An update on the website of the U.S. Consulate in Chennai indicates that the visa section will remain closed through Thursday, September 20, 2012. This notification also indicated that all visa applicants scheduled for visa interviews are being contacted and informed of the cancellation. This update can be found here.

Today, September 17, 2012, the new U.S. Visa application website (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in) was partially functional. Visa applicants will have to create a user account to be able to use this site. One login is sufficient for a family. At the time of this writing the new system does not permit to provide home address for delivery…

Following the unfortunate incident at the U.S. Consulate, Chennai on Friday, September 14, 2012; a notification on the U.S. Visa application Centre (VFS) website indicates that the U.S. Consulate in Chennai will remain closed on September 17 and 18, 2012. We understand that applicants will be notified of the new appointment at a later point…

The CEAC website provides access to the latest U.S. non-immigrant and immigrant visa application forms. This site has been enhanced on August 1, 2012 to provide new features. Please visit here for a quick look at the latest updates.

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.…