Some Filipinos Can Skip the US Visa Interview Starting September 2

Planning your next trip to United States? Good news! Some Filipinos applying for US non-immigrant visas might soon skip the dreaded embassy interview.

Starting 2 September 2025, the US Embassy in the Philippines will waive in-person interviews for select applicants renewing their B-1 (business), B-2 (tourist), or B1/B2 (combined) visas. This update comes from a recent advisory by the US Department of State, aiming to streamline the visa process and reduce waiting times at embassies.

Also read: Planning to Visit the US? Visa Bond May Soon Cost Up to ₱862K

To qualify, you must meet all of the following:

• You’re at least 18 years old at the time your previous B1/B2 visa was issued.

• You’re applying for a renewal (not a first-time visa).

• Your previous visa was issued at full validity and is still valid or expired for less than 12 months.

• You were never refused a US visa in the past.

• You were never arrested anywhere in the world.

• Your previous visa did not have annotations like “Clearance Received” or “Waiver Granted.”

• You are a Filipino citizen or legal resident, and you’re physically in the Philippines during the renewal.

• Your prior visa was issued after age 14.

Other categories, like diplomatic visa holders or official government employees, are also covered by the waiver.

Image credit: Luca Bravo | Unsplash

The US requires interviews to screen visa applicants and prevent fraud. But with more people applying, especially from the Philippines, embassy backlogs have piled up.

Some Filipinos now wait months just to get an interview.

To ease the queue, the US is skipping interviews for low-risk applicants. This helps consular officers focus on first-timers and speeds up the process for everyone.

It’s not a shortcut. It’s a fix.

Also read: US Visa Renewal For Filipino Tourists in 2025

This is a big win for frequent Filipino travellers. If you’ve previously visited the US and maintained a clean record, you might be able to renew your visa without taking a leave from work, queuing at the embassy, or stressing over interview questions.

It also makes travel planning easier for those looking to reunite with family, go on holiday, or attend business meetings in the US, especially as airfare promos and tour packages become more time-sensitive.

For most Filipinos, this is definitely good news. It rewards travellers with clean immigration records and helps cut the red tape. But keep in mind: this is not a shortcut for first-timers or those with past visa issues. The strict screening still applies to new applicants and those with red flags in their history.

So if your last US trip was smooth and your visa is still valid or just expired, now’s the perfect time to renew hassle-free.