AIT Director Announces Expansion of Interview-Free Visitor Visa Categories

PR9646E | Date: 1996-09-10

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Darryl N. Johnson announced in Kaohsiung today that AIT will soon expand the categories of visa applicants who are not required to appear at the AIT Taipei office for an interview.

Effective October 1, 1996, visitor visa applicants who have previously traveled to the United States using any type of visa will be routinely exempted from visa interviews. Persons over fifty years old and persons over age 21 renewing previously issued five-year visas will continue to be exempted from interview requirements, as will tour group participants whose applications are submitted by travel agencies.

This improvement in AIT visa services is estimated to eliminate the need for an interview for more than 30,000 applicants each year. This will especially benefit applicants in southern Taiwan, fewer of whom will have to travel to Taipei for interviews.