The US Mission in Pakistan has announced that interview waiver eligibility has been expanded for Pakistani citizens renewing B1/B2 tourist and business visas at the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate General in Karachi.
All Pakistani citizens, regardless of age, with valid or expired B1/B2 visas within the last 48 months are eligible to participate. Previously, only Pakistani citizens aged 45 and up were eligible to apply.
Furthermore, interview waiver eligibility for student and petition-based work visa applicants who have previously held a U.S. visa has been extended until 2023.
The expansion of interview waiver eligibility is a procedural change designed to improve customer service and expedite the renewal of tourist and business visas for qualified and eligible Pakistanis.
Some eligible visa holders may be required to appear for interviews at the US Embassy or Consulate General after submitting their applications, as required by US law.
Applicants can check the website of the United States Mission in Pakistan to see if they are eligible for an interview waiver.
Applicants who are currently scheduled for an interview but are now eligible for an interview waiver may cancel their appointment online, start from ‘New Application’ on the scheduling dashboard, and follow the steps online for submitting through interview waiver.
It is important to note that there are authorized courier service locations for interview waiver submissions, and the processing time averages four weeks.
To read our blog on “P@SHA becomes an authority to issue Visa invitation letters,” click here