The United States has extended the authority of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain non-immigrant visa categories throughout 2023.

The Department of State said it recognises the positive impact of travel to the United States by foreign students and temporary work visa holders on the US economy and is committed to facilitating non-immigrant travel and further reducing visa wait times.

Consular officers are authorised, through December 31, 2023, to continue to waive in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis for certain first-time and/or renewing applicants, according to the office of the spokesperson at the US State Department.

These categories of visas are for temporary agricultural and non-agricultural workers (H-2 visas), students (F and M visas), academic exchange visitors (academic J visas), and certain beneficiaries of approved individual petitions for non-immigrant temporary worker visas in the following categories: persons in specialty occupations (H-1B visas), trainee or special education visitors (H-3 visas), intracompany transferees (L visas), individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement (O visas), athletes, artists, and entertainers (P visas), and participants in international cultural exchange programs (Q visas); and qualifying derivatives.

These waivers are authorised by a determination of the secretary of state with the concurrence of the Department of Homeland Security.

The authorisation to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same classification within 48 months of the prior visa's expiration was previously authorised to remain in place until further notice.

These interview waiver authorities have reduced visa appointment wait times at many embassies and consulates by freeing up in-person interview appointments for other applicants who require interviews.

Nearly half of the almost seven million non-immigrant visas the department issued in the fiscal 2022 were adjudicated without an in-person interview.

"We are successfully lowering visa wait times worldwide, following closures during the pandemic, and making every effort to further reduce those wait times as quickly as possible, including for first-time tourist visa applicants," said the US Department of State.

Embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis and dependent upon local conditions.

"We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services," reads the announcement.