Regular visitors to MurthyIndiaDotCom and Subscribers to MurthyIndiaBulletin may be aware that the geographic restriction that an application for nonimmigrant visa should be made at the U.S. consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction over the applicants domicile was relaxed towards the end of 2010. This was reported on December 03, 2010. While scheduling an appointment using…

The Department of State has launched a new website on J-1 visa program. This website provides detailed information on available J-1 programs; procedure to obtain a DS-2019; clarification on who can issue the DS-2019; This also discusses the frequently asked questions; etc. This website can be found here.

The U.S. Consulate in Chennai has provided an update on the number of applications processed and statistics on the visa approvals. They have also provided some pointers on the visa application process. This can be found here.

The Indian Regional Passport Office (South) has introduced issuance of passport with biometrics for the first time in India with the help of Tata Consultancy Services. This is a pilot program dedicated to the nation. This pilot project has been inaugurated in Trichy, Thanjavur, Madurai and Tirunelveli and the official information can be found here.

Regular readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin and visitors to MurthyIndiaDotCom may be aware that applicants will have to upload a scan copy of his / her photo online since the inception of DS 160 visa application since Janaury 2010. We have clients having difficulty in uploading photographs online and seeking clarification on how to crop the photograph…

Non-immigrant visa applicants can choose to hold his / her passport at the VFS location, if their address / pincode is not serviceable by Blue Dart courier service. Previously this option was available only at one of the Blue Dart locations. Applicants can still continue to choose one of the Blue Dart hold at locations…

All non-immigrant visa applicants who require an emergency appointment due to any unforeseen travel requirement were originally able to schedule the interview online through VFS website. This process was discontinued in January 2010 and all applicants had to send an email request to the respective consulate to request for an emergency appointment. This process has…

We received telephonic inquiries over an eMail received from the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi instructing visa applicants who already had a visa to submit their passport again. We at MISPL spoke to VFS customer care personnel on their helpline number to clarify this issue. We understand that there was some technical issue on the visas…

Transportation Letter used to be issued by U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India to legal permanent residents whose plastic “green card” is lost, stolen or damaged while abroad. This document will serve as instruction to the Aircraft that the person is a legal permanent resident and may be permitted to board the flight. Previously, this…

An update on the U.S. Consulate, Mumbai’s website indicates that due to technical difficulties, emails sent to the VFS at infousmumbai@vfshelpline.com between April 1, 2011 and April 4, 2011 have been reported as lost. Applicants who contacted them during this time frame through the above email address need to re-send their query. This update can…