United States Tourist/Business (B1/B2) Visa Application - Interview Waiver
Overview
Interview appointment dates for US visas have long waiting times in India and several other countries. Recently, the US relaxed the interview requirements to mitigate delays for existing US visa holders. Eligible applicants satisfying the conditions on their website can opt for document submission under the interview-waiver program. I applied for the US tourist visa (B1/B2) under the interview-waiver program from New Delhi, India. Here's the timeline for my application process.
Application Timeline
Interview appointment dates for US visas have long waiting times in India and several other countries. Recently, the US relaxed the interview requirements to mitigate delays for existing US visa holders. Eligible applicants satisfying the conditions on their website can opt for document submission under the interview-waiver program. I applied for the US tourist visa (B1/B2) under the interview-waiver program from New Delhi, India. Here's the timeline for my application process.18-Jul-2024: Paid the $185 application fee and scheduled an appointment for the next day for document submission.
19-Jul-2024: Submitted the document (DS-160 confirmation, 1 photo, new passport, passport with existing US visa) at the Visa Application Center (VAC), New Delhi. You also need to carry a printout of the appointment confirmation page. They will stamp this as an acknowledgement receipt. The officials are very strict about the photo requirement. So, ensure that the background of the photo is white and that it has been shot recently. There is a photo studio, photocopy and other services available right infront of the VAC but the service fee is high. As per the officially available information, it takes 7-10 working days for processing the tourist visa. The status of the visa application can be tracked on the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website.
22-Jul-2024: The CEAC website says "Application received: Your case is open and ready for your interview, fingerprints, and required documents. If you have already had your interview, please check your status after two business days. If no interview was required, please check back in two business days for the status of your application."
23-Jul-2024: The CEAC website says "Approved: The consular officer has approved your application subject to final processing by the consular section that is necessary to issue your visa. When that processing is complete, the status will change to "Issued". However, a final screening step must still be completed prior to issuance that could lead a consular officer to conclude that you are not eligible for a visa. If that occurs, the consular officer will notify you that your application has been denied and your status will change to "Refused"."
24-Jul-2024: The CEAC website says "Issued: The consular section has completed processing your application and your visa has been issued. If you do not receive your passport and visa within 10 working days, please contact the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application. If at any time additional information is discovered that indicates you may no longer be eligible for a visa, the U.S. government may revoke your visa. See Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act."
25-Jul-2024: Passport ready for pick-up at the VAC, New Delhi.
Remarks
- I qualified for interview-waiver based on my study (F1) visa which was still valid.
- As the document submission counter was outside the VAC, I could carry my mobile phone and a bag. Although for faster processing, some people who did not have a bag or mobile were also sent inside the VAC.
- 20-Jul-2024 and 21-Jul-2024 were weekends. Hence, the delay in status update.