US Tourist Visa: Embassy Starts In-Person Appointments. How to Check Online

The US embassy announced that it will resume routine in-person tourist visa appointments from September. “The US Mission to India is pleased to announce that we will resume routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled replacement appointments have been canceled,” it tweeted.

The U.S. Embassy said people whose temporary appointments were canceled can now re-register in the system to make regular appointments.

Appointments have been opened through 2023, it added. The U.S. Embassy also provided a link where applicants can check its website for appointment dates.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced that it will implement expedited application processing for certain applicants who have pending Form I-140, Immigration Petition for Foreign Worker, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications.

EB-1, EB-2 are employment-based visas, with priority given to “noncitizens of extraordinary ability, distinguished professors or researchers, or certain international executives or managers. Each occupational category has specific requirements that must be met,” the USCIS said on its website.

This extension of the bonus application process applies only to certain previously filed Form I-140 petitions under the E13 classification for executives and managers of multinational corporations or the E21 classification for professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities seeking a National Interest Waiver (NIW).

Applicants who wish to apply for an upgrade must file Form I-907, Application for Upgrade of Processing, the release said.

Beginning June 1, 2022, USCIS will accept Form I-907 E13 petitions for officers and managers of multinational corporations received on or before January 1, 2021.

Beginning July 1, 2022, Form I-907 applications will be accepted for E21 NIW petitions received by June 1, 2021, and E13 International Corporate Officers and Managers petitions received by March 1, 2021.

“As the expansion of premium processing is phased in, we will continue to work to make premium processing available for additional Form I-140, Form I-539, and Form I-765 petitions in fiscal year 2022,” the release said.

The U.S. agency also said it will comply with Congress’s requirement that expanding the processing of immigration benefits applications not result in longer processing times for standard immigration benefits applications.