. These applicants must reschedule for an in-person visa interview.
The Dropbox appointments helped individuals save significant time during the renewal process. It processed visas much faster than before and reduced the workload and burden for consulate officers. This sudden change could impact the following:
- Travel disruptions for visa applicants, who have already scheduled a Dropbox appointment but do not meet the new requirements. They will have to reschedule for an in-person interview, which will delay their return travel back to the U.S.
- There will be an increase demand for in-person interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates, which mean longer wait times for visa interview scheduling. They will have challenges securing a timely appointment.
- With the 12-month validity timeframe, the visa holders must strategically schedule their visa appointments if they want to take advantage of the Dropbox appointments. If they are beyond the 12-month time frame, then they must also strategically figure out their international travel plans and time that with their scheduled interview. Therefore, they will face potential financial burdens and uncertainty in this process
- This will also impact employers, who may face workforce delays if their employees cannot enter the U.S. in time to fulfill their job duties.
What Visa Applicants Should Do:
- They should confirm their eligibility to the new rules before their scheduled Dropbox appointment. If applicants have visas that expired more than 12 months ago, then they should schedule an in-person interview as soon as possible.
- They should plan for potential delays.
It is essential that visa applicants from other countries check embassy and consulate websites to see if the new Dropbox appointment rules are in effect.
