Drop Box Discontinues in Chennai, India

[Want GC Soon]

Folks,
Check this out... Looks like there would be a loooooooooooooong wait to get H1B stamp in India as they close doors for Visa Revalidation in USA on July 16, 2004..

. Indian Consulates Discontinue DropBox

The Vice Consul of the American Consulate General in Chennai, India, sent a
preliminary announcement to certain companies that are members of the Business
Exchange Program (BEP) stating that the U.S. Consulates in India will
discontinue their dropbox procedures for nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications at
the consulates. In Chennai, the dropbox service is expected to end for most visa
applicants on June 30, 2004. It is not clear whether the other consulates in
India will discontinue this service at the same time or at a later date, though
it is likely that they also will end their dropbox procedures around that time,
since personal interviews will be required for biometric purposes for all NIV
applicants.

The dropbox program does not accommodate the consulates' need to obtain
biometric data from every applicant who is between 14 and 79 years of age. These
fingerprints will be compared to those collected through US-VISIT to ensure that
the same person who applies for the visa, travels on that visa. The fingerprints
will also be used to conduct criminal background checks.

All consulates throughout the world are expected to begin requiring biometric
data by October 2004. It is unclear how this new process will impact visa
appointments and processing times at the consulates. Those in need of new visas
should set their appointments online as soon as possible to ensure the ability
to apply during a planned trip. Unfortunately, with the elimination of the
dropbox system and the revalidation process in the U.S., the waiting times for
obtaining visas is likely to increase.

© The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C.


Want GC Soon

 

[dazzling]

Thank God I got my visa revalidated just a month back and it is now valid until 2006 and hopefully by that time I should get my GC.

This is going to produce lines as long as atleast 3-4 months and will cause the most problems to Business visa applicants.

I used to travel frequently to US on Business visa way back in 1998 / 1999 (before I came here on H1B) and every time my company usually told me on Tuesday that I have to travel on coming Friday. Using the Business Express Program we used to get my visa in a day or two .... but now this fast business decision making will not work out and cause trouble to businesses .. I somehow think that in the name of security US is axing their own foot as it is US businesses which are going to suffer most. Desi's are very innovative while trying to solve these kind of issues and I am sure desi companies will be able to handle this, but it is multinationals which are going to suffer ...