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…

Regular visitors to www.murthyindia.com and readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin are aware that the U.S. Consulate has introduced Bangalore outreach program, offering off-site document services for Citizens of the United States of America. This includes accepting applications for U.S. Passports / Renewals and providing Notary services for American Citizens. This service is available to U.S. Citizens and…

The VFS U.S. Visa Application Center in Cochin will remain closed on April 15, 2011 on account of Vishu Festival. Vishnu is a Festival of Harvest and Malayalam New Year. Please note that the U.S. Visa Application Centers in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad will remain open. The U.S. Visa Application Center can be contacted on…

Regular readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin are aware of the requirement of the “U Visa” sticker for person who hold the status as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), to travel to India. Carrying the OCI booklet does not allow entry into India. If a person holding status as OCI loses the passport which has the “U Visa”…