This is the peak time for student visa applicants aspiring to begin their studies in fall 2012. We at Murthy Immigration Services Pvt. Ltd. have received inquiries from several prospective students who have already paid the SEVIS I-901 fee to attend one school but, for some reason, have to choose a different school. In this…

A recent update on the VFS website (official administrative partners for US Consulates / Embassy in India) indicates that non-immigrant visa interview is waived for children aged below 7 years at all U.S. Consular offices in India. Subscribers of MurthyIndiaBulletin are aware that a non-immigrant visa interview waiver program (IWP) was recently re-introduced on a…

We had reported in April 2012 that visa application fees for U.S. non-immigrant and immigrant visas were revised, effective April 13, 2012. A detailed report can be found here. 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…

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. The next outreach program will be held in Bengaluru – formerly Bangalore – on July 6, 2012. U.S. Citizens can avail…

We at Murthy Immigration Services (P) Ltd., often receive this question from parents who have applied for non-immigrant U.S. visas for their minor children. U.S. immigration authorities normally require one of the parents to accompany the minor child for the interview and present a signed authorization from the non-accompanying parent. Parents may find themselves facing…