Readers of MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that consular services worldwide were affected for some time on account of a technical glitch which prevented sensitive information from being transmitted. Following this, appointments were cancelled in several consular posts and in India, all non-immigrant visa interviews scheduled between June 22-26 were cancelled. The Bureau of Consular Affairs (U.S.…

Non-Immigrant Visa applicants in India, whose visa interview was cancelled on the date of interview and given a handout should wait to hear from the Consulate before trying to schedule a new appointment. Applicants with urgent need to travel may raise a request by using the feedback option on the profile at www.ustraveldocs.com/in. During regular…

Readers are aware that visa processing worldwide have been disrupted due to technical issues. A recent update on the official website of Bureau of Consular affairs indicates that 39 posts have resumed normal operations worldwide (as of noon on June 23, 2015), accounting for over 2/3rd of the visas processed globally. In India, the posts…

The U.S. missions in India have have resumed accepting applications for U.S. non-immigrant visa applications under the interview waiver program and this update is available here. Readers may recall that non-immigrants meeting certain eligibility criteria are eligible for the interview waiver program. More information on the interview waiver can be found here.

Regular visitors to MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that the Visa Application Center (VAC), located at TPL House, Cenotaph Road has been relocated to Good Shepherd, # 82 Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034. This new facility commenced regular operations from June 28, 2015. This update can be found here. As of this writing, we notice…

A new update on the official visa information website of the U.S. Mission in India – www.ustraveldocs.com/in indicates that all non-immigrant visa appointments at all the U.S. embassy / consulates in India scheduled for the week from June 22-26, 2015 stand cancelled. We had reported on June 12, 2015 that consular services worldwide have been…

A recent update on the official visa information website of the U.S. missions in India had indicated that Department of States’s Bureau of Consular Affairs section is experiencing technical difficulties. On account of this, consular services are disrupted word wide and not specific to any Country or Nationality. Applicants Requested to Carry Photographs for interview…

A green card (Form I-551 or Permanent Resident Card) authorises the holder to permanently live and work in the United States. One may obtain this either through family or through employment. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently clarified that under limited circumstances, they issue green cards without signatures. The signatures are usually…

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. These services will be available only by prior appointments and are likely to fill up quickly, we request our readers to plan accordingly. The Consular…

With effect from Thursday, May 14, 2015 the U.S. consular exchange rate is adjusted to ₹66 to one US$. The consular exchange rate was ₹64 to one US$ prior to this. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the Indian Rupee equivalent for all application fees paid on or after May 14, 2015. The…