Embassy Jakarta and Consulate General Surabaya Streamline Visa Renewals

October 22 2012

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that a new interview waiver program will expedite visa re-issuance without a personal interview for qualified applicants.  This program allows many Indonesians who have a previously issued U.S. visa to save both the time and expense of appearing in person for a visa interview.  This initiative is part of President Obama’s January 19, 2012 announcement of U.S. government efforts to facilitate legitimate travel without compromising border security. Under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership inaugurated by Presidents Obama and Yudhoyono in November 2010 our governments made increasing travel through student exchanges as well as people-to-people and business-to-business contacts a key priority.
 
U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel said, “We are continuing to dramatically streamline our visa process to make it as efficient as possible for Indonesians to travel to the United States, whether for tourism, business or study.  This program is one more example of our efforts to speed up the visa process and facilitate legitimate travel so that Indonesians and Americans can continue to build stronger ties.”   
 
The interview waiver program permits most Indonesians who are renewing a full-validity U.S. visa in certain categories – Business/Tourism (B1 and/or B2), Students (F), Exchange Visitors (J), and Vocational Students (M) – to apply for a new visa without an in-person interview at the U.S, Embassy in Jakarta or U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya.  In order to participate in this program applicants must have a visa which is still valid or has expired within the past 12 months and must have been at least 18 years old at the time their most recent visa was issued.  The interview waiver program is only available to persons applying for a new visa of the same visa classification.  More information on the visa application process is available at our website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/visas.html and information about the interview waiver program is available at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/id/id-niv-visarenew.asp.