The US Consulate in the United Kingdom will allow Visa Reissuance for certain O-1 and P-1 visa applicants without the applicant having to appear in person for an interview with a consular officer.
So who is exempt? If when you last applied for an O1 or P1 visa, you provided a complete set of your fingerprints and you are applying to renew the same category of visa that is either still valid or has expired within the last 12 months, you may be eligible for the Visa Reissuance Program and exempt from appearing in person for an interview with a consular officer.
Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come for O and P visa applicants. Even though the United Kingdom is the only US Consulate currently allowing this at the moment, we hope that the program will be expanded to all US Consulates in the future.