The United States has temporarily dropped the in-person interview requirement for certain visa categories including H-1B, L-1 and O01 amid rising concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. This was confirmed by US State Department on December 23, 2021.
The State Department said that it is temporarily dropping the in-person interview requirement for some work-visa categories in 2022 to ease visa issuances in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
In-person interviews are typically the final step before the issuance of visas. Waiver of the requirement will benefit the applicants of H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas.
These categories of visas are the most common visa types that companies use to attract high-skilled talent from abroad.
US waives in-person interviews for H-1B and certain other types of nonimmigrant visas: State Department
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2021
About H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas in detail
H-1B visa- The visa category allows US employers to temporarily employ foriegn workers in specialty occupations, which requires application of specialised knowledge and a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
Duration of stay- 3 years ( extendable to six years). The visa holder can reapply after the expiry of the visa.
L visas- L-1A and L-1B visa categories are for temporary intracompany transferees who work in managerial positions or have specialized knowledge.
O-1 visa - The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who have demonstrated a record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.
Period of Stay- 3 years ( Extendable up to one year)
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has additionally extended consular officers' current ability to waive the in-person interview, through December 31, 2022 for other categories of non-immigrant visas as well including:
Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Workers (H-2 visas)
Students (F and M visas)
Student Exchange Visitors (Academic J visas)
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