Regular readers of MurthyIndiaBulletin and MurthyIndiaDotCom are aware that a new visa application procedure has been in place in India since September 26, 2012. Under the new procedure, applicants requiring a personal interview must schedule two appointments – one with the Offsite Facilitating Centre (OFC) to complete biometrics, the other with the U.S. Embassy / Consulate for the actual visa interview. Until recently, the appointment with the OFC had to be scheduled at least one working day prior to the visa interview.

On March 11, 2013, the U.S. Consulate, Chennai, instituted a pilot program that allows “Blanket L” applicants to schedule same-day appointments for both biometrics and visa interviews. Applicants seeking same-day appointments should schedule the OFC interview between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Indian Standard Time (IST), and schedule the consular interview after 10 a.m. IST, leaving at least two hours between the two appointments.

More information can be found here: (http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/visas.html). This is a welcome change and will be especially helpful to applicants traveling from outside Chennai. If the new system works well, we expect it soon will be extended to all categories of U.S. nonimmigrant visas, and to other U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.