Renew My Visa

Interview Waiver

 Certain visa applicants who have previously been issued U.S. visas may apply to renew their visas without attending an interview.

Qualifications for the Interview Waiver (IW)

To qualify for interview waiver, visa applicants must be applying to renew a visa in the same classification as their prior nonimmigrant visa. Right now, this service is only available to applicants renewing a B1/B2, F, M, J and H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, Q visas.  Applicants must satisfy all of the following criteria for their visa class.  If applying as a group or family, all members must fulfill all criteria to qualify for interview waiver.

As of November 20, 2022, Interview Waiver (IW) applicants must schedule appointments and drop off required documents at the US Embassy on the day and time of their appointment.

For B1/B2 visa holders:

  • the applicant must possess a B1/B2 visa that is still valid or expired within the past 48 months,
  • the applicant must be a citizen or resident of Burkina Faso (legal residents must provide proof of residency),
  • the applicant must have been 14 years old or older at the time of the previous visa issuance and fingerprints were taken at the U.S. Embassy Ouagadougou or the applicant is currently 13 years or younger.
  • the applicant must not have been refused a visa since the issuance of the previous visa, or had a visa revoked, or have ever required a waiver.
  • the applicant possesses all issued passports covering the entire period of time since receiving the previous visa,
  • the applicant has never remained in the United States on a B1/B2 visa for a period longer than six months without an approved extension of stay, and
  • the applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if the applicant has later received a waiver or pardon.

For F, M and J visa holders:

  • the applicant must possess a F, M or J visas that is still valid or expired within the past 24 months,
  • the applicant must be a citizen or resident of Burkina Faso (legal residents must provide proof of residency),
  • the applicant must have been 14 years old or older at the time of the previous visa issuance, or is currently under 14 years old,
  • the applicant must not have been refused a visa since the issuance of the previous visa, or had a visa revoked, or have ever required a waiver
  • the applicant possesses all issued passports covering the entire period of time since receiving the previous visa,
  • the applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if the applicant has later received a waiver or pardon.

For H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, Q visas:

  • the applicant must possess a H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, Q visas that is still valid or expired within the past 24 months,
  • the applicant must be a citizen or resident of Burkina Faso (legal residents must provide proof of residency),
  • the applicant must have been 14 years old or older at the time of the previous visa issuance, or is currently under 14 years old,
  • the applicant must not have been refused a visa since the issuance of the previous visa, or had a visa revoked, or have ever required a waiver
  • the applicant possesses all issued passports covering the entire period of time since receiving the previous visa,
  • the applicant has never been arrested or convicted of any crime or offense in the United States, even if the applicant has later received a waiver or pardon.

 Applicants who do not qualify for Interview Waiver (IW)

Applicants who do not meet these criteria should schedule regular appointments to ensure they receive the earliest visa appointment available to them. If you apply for IW but do not meet the criteria for this category, you will be turned away and required to schedule a new appointment. This could result in a significant delay in your application.

If someone in your family or group does not meet the qualifications above, please do not request that their interview be waived. Each applicant must meet the qualifications individually. For instance, we cannot waive an interview for a child because the parent qualifies under these guidelines. In that case, the child would need to schedule an appointment and come to the Embassy for an interview.

To remove a dependent that does not qualify for Interview Waiver from your profile, please follow these steps: 

  • Log in to the primary applicant's profile
  • Click New Scheduling Appointment
  • Follow the steps until your reach Step 6.
  • At step 6, check for the dependent's information and click "x" to remove the dependent's information from the primary applicants’ profile.

Scheduled applicants who qualify for the Interview Waiver based on the above criteria can cancel their appointments and re-apply for IW on this link. During the rescheduling process you will be asked questions confirming eligibility for the Interview Waiver Program and provided instructions on how to submit the application at the Embassy. Scheduling instructions can be found on this link. 

If you do not qualify for IW, please do not cancel your appointment. 

 Applicants should allow for about 2 to 4 weeks for the Interview Waiver process to be completed.

Interview Waiver (IW) applicants must schedule appointments and drop off required documents at the US Embassy on the day and time of their appointment. Please note, however, that the Embassy Ouagadougou is closed during U.S. and local holidays as noted on this link

Other Information

Read more about visa renewals
Apply for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa