The United States is set to introduce a new “paperless visa” system, eliminating the need for physical visas to be stamped or pasted into passports. The system was successfully piloted at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Dublin, Ireland, and will be gradually rolled out to other countries over the next 18 months.
The paperless visa process will remain the same as the traditional process, with the exception that there will be no physical visa in the passport. Once the system is fully implemented, travelers will be able to show their visa status using an app or other digital means.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services Julie Stufft expressed hope that paperless visas will eventually be issued to Indian nationals as well. However, she cautioned that the rollout of the new system will take time.
This new paperless visa system differs from e-visas issued by India, which are primarily intended for tourists. The U.S. paperless visa system will be applicable to all types of visas, including immigrant visas.
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