The U.S. Interview Waiver Program (IWP) allows eligible individuals to renew certain types of visas without attending additional visa interviews. Some B visa holders may be eligible to renew their tourist visa under this program. If the visa holder meets certain requirements, they may qualify for an interview waiver and skip this step during the renewal process. Although each embassy or consulate’s exact interview waiver requirements may vary slightly, generally speaking you may be eligible if:
You are a citizen or legal permanent resident of the country you’re applying from
You were previously issued a 10-year B-1/B-2 visa
Your current B1/B2 visa is still valid or recently expired within the last 48 months
You have not been refused a U.S. visa in the last 12 months
You’ve never overstayed your visa in U.S.
It is important to reach out to your local U.S. Embassy or consulate directly to see if you qualify for an interview waiver. Applicants who do qualify are only required to file Form DS-160, pay the associated filing fees, and wait while their application is processed.
