US scraps interview waiver for visa applicants

By Phuong Anh July 29, 2025 | 02:25 am PT

A new citizen holds a U.S. flag at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony at the New York Public Library in Manhattan, New York, U.S., July 3, 2018. Photo by Reuters

The U.S. has announced changes to its interview waiver policy for non-immigrant visa applicants, and from Sept. 2 almost everyone regardless of age has to attend an in-person interview.

Currently children below 14 and people above 79 do not have to attend in-person interviews.

Only a few categories will remain eligible for waivers. They include diplomatic and official visas and renewal of a full-validity tourist visa within 12 months of expiration if the applicant was at least 18 when the old visa was issued.

Consular officers could still demand in-person interviews for any reason.

Foreign visitors to the U.S. will soon be required to pay a visa integrity fee of at least US$250.