In an effort to streamline the visa application process, a new system has been launched for Taiwanese applicants seeking non-immigrant visas for the US.
The new visa interview appointment, fee payment and passport delivery system began on Saturday, officials at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said.
Under the new program, Taiwanese applicants can schedule a visa interview appointment, pay visa processing fees and check on the status of their visas through a single Web site, the institute said.
The new system seeks to improve consular services and ease application procedures for US visas, AIT consular officer Elizabeth Jones said.
The new system is designed for those who apply for non-immigrant visas to the US, such as student visas and work visas, she added.
AIT will also offer “free delivery” to applicants once their visas are issued, Jones said, adding that applicants can choose to collect their visas and passports at designated locations.
Home deliveries for visas and passports will still be available for a fee, AIT said, adding that staff at a call center will assist applicants who have questions about how to use the new system.
Taiwanese traveling to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will not be affected, Jones said.
Online travel authorization is instead required for those entering the US under the VWP, Jones added.
US missions in Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and India already use the streamlined visa application system, she said.
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