According to a senior American diplomat, the US has relaxed in-person interview procedures for many visa applicants, including students and employees, at its diplomatic missions in India until December 31, this year.
Students (F, M, and academic J visas), workers (H-1, H-2, H-3, and individual L visas), and cultural and extraordinary ability (O, P, and Q visas) are among those eligible for the waiver, according to the news agency PTI.
“This is much-needed support to visa applicants. This would be very helpful to our friends and immediate family members and remove a lot of their concerns and remove inconveniences,” Ajay Jain Bhutoria, South Asian Community Leader and US President Joe Biden’s Advisor for Asian Americans, said after his meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for South Central Asia, Donal Lu.
The South Asian Community Leader brought up the topic of visas during his meeting with Lu on Friday in Silicon Valley, California. The Assistant Secretary of State for South Central Asia stated that the US Department of State is authorized to waive in-person interview requirements for certain applicants and their qualified dependents in certain nonimmigrant visa categories until December 31, this year.
Candidates considering these visa classes must have previously been issued any category of US visa, have never been rejected a US visa, and have no indication of ineligibility or possible visa ineligibility to be eligible for the expanded interview waiver program. They must also be a resident or national of the country in which they are applying, among other requirements, according to the State Department.
According to a notice posted on the US Embassy in New Delhi’s website, the US embassy in New Delhi and its consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai will release more than 20,000 additional waivers (dropbox) appointments for Spring 2022 to enable qualified applicants to take advantage of the new interview waiver authority.
During the meeting, Mr Bhutoria discussed with Donal Lu ways to strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and India. He emphasized the need for the United States and India to cooperate closely in South Central Asia.
“Both India and the US are strong democracies and share democratic values and provide leadership in the Asia Pacific region,” he said.
They also emphasized the Indian American diaspora’s enormous contribution and significant position in digital economic growth, startups, and establishing enterprises and companies, as well as contributing to the expansion of the US economy.
Assistant Secretary Lu, Mr Bhutoria, and Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna also attended the afternoon gathering to address the Afghanistan refugee resettlement with Afghan community leaders and elected officials.
Recent immigration changes during the meeting were highlighted by Donal Lu. Recognizing the vast potential that US work and study offer, as well as the significant contributions of international visitors to US communities, campuses, and the economy, the Department of State has standardized visa processes for several applicants while continuing to protect national security, according to a media release.
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