US drops in-person interview for H-1B, L-1 visas

As the new variant of Covid-19 is spreading rapidly, the United States has reportedly decided to temporarily drop the in-person interviews for a range of work-visa categories H-1B, L-1, and the O-1. In the wake of the third wave of coronavirus prevailing out the new variant 'Omicron', action has been taken by the United States to ease down the visa issuances. Also Read | Punjab on alert as Ludhiana court blast kills one, injures 5 Meanwhile, the applicants applying for H-1B, L-1, and O-1 visas will no longer have to undergo an in-person interview at a US consulate, which is the last step before issuing a visa. Also read | ‘Rail roko’ agitation by Punjab farmers affects movement of 400 trains “We are pleased to announce that consular officers are now temporarily authorized, through December 31, 2022, to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based nonimmigrant work 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),” press conference said. "We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services," added the release Therefore, the consular officers are now authorized to drop in-person interviews for nearly a dozen visa categories. Earlier in 2020, the U.S. State Department had suspended all routine visa services in most countries worldwide in an order to battle the Covid-19 outbreak. -PTC News