WAIVER OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE FOR QUALIFIED VISA APPLICANTS

A nonimmigrant visa applicant who received his/her last visa after October 31, 2007 may not need to return to the embassy to be fingerprinted and interviewed if, among other factors:

• The applicant reapplies within 12 months after the previous visa expires;
• The applicant applies for a visa in the same visa category (for example, the B1/B2 tourist visa) as the previous visa;
• The applicant applies for a visa in his or her country of usual residence; and
• The applicant has complied with the immigration laws and regulations of the United States during previous visits.

Applicants who fulfill all of these conditions may submit their completed visa applications and relevant supporting documents (please refer to the section on this website that address the documentary requirements for different types of visas) through DHL or, alternatively, you or someone on your behalf may submit your application and supporting documents at the consular section between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on any business day.  (PLEASE NOTE: Supporting documents will NOT be returned to you, so do NOT send original property deeds, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.  The embassy assumes no responsibility for original documents submitted in support of a visa application.) 

Although an applicant may meet the above criteria, a consular officer, after reviewing the application, may determine that a personal appearance is required, and the applicant will be contacted to make an appointment for a personal interview.

Please note that even though you will not be fingerprinted at the embassy, you will be fingerprinted upon arrival in the United States by DHS to verify your identity by comparing your prints with the prints DHS has on file for you taken at your previous visa interview.