The new form DS160 was introduced earlier in 2010. Since its introduction, many non-immigrant visa applicants have been complaining of the session expiring and having to refill the application. In our earlier article, we had advised applications to save the file at each stage so that s/he can retrieve the application and continue from where…

Non-immigrant visa applicants with interview date at Chennai, falling on November 17 or November 18, 2010 have received an eMail from VFS stating that they will either be contacted by VFS to reschedule and the interview to a later date, failing which the applicants will have to do this on their own. The text of…

A notification on the official website of the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi indicates that with effect from October 1, 2010; the Embassy will provide improved, comprehensive and multi-lingual customer service through VFS’s New Calling center. The new facility will provide increased hours for queries which will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from…

With effect from November 1, 2010, the consular exchange rate is revised to INR 46 to a US$ from the existing INR 47 to a US$. Consequentially, all the non-immigrant and immigrant visa application fee will have be paid at the current consular exchange rate. The fee for a non-petition based non-immigrant visa like B,…

Please note that with effect from October 5, 2010, the demand draft towards VFS Service Charge should be made in favor of “VFS Global Service Pvt. Ltd.” instead of “HDFC Bank a/c VFS”. Previously the demand draft used to be in favor of “HDFC Bank a/c VFS”. It is understood that demand drafts for the…

With effect from October 5, 2010 the VFS Service Charges is revised from INR 374 to INR 380. It is understood that this increase in fee has been necessitated on account of increase in HDFC Bank charge. The HDFC Bank charge portion of the VFS Service Fee has been revised from INR 15 to INR…

With effect from October 1, 2010, the consular exchange rate is revised to INR 47 to a US$ from the existing INR 48 to a US$. Consequentially, all the non-immigrant and immigrant visa application fee will have be paid at the current consular exchange rate. The fee for a non-petition based non-immigrant visa like B,…

On September 1, 2010 the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Delhi had organized an interactive session with Mr. James Herman, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in New Delhi. Here are some excerpts from the meeting: Drop-Box System May Be Re-Introduced by end of Next Year: Mr. Herman indicated that there is a high probability that the…

The Consulate General of the United States in Chennai has recently introduced a web inquiry form for case-specific questions relating to non-immigrant and immigrant visa applications. The form takes in information about the applicant, passport information, case number, visa category, contact information, information about attorney if any. We welcome this move and we trust this…

A notification of the VFS website dated August 10, 2010 indicates that with effect from August 16, 2010 there will be a unified helpdesk number for U.S. visa applicants in India. This helpdesk is for persons who need to make an enquiry or seek clarification on U.S. visa application process applicable in India. Applicants calling…