June 2014 saw the opening of new U.S. Commercial Service office in Ahmedabad, Gujarat by the Consul General Peter Haas and a new American Business Corner in Indore, Madhya Pradesh by the Principal U.S. Commercial Officer Camille Richardson. The Commercial operation in Ahmedabad was initially setup in 1997. The opening of the above two new…

We had reported earlier that one BLS International Services US (BLS) had been appointed as the authorized Visa and Passport Application Centre for the Indian Embassy / Consulates in the United States of America, with effect from May 7, 2013. There is another change in the service provider and with effect from May 21, 2014,…

Regular travelers to the United States may be aware that, effective May 1, 2014; the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) replaced physical I-94 arrival / departure cards with a new online version. The new system provides access to I-94 arrival/departure record and the arrival/departure history of non-immigrant travelers to the U.S.A detailed article…

With the approvals coming in based on cap subject H1-B petitions filed under Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 and selected in the lottery, we have been receiving calls from H1-B beneficiaries and employers, seeking clarification on how early one can apply for H1-B visa based on the approval received under the FY 2015 quota. The U.S.…

Following the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is celebrating Student Visa Day on Thursday, June 19, 2014. This is to help students who plan to pursue their education in the United States. More than 1,000 students are expected to participate in this event. Staff from the Embassy and the United…

With effect from Wednesday, May 28, 2014 the U.S. consular exchange rate is adjusted to ₹62 to one US$. The consular exchange rate was ₹65 to one US$ prior to this. This revision in the exchange rate will affect the Indian Rupee equivalent for all application fees paid on or after May 28, 2014. The…

A press release on www.ustraveldocs.com/in indicates that the Visa Application Center (VAC) in Kolkata will remain open only until 1 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) on May 12, 2014 on account of General Elections. Generally, this is open until 4 p.m. Effectively, all non-immigrant visa applicants who have an appointment later than 1 p.m. IST…

The U.S. consulate in Mumbai is celebrating Visa Wednesday on May 28, 2014. This is to help student who plan to pursue their education in the United States. More than 1,000 students are expected to participate in this event. Staff from the Consulate and the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF) will be available to provide…

This article is with respect to a recent change in the Arrival / Departure formalities for International travelers. International travelers, arriving into India would be familiar with Arrival (Disembarkation) Card and Indian Nationals traveling out of India will be familiar with Departure (Embarkation) card. With effect from March 1, 2014, Indian Nationals are not required…

We are often contacted by Immigrant Visa Applicants, seeking clarification on the mode of payment and the consular exchange rate for Immigrant Visa Fees payable at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai. This article is to clarify this matter. Regular readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin are aware that all Immigrant Visa…