The U.S. Embassy has announced an Interview Waiver (IW) program for specific visa applicants, targeting two distinct age groups: those under 14 years old and those over 80. This initiative allows eligible individuals to bypass the traditional visa interview process and submit their applications via courier.
For applicants aged 0-13, eligibility criteria include having a biological parent or legal guardian with a valid tourist or business visa issued by the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown or possessing a valid ESTA waiver from France, the United Kingdom, or the Netherlands. Additionally, both child and guardian must be legal residents or citizens of certain countries, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, among others. The child must be physically present in one of these territories at the time of application.
Required documentation for this group includes copies of birth certificates and parents' passport bio pages, as well as proof of residency if applicable. The child's current passport must also be submitted along with a recent photo meeting Department of State guidelines.
For applicants aged 80 and older, criteria involve ensuring previous visas were not revoked due to immigration violations and confirming citizenship in one of the specified countries or territories. Required documents include a valid passport for travel to the U.S., proof of residency if holding another country's passport, a photocopy of the most recently issued U.S. visa, and a recent photograph.
The embassy advises all applicants to apply well ahead of their intended travel dates since no assurances can be made about visa issuance prior to application approval. It is recommended that travelers refrain from making final plans or purchasing non-refundable tickets until their visas are secured.