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These are excerpts from another website; of possible value to users of this forum, so I decided to post them here.
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 18, 2006 listing those who may be eligible to obtain a waiver of the personal interview at the consulate when applying for their nonimmigrant visas (NIVs).
Possible Exceptions from the Mandatory Personal Interview
The final rule provides that the following may be exempt from personal interview requirements for nonimmigrant visas.
children under age 14
persons over age 79
individuals seeking A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 classifications
those applying for a diplomatic or official visas
applicants within 12 months of the expiration of their previously-issued visas, who are seeking reissuance of nonimmigrant biometric visas in the same classification at the consular post of their usual residences, and for whom the consular officers have no indication of visa ineligibility or of noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws and regulations
those for whom waivers of personal appearance are warranted in the national interest or because of unusual circumstances
Those for Whom Personal Interviews are Mandatory
By contrast, the following must always have personal interviews.
applicants who are not nationals or residents of the countries in which they are applying, unless applying for A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above
applicants who were previously refused visas, are listed in CLASS, or who require Security Advisory Opinions (unless their visas were issued temporarily and the refusals were subsequently overcome, the applicants were found inadmissible but their inadmissibilities were waived, or they are applying for the A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above)
applicants from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism (unless the applicants are applying for the A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above)
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published a final rule in the Federal Register on December 18, 2006 listing those who may be eligible to obtain a waiver of the personal interview at the consulate when applying for their nonimmigrant visas (NIVs).
Possible Exceptions from the Mandatory Personal Interview
The final rule provides that the following may be exempt from personal interview requirements for nonimmigrant visas.
children under age 14
persons over age 79
individuals seeking A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 classifications
those applying for a diplomatic or official visas
applicants within 12 months of the expiration of their previously-issued visas, who are seeking reissuance of nonimmigrant biometric visas in the same classification at the consular post of their usual residences, and for whom the consular officers have no indication of visa ineligibility or of noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws and regulations
those for whom waivers of personal appearance are warranted in the national interest or because of unusual circumstances
Those for Whom Personal Interviews are Mandatory
By contrast, the following must always have personal interviews.
applicants who are not nationals or residents of the countries in which they are applying, unless applying for A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above
applicants who were previously refused visas, are listed in CLASS, or who require Security Advisory Opinions (unless their visas were issued temporarily and the refusals were subsequently overcome, the applicants were found inadmissible but their inadmissibilities were waived, or they are applying for the A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above)
applicants from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism (unless the applicants are applying for the A, C, G, NATO, diplomatic, or official visas listed above)
