U.S. consulates in India begin new nonimmigrant visa application procedures today, with a new appointment scheduling system and new options for visa fee payment.
Scheduling Visa and Biometrics Appointments
Nonimmigrant visa applicants are now required to attend two separate appointments for biometrics collection and the visa interview, spread over two or more days.
Visa and biometrics appointments are scheduled through a new online system located at http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/ or by phone (though scheduling by phone is not available to Business Executive Program applicants), after the visa fee is paid (see below) and the applicant completes Form DS-160, the online nonimmigrant visa application. The biometrics appointment must take place at least one day before the visa interview appointment. Biometrics appointments are held at Offsite Facilitation Centers located in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Employers and immigration service providers may schedule individual, group and expedited appointments on behalf of visa applicants and may purchase appointment receipts in bulk.
Consular officers will continue to have the discretion to waive the nonimmigrant visa interview for B-1/B-2, H-4, and L-2 renewal applicants whose previous visa expired within the preceding 48 months (for B-1/B-2 holders) or within the preceding 12 months (for H-4 and L-2 holders). Children under the age of seven continue to be exempt from visa interviews regardless of their visa classification.
Consular Fee Payment
Applicants can pay their visa fees through National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), IMPS mobile payment or in cash over the counter at an Axis/Citibank in India or at the DRUK bank branch in Bhutan. Applicants must retain their fee payment receipt to schedule their visa and biometrics appointments and to present at the visa appointment.
Visa Collection
After the visa application is approved, applicants in India will be able to collect their visas at any of 33 collection sites in India. Home delivery service is available for a fee.
Fragomen is closely monitoring the new visa application procedures and will provide further updates as developments occur.
© 2015 Fragomen
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