Renew My Visa/ Interview Waiver

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Overview

Many applicants do not need to go to the U.S. Embassy to renew their B1/B2 (business/tourism), H2B (skilled and unskilled workers) and/or C1/D (crewmember) visas. Through the Interview Waiver Program (IWP), eligible applicants in Panama can submit their applications through the Cargo Expreso authorized courier service. Keep reading to see if you qualify! 

Applicants must now send their documents through Cargo Expreso as long as they meet the requirements detailed below. This process uses an appointment system whereby applicants pick a day to drop off their applications at a Cargo Expreso location of their choice.

Approved Interview Waiver applications can take up to sixteen (16) weeks to process from the date of submission.

Requirements for Applicants Under 80

For minors under the age of 14 and adults over 79, please CLICK HERE:

Do you qualify for a B1/B2 tourist visa renewal through IWP? To qualify, you must answer YES to ALL the following questions:

 
    • Was your most recent B1/B2 visa valid for 10 years? Yes __ No__
    • Is your last B1/B2 still valid or did it expire less than 48 months ago? Yes __ No__
    • Do you confirm that your last B1/B2 was NOT revoked, canceled, lost, damaged, or stolen? Yes __ No__
    • Was your last B1/B2 visa issued in Panama? Yes __ No__
    • Are you a citizen or legal resident of Panama? Yes __ No__
    • Do you confirm that you have NOT resided in the United States illegally or violated any U.S. law? Yes __ No__

 If all your answers were YES, you can apply for your visa by mail!

 If you answered NO to any of the above questions, you do not qualify for the IWP program and must schedule a regular interview.

Requirements to Renew C1/D Crewmember Visa

For details on C1/D visas please CLICK HERE:

Do you qualify for a C1/D crewmember visa renewal through IWP? To qualify, you must answer YES to ALL the following questions:

 
    • Was your most recent C1/D visa valid for five years? Yes __ No__
    • Is your last C1/D visa still valid or did it expire less than 12 months ago? Yes __ No__
    • Do you confirm that your last C1/D was NOT revoked, canceled, lost, damaged, or stolen? Yes __ No__
    • Was your last C1/D visa issued in Panama? Yes __ No__
    • Are you a citizen or legal resident of Panama? Yes __ No__
    • Do you confirm that you have NOT resided in the United States illegally or violated any U.S. law? Yes __ No__

If all your answers were YES, you can apply for your visa by mail!

If you answered NO to any of the above questions, you do not qualify for the IWP program and must schedule a regular interview.

How to Apply thru the Interview Waiver Program (IWP)

To send your documents through the Cargo Expreso authorized courier service, follow these steps: 

  1. Complete and submit a DS-160 form for each applicant.
  2. Visit this link to create a profile and click “New User.”
  3. Complete all fields and create a password. Once you are in the system, you will see your dashboard.
  4. On the left-hand side, click on New Application / Schedule Appointment.
  5. For visa type, select nonimmigrant visa.
  6. For visa category, select the appropriate option (Business/Tourism or Crewmember Visas)
  7. Follow the prompts to enter passport, contact, and mailing address information.
    • Hint: Bio data in your profile should match the information in your passport. Once the data has been entered into the profile and associated with a payment receipt, it is not possible to make changes to the profiles. The MRV fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
  8. Next, the system will ask you a series of questions to verify that you qualify for the IWP program.
    • Hint: To qualify, you must answer YES to all the questions.
  9. Select your preferred documentation pickup location.
  10. Pay the nonrefundable MRV fee. For help, click here.

    • NOTE: If you appear to qualify for a waiver of the visa interview, your computer will generate an Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter, which contains a list of required documents.  Please print one copy of the Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter.

  11. Go to the preselected Cargo Expreso location with the required documents listed in the Confirmation Letter.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully submitted your visa application thru the Interview Waiver Program. Approved applications can take up to sixteen (16) weeks to process from the date of submission.

The applicant is responsible for ensuring they are submitting their application under the correct application profile. Failure to do so will result in the application being returned without being processed, and being returned via the incorrect profile to a Premium Pickup Location.