41.102—Personal appearance of applicant.
(a)
Personal appearance before a consular officer is required except as otherwise provided in this section. Except when the requirement of personal appearance has been waived pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, each applicant for a nonimmigrant visa must personally appear before and be interviewed by a consular officer, who shall determine on the basis of the applicant's representations, the visa application and other relevant documentation:
(b) Waivers of personal appearance by consular officers.
Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section or as otherwise instructed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, a consular officer may waive the requirement of personal appearance in the case of any alien who the consular officer concludes presents no national security concerns requiring an interview and who:
(3)
Is within a class of nonimmigrants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6 and who is seeking a visa in such classification;
(4)
Is an applicant for a diplomatic or official visa as described in §§ 41.26 or 41.27 of this chapter, respectively;
(5)
Is an applicant who within 12 months of the expiration of the applicant's previously issued visa is seeking re-issuance of a nonimmigrant biometric visa in the same classification at the consular post of the applicant's usual residence, and for whom the consular officer has no indication of visa ineligibility or of noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws and regulations; or
(6)
Is an alien for whom a waiver of personal appearance is warranted in the national interest or because of unusual circumstances.
(c) Waivers of personal appearance by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.
Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services may waive the personal appearance before a consular officer of an individual applicant or a class of applicants if the Deputy Assistant Secretary finds that the waiver of personal appearance is warranted in the national interest or because of unusual circumstances and that national security concerns do not require an interview.
(d) Cases in which personal appearance may not be waived.
A consular officer or the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State may not waive personal appearance for:
(1)
Any NIV applicant who is not a national or resident of the country in which he or she is applying, unless the applicant is eligible for a waiver of the interview under paragraphs (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section.
(2)
Any NIV applicant who was previously refused a visa, is listed in CLASS, or who otherwise requires a Security Advisory Opinion, unless:
(iii)
The applicant is eligible for a waiver of the interview under paragraphs (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section.
(3)
Any NIV applicant who is from a country designated by the Secretary of State as a state sponsor of terrorism, regardless of age, or in a group designated by the Secretary of State under section 222(h)(2)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, unless the applicant is eligible for a waiver under paragraphs (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section.
(e) Unusual circumstances.
As used in this section, unusual circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, an emergency or unusual hardship.