In 2015, the Consular Section of the United States Embassy informed that people who had an US visa for 10 years could renew it without having an interview, they just needed to do so within 48 months (4 years) after its expiration date.
However, according to the US Embassy in Costa Rica, due to an executive order, everything changed on January 27th.
From now on, interviews will be required for all applicants, except for those who apply for a visa in the same category as their previous one as long as the expiration date doesn’t exceed 12 months (1 year).
The process of renewal without having an interview works as follows: when you go to renew the permit, you will be fingerprinted and after this process, you can leave, without having to have an interview with the consular officer. However, it will not work this way for all people.
This change comes just days after Trump’s inauguration. This joins speculation of possible changes in immigration laws, which, apparently, may even affect other kind of worker and student visas in that country.