US Embassy: ‘No Interview’ visa renewal to commence from March 30

The United States Embassy’s Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Aishah Gambari, made it known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the Embassy will begin processing certain non-immigrant visa renewal applications without requiring an interview starting from March 30, 2022.

The statement titled, ‘U.S. Embassy in Abuja Begins Interview Waiver Program for Certain Visa Renewals’ said, there would be no interviews for visa renewals where:

“The visa is B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only);

“The applicant previously received a U.S. non-immigrant visa that expired within the last 24 months, or will expire in the next three months from the date of application;

“The previous visa was issued in Nigeria;

“The previous visa was a full validity, multiple entry visa;

“The applicant is applying for the same visa classification as the prior approved visa;

“The applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime in the United States (even if they later received a pardon or waiver);

“The applicant has never worked without authorization or overstayed in the United States; and

“The applicant has not had any significant life changes.”

The Embassy stated further that, “A parent’s qualifications cannot extend to a child. The child must independently meet each requirement. The number of applicants accepted for the Interview Waiver Program may initially be limited.”

The Embassy said application fees would remain at $160 for non-petition-based non-immigrant visas, and $190 for petition-based non-immigrant visa categories.

Qualified applicants seeking to utilize the no-interview programme were therefore advised by the Embassy to set an appointment for document review online, adding that duration of  processing may last up to two months and applicants won’t have access to their passport until completion of the process.