New Visa Procedures at U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India to Take Effect on September 26
Beginning September 26, 2012, U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India will be implementing a new visa processing system that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling.
Visa and Biometrics Appointments
Visa applicants will be required to attend two separate appointments that will be spread over two or more days. Applicants must first schedule their visa appointment. Applicants must then attend a biometrics appointment at an Offsite Facilitation Center in India, located in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Within one day to two weeks after the biometrics appoint, the applicant must undergo their scheduled visa interview.
Applicants will be able to conduct appointment scheduling online or by telephone. Online scheduling will be available at www.ustraveldocs.com/in The State Department is staffing call centers in Noida and Hyderabad with Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu speakers, who will be able to address applicant queries by e-mail, telephone and online chat.
Consular Fee Payment
Consulates in India will begin processing consular services payments through Axis Bank and Bank of America, whose locations are more numerous in India than the consulates' previous payment provider. Applicants may render payment via electronic fund transfer, cash, or mobile phone. Visa receipting will occur within one hour of fee payment, reduced from the two-day wait time required under the current process.
Visa Collection
After the visa application is approved, applicants in India will be able to collect their visa within days at no cost at 33 Blue Dart locations across India. Those locations will be posted at www.ustraveldocs.com/in. Home delivery will continue to be available, but for a fee.
The State Department is expected to issue further information on the new procedures after they take effect on September 26.
