Renew My Visa

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Overview

The U.S. visa application process is in many ways the same whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa. It is important to know that your visa may still be valid if the passport it is in expires. You can travel to the United States with your old passport containing a valid visa and your new, valid passport.

Interview Waiver procedure is available in order to expedite the visa application process. In most cases, using this service eliminates the need to come in for an interview. Like an interview, however, the use of the interview waiver procedure does not guarantee visa issuance. Further, we may, in some cases, after reviewing an application submitted, require a person to appear for an in-person interview.

Qualifications

You may be eligible to apply for a U.S. visa without an interview based on your age, or if you are renewing a prior U.S. visa that expired less than 48 months ago.

Qualification for Interview Waiver Based on Age:

  • Children under 14 years of age, and applicants age 80 or older, may apply through the interview waiver procedure if they have not been previously found ineligible for a U.S. visa. Please see below in “Supporting Documentation" to ensure the correct documents are included with the application.
  • These applicants must be a citizen or resident of Estonia.
  • These applicants must be physically present in Estonia.

Qualification for Interview Waiver Based on Past U.S. Travel:

  • You may also be eligible to apply through the interview waiver if you were previously issued a U.S. visa.
  • Your prior visa must have been issued to you when you were age 14 or older, and your fingerprints must have been collected.
  • You must be a citizen or resident of Estonia.
  • You must be physically present in Estonia.
  • You must be applying for the same type of visa.
  • If your previous visa was a B (temporary visitor for business/pleasure), C-1 (transit), D (crew members), F (students), J (exchange visitors), M (nonacademic students), or O (visitors with extraordinary abilities), the visa must be currently valid or must have expired within the last 48 months.
  • If you are renewing an H-1, H-4, L, P-1 or P-2 visa, the visa must be currently valid or must have expired within the last 48 months.
  • You may not use the interview waiver procedure if you are applying for an I visa (journalist and media visa), P-3 visa (entertainment/performance visa), or H-2B visa (unskilled worker visa).
  • To be eligible for the interview waiver procedure, F-1 visa applicants must plan to continue attending the U.S. school or institution in which they are already enrolled, and J-1 visa applicants must plan to continue in an exchange program in which they are already participating.
  • If your previous visa was marked as "clearance received", you are ineligible to apply for a U.S. visa without an interview.
  • You may not use the interview waiver procedure if you lost your previous passport that had a valid or expired U.S. visa.

Supporting Documentation

All Applicants:

  • Passport.
  • The DS-160 application form confirmation page.
  • One Photograph: Two inches square (51mm x 51mm) color photograph, less than 6 months old, against a white background, full frontal view.
  • Application fee receipt number (or other document which shows that application fee has already been paid).

Specific Applicants:

  • Children under 14 years old:
    • Birth certificate.
    • A written description of the child’s intended purpose of U.S. travel that includes contact information for the U.S. inviter and a description of his or her relationship to the child.
    • Copies of the parents’ passport biographic information pages OR national ID cards.
    • Copies of the parents' current and/or previous U.S. visas, if available.
    • Please note, if a parent or parents are applying in-person for a visa at the U.S Embassy, not through the interview waiver procedure, the parent(s) may book an appointment in the child’s name and submit the child's application at the time of their own interview.
  • F-1 and J-1 visa holders:
    • Research/study plans with information about your planned studies or research in the United States, including the name and e-mail address of your advising professor and/or the head of your department in the United States.
  • Business travelers: Include a copy of the invitation letter, itinerary, and applicant’s resume with the application.
  • C-1/D applicants: Provide a current joining letter (original copy preferred) and photocopy of your work ID:
  • Please review the requirements for your applicable visa category to determine other essential and recommended documentation.

How to Apply

Step 1

Complete the non-immigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Step 2

Log-in to our online applicant system and create a profile to pay the visa application (MRV) fee. Once logged in, choose “Schedule appointment”. As you go through the process you will answer the interview waiver questions which will evaluate your eligibility to apply for a visa without an interview.

Step 3

After you answer the questions, you will be prompted to pay the visa fee. If you are eligible to apply for a visa without an interview, you will receive detailed instructions on how to deliver your documents. Depending on the visa category, you may require additional documentation and a reciprocity fee. Please refer to your specific visa category page for additional required documents.

Step 4

Please send your application documents and security or protective return envelope to the following mailing address:

US Embassy
Consular Section
Kentmanni 20
15099 Tallinn, Estonia

Be sure to include a return address on the package. We recommend you use a courier service, not regular mail.