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INTERVIEW WAIVER PROGRAM

No Visa Interview is Required for Certain Cypriot Applicants

The Interview Waiver Program (IWP) allows qualifying visa applicants to mail-in their visa applications without coming to the U.S. Embassy for an interview.

After creating your account on our online scheduling system and starting the online application process, you will be informed of whether you qualify for interview waiver and prompted to ‘Send Documents.’ If you don’t qualify for the IWP, you will need to schedule a visa interview appointment.

Please note that even if you meet these criteria, the consular officer has the discretion to invite you to apply in person.

If you qualify, you may apply by submitting the documents listed below to the Embassy, through ACS Courier or drop them at the Front Gate of the U.S. Embassy in a sealed envelope with your name during business hours. If we can accept your application and issue your visa, you will be notified by email by ACS Courier in approximately one week when you can pick-up your passport(s) with visa at the nearest ACS Courier location. You can begin your application process here.

If you do not meet the criteria, or if the consular officer otherwise determines that you must apply in person, you will be notified by email and asked to schedule an appointment for an interview.

For First Time Applicants – Age Waiver

First-time non-immigrant visa applicants who meet the age criteria below may apply for a U.S. non-immigrant visa through IWP and may not need to come into the Embassy for an interview:

– Applicants younger than 14 years old whose parents have valid U.S. visas or ESTA approvals.

– Applicants 80 years old and over.

For Visa Renewals

If you meet the criteria below, you may qualify for IWP to renew your visa and not require another interview at the Embassy:

– Your current visa did not expire more than 48 months ago, AND

– You are renewing the same type of visa, AND

– You were 14 years old or over at the time you obtained your last visa and had your fingerprints taken, AND

– You are a Cypriot citizen or permanent resident and are in Cyprus, AND

– Your previous U.S. visa was issued in a passport of the same nationality as you are applying with now, AND

– You have always complied with the immigration laws and regulations of the United States.

General Instructions

If you meet these criteria and were instructed by the online appointment system to “Send Documents” to renew your visa without entering the Embassy for an interview, submit the documents below to the nearest location of ACS Courier:

– online Visa Application Form (Form DS-160) barcode confirmation page. Just the one page as shown in the picture;

Visa confirmation sample
A sample of the DS-160 confirmation form you should send in with your package.

– a copy of visa fee receipt in applicant’s name;

– one color photo, frontal view with white background, 5 cm x 5 cm. Must not be wearing glasses of any kind;

– previous passport with most recent U.S. visa and current passport (with at least six months’ validity remaining).

– proof of permanent residency in Cyprus if not a Cypriot citizen.

–  if applicant is under 14 years of age, a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, a copy of the parent(s’) passport(s) bio details page, and a copy of parent’(s’) valid visa(s)/ESTA(s).

 

Additional documents required for the visas listed below are:
  • Student visas (F and M) – Original Form I-20 and proof of Sevis payment.
  • Exchange visas (J) – Original DS-2019 and proof of Sevis payment.
  • Journalist visas (I) – Letter from employer stating the purpose of the trip.
  • Crew Visa (C1/D)- Letter from employer and Crew Book.
  • Temporary work visas- Approved I-797 forms.

 

You may submit your application package to the Embassy through ACS Courier at:

U.S. Embassy Nicosia

c/o Consular Office

Metochiou & Ploutarchou Street
2407, Engomi
Nicosia, Cyprus

 

Please, don’t send any additional documents other than those requested.

All copies of documents submitted will not be returned to you.

If all requirements are met, and there are no extenuating circumstances, you will receive your original documents, passport(s), and new visa via ACS Courier within one week.

If a consular officer determines that an applicant must report for an interview, even if all the requirements above are met, the applicant will be contacted via email and given necessary instructions.