On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a policy shift that affects E‑3 visa applicants and many others. Starting September 2, 2025, the interview waiver program will no longer be available to most visa categories, including E‑3. This means that nearly all applicants, including renewals, will once again be required to attend in-person visa interviews at a U.S. consulate or embassy.
The background of the E-3 Visa Interview waiver
In December 2023, the U.S. Department of State issued a directive allowing consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants, including E‑3s.
This was a COVID-era measure designed to reduce embassy backlogs and safely streamline processing. With this change, many Australians renewing their E‑3 visas could avoid lengthy waits and travel expenses by using what became known as the “interview waiver”.
What's changing with E3 Visa interviews?
The February 18, 2025 update significantly limited interview waiver eligibility. Only those whose previous visa expired within 12 months—and who were applying from their country of nationality or residence—could skip the interview. This was already a major shift from the previous four-year grace period but didn't affect the majority of E3 renewals.
As of the July 25, 2025 announcement, all interview waivers will be discontinued for most nonimmigrant visas, including the E‑3 category, effective September 2, 2025.
This means:
- No more visa interview waivers renewals.
- In-person consular interviews will once again be required for nearly every applicant, including dependents.
- Even children under 14 and seniors over 79—previously exempt—are now expected to attend in person unless otherwise noted.
How This Impacts E‑3 Visa Holders
In short: You will need an interview—every time. All E‑3 applications and renewals, regardless of how recently your visa expired, will now require an in-person interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate around the world.
This includes:
- First-time E‑3 applicants
- Renewals for the same job
- Transfers to new employers
- Concurrent E‑3 filings; and
- Spouses and children applying for E‑3D dependent visas
Expect Longer Wait Times
One of the best features of the December 2023 update was that it reduced the wait times for interviews. Due to the July 2025 change, Embassies are likely to experience increased appointment demand once the waiver policy ends in September 2025. Popular posts like Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, and London may book out weeks—or even months—in advance.
Fewer Third-Country Options
While you can technically still apply in a third country, consulates have increased discretion and may limit appointments to nationals and residents to avoid long waits for appointments. Best practice from lawyers has long been to apply in Australia unless you have clear confirmation otherwise, and this is going to likely reinforce that guidance.
What You Should Do Next
To stay ahead of these changes:
- Plan early – Start prepping your application and booking appointments well in advance.
- Build in buffer time – Don’t assume a quick turnaround; plan for potential delays.
- Double-check appointment locations – Not all consulates accept third-country nationals and not all their websites have clear information, so be thorough.
- Watch for updates – Guidance may continue to shift as consulates adapt to increased demand.
The E‑3 visa remains one of the most accessible U.S. work visas for Australians, but the procedural steps are reverting to a pre-pandemic normal. What was once a relatively fast, remote process will now require more logistics, time, and patience.
