Regular readers of MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that the U.S. Citizenship Services Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, periodically provides outreach services at Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), to help U.S. citizens. The next outreach program at Bengaluru is scheduled for August 6 to August 8, 2013. More information on the services offered and procedure to schedule…

Effective February 1, 2013, all applicants seeking a U.S. immigrant visa will have to pay an additional fee of US$ 165, which must be paid online after approval of the immigrant visa and before travel to the United States. The following immigrants are exempt from this fee: Prospective adoptive parents whose child is entering the…

With effect from July 03 2013, the U.S. consular exchange rate will be adjusted to INR 62 to one US$. More recently, the consular exchange rate was revised to INR 58 from INR 57 to one US$ on June 18, 2013. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the INR equivalent for all application fees…

BLS International Services US (BLS) has been appointed as the authorized Visa and Passport Application Centre for the Indian Embassy / Consulates in the United States of America, with effect from May 7, 2013. More information is available here.

With effect from today, June 18, 2013, the U.S. consular exchange rate has been adjusted to INR 58 to one US$. Previously, the consular exchange rate was INR 57 to one US$. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the INR equivalent for all application fees paid on or after June 18, 2013, for…

U.S. nonimmigrant visa applicants, applying from a U.S. Embassy / Consulate abroad, will have to complete the nonimmigrant visa application (Form DS-160) by visiting https://ceac.state.gov/. After entering all required information, and until the applicant uses the “sign and submit” option, s/he generally will be able to retrieve the draft application from the CEAC website. A…

Regular readers of MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that the U.S. Citizenship Services Section of the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, periodically provides outreach services at Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), to help U.S. citizens. The next outreach program at Bengaluru is scheduled for June 11, 12, and 13, 2013. More information on the services offered and procedure to schedule…

U.S. nonimmigrant visa applicants, applying from India, may be aware that the online scheduling system for visa interviews – using http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/index.html – only permits applicants to choose a document pickup location for return of documents/passport from the Consulate, following the interview. However, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India provide a special counter where the…

Regular readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin and MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that a new visa application procedure has been in place in India since September 26, 2012. Under the new procedure, applicants requiring a personal interview must schedule two appointments – one with the Offsite Facilitating Centre (OFC) to complete biometrics, the other with the U.S. Embassy /…

We at Murthy Immigration Services often are asked who may accompany visa applicant(s) for the visa interview. The answer is found on the instructions page of every visa appointment letter, clearly stating that a responsible adult may accompany a minor applicant who is younger than age 16. Similarly, applicants over 60, who have a physical…