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Applicants for H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas applying from abroad won't be required to do an in-person interview at an American consulate. After withdrawing proposal to change H-1B visa

selection criteria, the United States has decided to waive the in-person interview for visa applicants including H-1B workers and students during entire 2022. The State Department made the

announcement in a press release saying this is done to reduce the visa wait time.  Applicants for H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas applying from abroad won't be required to do an in-person

interview at an American consulate. These categories represent the most common visa types which companies often use to attract high-skilled talent from abroad. The State Department also

informed that as per new orders it has extended indefinitely the authorisation to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the

prior visa's expiration. The US State Department in March 2020 had suspended all routine visa services in most countries worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. WHAT ARE THE

PROVISIONS The consular officers will now be temporarily authorized to waive in-person interviews for nearly a dozen visa categories It includes Persons in Specialty Occupations (H-1B

visas), visas for students (F and M visas), temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers. It also includes student exchange visitors (Academic J visas), as well as athletes, artists

and entertainers.  Previously approved policies to waive visa interview for certain students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists extended. Consular officers

have discretion to waive the visa interview requirement for individual petition-based H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q applicants.