In recent months, U.S. immigration authorities have made several changes to non-immigrant visa application procedures at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India, including changes in the Interview Waiver Program (IWP) in March 2012, and recent changes to the visa application process for minors. Murthy Immigration Services, Pvt. Ltd. reported these as soon as they…

VFS Global, administrative partner of U.S. diplomatic mission in India; has updated that the U.S. Consulate, in Hyderabad will discontinue advance submission of documents for H and L visas with effect from Monday, August 6, 2012. Petition based U.S. visa applicants, applying for a visa at the U.S. Consulate, Hyderabad may be aware that relevant…

The U.S. Visa Application Center in Bengalure has moved to a new location with effect from Monday, July 30, 2012. The work timings are from Monday to Friday 8 a.m. IST to 1 p.m. IST and from 2 p.m. IST to 3 p.m. IST. The new location is: VFS Global Services 2nd Floor, Prestige Atrium,…

Subscribers of MurthyIndiaBulletin and regular visitors to MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that the U.S. Citizenship Services section of the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, sponsors an outreach program that provides periodic help sessions for U.S. Citizens in and around Bengalur. The next outreach program will be held in Bengaluru – formerly Bangalore – on July 6, 2012.…

We had reported in April 2012 that visa application fees for U.S. non-immigrant and immigrant visas were revised, effective April 13, 2012. Our update in May 2012 clarified that applicants who had paid the non-immigrant visa application fees prior to April 13, 2012 could continue to use their fee receipt until July 12, 2012, and…

In a press release on September 5, 2012, the current Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley, announced that with effect from Wednesday, September 26, 2012, a new visa processing system will be introduced throughout India. This new system will standardize procedures, simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling for visa applicants. Detailed information is available here.…

Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a press release in late April 2012 announced that medical students applying for higher education in the U.S. would have to submit a “No Objection Certificate” from India. It is understood that this certificate will be issued once the aspiring student executes a…

A recent update on the VFS website (official administrative partners for US Consulates / Embassy in India) indicates that non-immigrant visa interview is waived for children aged below 7 years at all U.S. Consular offices in India. Subscribers of MurthyIndiaBulletin are aware that a non-immigrant visa interview waiver program (IWP) was recently re-introduced on a…

The consular exchange rate was adjusted to INR 56 to a US Dollar (USD) in May 2012. With the Indian Rupee falling further, effective Monday, June 4, 2012, the consular exchange rate been revised to Rs. 58 to a USD. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the INR equivalent for all the non-immigrant,…

In our previous bulletin, we had informed readers about the changes in the visa application fees for immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Subsequent to this, with effect from Monday, April 23, 2012, the U.S. Consular Exchange rate has been adjusted as INR 54 to one USD. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the INR…