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Update on Emergency Appointments at
the U.S. Consulate, Chennai
As reported to
MurthyDotCom and
MurthyBulletin
readers on August 26, 2005 in the article entitled,
NIV Appointment Procedures Update at Certain Consulates in India,
the Chennai Consulate does not allow modification of
appointments in an effort to curb misuse of this feature.
Subsequently, we have learned that the Consulate has provisions
for making urgent appointments. This should alleviate the very
long wait for interview appointments for genuine emergency visa
applicants. The U.S. Consulate in Chennai was kind enough to
respond to our request for information on the procedures for
emergency appointments, for the benefit of our readers.
Steps and Criteria for Emergency
Appointments
One schedules an appointment through
TTServices online. After supplying personal data, one is
directed to a page with the following information. A visa
applicant who fulfills any of the criteria qualifies for an
appointment on an emergency basis.
Medical Care : The purpose
of travel is to obtain emergency medical care or to accompany a
relative or employer for emergency medical care.
Funeral / Death : The
applicant wishes to attend the funeral of an immediate family
member in the United States.
Note If you have an emergency need to travel within the
next three days due to hospitalization or death in the family,
you may contact the consular section by eMail <ChennaiNIV@state.gov>
to arrange an immediate interview.
Business : The purpose of
travel is to attend to an unforeseeable business matter and the
applicant can present a letter from the firm in the U.S.
confirming the appointment.
Students : Bona fide student
or exchange visitor with valid form I-20 or DS-2019, who is
within 90 days of her/his start date, as indicated on the form.
Returning Workers : H or L
visa renewal for an applicant who is already working in the U.S.
and is returning to his/her job.
Other : Situations in which
a delay in travel will result in a significant loss or expense
for the applicant (loss need not be solely financial).
One who qualifies under any of these criterion is taken to
another screen, verifying that s/he has not been refused a visa
within the last year, OR if s/he is a
student applying for a student visa and has not been refused
within the last six months AND if s/he is a current
resident of southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Lakshadweep Islands and Pondicherry. If both of
these criteria are fulfilled, the next step informs the
applicant of the appropriate supporting document for the
category selected. Next the applicant is directed to the
calendar to select the date. This completes the process!
Indications are that, as of the time of this writing,
appointments are available within a few weeks for persons
fulfilling the criteria.
Everyone wanting a visa stamping would think that s/he qualifies
under one of the above categories. We urge applicants to
diligently determine their genuine qualifications for the
category specified and their abilities to substantiate claims
with appropriate supporting documents.
We will report further updates
on this very important subject.
©
MurthyIndiaDotCom
& Murthy Immigration Services
Pvt. Ltd.
2004
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