US Consulates in India adjust exchange rate

US Consulate, Chennai moves visa appointments scheduled for January 30, 2008 to January 31, 2008

Delay in delivery of passports for Petition based non-immigrant visas

Machine Readable Visa Application Fee has been revised Worldwide

10 Finger scan will slow down U.S. Visa Processing

Change of VFS location in Chennai

Adjustment of Consular Exchange Rate with effect from October 15, 2007

Starting from July 16, 2007 US Visa applicants applying from India cannot reschedule visa appointments.

Change in procedure for "No Show" applicants:

U.S. Consulate, Chennai moves visa appointments from April 27 2007 to May 1 2007

Tourist Visa applicants from Chennai Consular District cannot apply at New Delhi with effect from March 30, 2007.

English speaking Nonimmigrant visa applicants can apply from US Embassy in New Delhi or U.S. Consulates in Mumbai or Chennai.

Visa Issuance Fee eliminated for Indian Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants.

HDFC Visa Fee Receipt to be deactivated if applicant does not show up for interview

American Consulate General, Chennai moves Oct' 23 2006 appointments to Oct' 27 2006

ALERT: Relaxation on visa interview cancellation with effect from October 9 2006

ALERT: Visa applicants should be able to advance visa appointments - David C. Mulford

ALERT: VFS service charges revised with effect from October 1 2006

ALERT: Consulates in India adjust exchange rates with effect from August 7 2006

Tips: Criteria for emergency visa appointments at US Consulates in India

CHENNAI ALERT : Changes to appointments for March 31 and April 6, 2006.

Note: Southern India to See a New U.S. Consulate

Note: Revised Exchange Rates for Consular Services

Note: U.S. Embassy Announces New Systems For Visa Applicants

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U.S. Embassy Announces New System For Immigrant Visa Applicants

Passports & Fee:

The VFS service fee has been revised from INR 276 per passport to INR 281 per passport.

If the applicant's passport is expiring within the next 6 to 12 months, previously applicants could schedule an appoint using the existing passport and carry the new passport along with the old passport for the interview. It looks like this is no longer possible. A notification on VFS website says that the appointment should be scheduled after the new passport is obtained.
https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ApplnForms/Notice.aspx.

Applicants should use the same passport to purchase their receipt as they will use at the time of interview. Applicants whose passport expires within the next 6 - 12 months are advised to obtain a new passport prior to purchasing a receipt for a visa interview.

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Interview Slots Open at U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India Posted Dec 12, 2005

We at the Murthy Immigration Services Pvt. Ltd. are on the lookout for availability of visa interview dates for various categories of visas. We found that the U.S. consulates in India, especially in Chennai, have several slots open from January 2006 for B-1, B-2, H-1, H-4, J-1, J-2, F-1, F-2, and other visas. Emergency dates are available as early as December 17, 2005, for certain categories of visas.

These available times could be filled quickly. We urge any visa applicant who is planning to travel to the United States from India, to schedule the interview as soon as possible. More up-to-date information can be found by navigating from https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ and click here for an estimate of current availability of visa interview appointments at the bottom of the page.

Existing Appointments May No Longer Be Modified – New Appointment Required. Posted Aug 16, 2005

Effective immediately the modification function, which enables an applicant to reschedule an appointment without having to re-enter an applicant’s entire information, has been deactivated due to apparent abuse of the system.

The U.S. Embassy regrets the inconvenience this may cause some applicants. Those who wish to change their appointment time are requested to first cancel their existing appointment and then create a new appointment by re-entering their data and making a new appointment. The Embassy is working diligently to resolve this issue.

This new system applies to Chennai, Calcutta and New Delhi. The US Consulate at Mumbai used to follow a different system for visa appointments from earlier.

Calcutta No Longer Issuing Out-of-District Visa Appointments
Posted Jun 24, 2005

The U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta, India, announced on June 14, 2005 that visa applications from persons from southern India will no longer be routinely accepted. This change in policy is due to anticipated staffing shortages over the next few months.

U.S. Consulate has revised the value of U.S. Dollars against Indian Rupee.
Posted Feb 07, 2005

With effect from February 14, 2005 (Monday), for all Consular purposes, the value of Indian Rupee will be considered as INR 44 to a US$.

Effectively, the revised fees are as follows:

Nonimmigrant Visa application fee : INR 4,400.
Nonimmigrant Visa issuance fee: INR 2,200 (Applicable for B, H, I, L, O, P, Q, and R Visa Categories).

U.S. passport applications, children under 16: US$ 70 or Rs. 3,080.
U.S. passport applications, adult renewals: US$55 or Rs. 2420.
U.S. passport applications, adult lost/stolen/etc: US$85 or Rs. 3740.

Notary seal: US$30 or Rs 1,320.

Also, though it is not mandatory, the Consulate prefers the nonimmigrant visa application form DS-156 to be completed online.

Submit form DS-157 Posted Jan 10, 2005
Applicants appearing before the U.S. Consulate in Calcutta have to submit form DS-157, irrespective of their gender (Generally, only male applicants aged 16 - 45 need to submit this).

No Cash Payment Posted Jan 10, 2005
T.T. Services used to accept their service charges by way of cash. They do not accept cash anymore. Payment has to be made by way of demand draft and the present fee is INR 441.

Appointment Cancellation & Modification Posted Jan 08, 2005
Previously appointments for visa interview could be cancelled / modified up to 2:00 p.m., one day preceding the date of interview with the Consulate. But, since September, 2004, cancellation / modification can be done only up to 2:00 p.m., two days preceding the date of interview with the Consulate. – Applicants must be careful about this.

F, M & J Fees Posted Dec 10, 2004
If an I-20 (for F and M students) or DS-2019 (for J exchange visitors) has been issued after September 01, 2004, they will have to complete Form I-901 and pay a fee of US$ 100 either online or by check / draft. This is called "SEVIS I-901 Fee".

They will be issued F/M/J visas only if they produce the receipt for payment of this fee, at the time of Consular interview (Only certain Government exempt programs are waived this fee and certain categories of J visas have to pay only US$ 35).


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