Interview Waiver

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Overview

As of December 23rd, 2021, special provisions are in effect for F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J (students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists) who were previously issued any class of visa, subject to certain conditions, until December 31st, 2023.

Criteria

B1/B2 and C1/D visas: To apply for renewal of a visa waiving interview, applicants must meet all the following criteria to qualify:

  1. Applicant must be a legal resident and physically present in Mauritius, Seychelles, or Reunion (Fr).
  2. Applicant must be applying for a nonimmigrant visa category C1/D and/or B1/B2 and have, in their possession to submit with the application, a previous visa in the same category.
  3. Applicant’s previous U.S. visa must not have been issued with a limited validity timeframe and must not contain the annotations, “CLEARANCE RECEIVED” or “ESTA RECORD REVIEWED.”
  4. Applicant’s previous U.S. visa must be valid or not be more than 48-months expired (4 years prior to the current date).
  5. Applicant must be renewing their U.S. visa in the same name and nationality as their previous U.S. visa.
  6. Applicants 14 years-old and over must have provided digital fingerprints at the previous visa interview (for example: a child who was under 14 at the previous interview and did not provide fingerprints must make an appointment and appear in person).

 

F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J (students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or specialists): To apply for a visa interview-waiver, applicants must meet the following criteria:

 

  1. Applicant must be a legal resident and physically present in Mauritius, Seychelles, or Reunion (Fr).
  2. Applicant must have been previously issued any type of U.S. visa, have never been refused a visa unless such refusal was overcome or waived, and have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility.
  3. Applicants 14 years-old and over must have provided digital fingerprints at the previous visa interview (for example: a child who was under 14 at the previous interview or an individual who was only issued a visa type that does not require fingerprints must make an appointment and appear in person).

 

NOTE: Applicants who are legal residents and physically present in Mauritius, Seychelles, or Reunion (Fr), but citizens or nationals of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (WVP) can apply interview waiver for an F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, or academic J without having been issued a prior U.S. visa. In order to qualify they must not have an apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility and have previously traveled to the United States using an authorization obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Applicant’s previous U.S. visa must not have been issued with a limited validity timeframe and must not contain the annotations, “CLEARANCE RECEIVED” or “ESTA RECORD REVIEWED”

 

Procedure

Please prepare the application package with the following:

  1. Current passport with at least six months validity remaining before expiration
  2. Previous passport that holds the valid or expired U.S. visa
  3. Confirmation page of application form DS-160
  4. One U.S. visa-sized photo (2 in x 2 in) (5 cm X 5 cm) on a white background taken within the last six months with no glasses (read more for photo requirements)
  5. Fee payment: in person in cash [U.S. Dollars or Mauritian Rupees] or drop-off or mail-in via bank check [U.S. Dollars only] *see A and B below for details.

 

Application Package Submission and Payment method:

  1. In-Person: Due to high demand, please schedule an appointment online to submit your application package in-person at the Embassy. You must pay the visa fee directly at the U.S. Embassy in cash (U.S. dollars or Mauritian rupees).

 

OR

 

  1. Mail-in/Drop off: Drop off a complete application package on Tuesdays between 09:00 and 15:00 at the U.S. Embassy reception desk on the 4th Floor.  To mail-in or drop-off your application package, you must include in the sealed envelope a bank draft or cashier’s check for the visa fee. Cash payment is NOT

 

Please note the check must be exactly:

  • In S. Dollars
  • Made payable to “S. Embassy Port Louis”
  • In the appropriate amount per the Visa Fee information below
  • A bank or cashier’s check, not drawn on a personal account

 

The envelope should be clearly marked with the applicant’s full name and “For visa renewal.”

Visa Fee:

Until May 30, 2023, visa fees are $160 for a non-petition-based application or $190 for a petition-based application.

 

Note: Starting May 30, 2023, the application fee for U.S. visitor visas and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas will increase from $160 to $185.  Petition-based (H, L, O, P, Q and R) visa fees will increase from $Q190 to $205.  E visa application fees will increase from $205 to $315.

 

The visa renewal process by mail takes 7-10 working days.

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