New Personal Appearance Rules Set For U.S. Visa Applicants in India Effective 07/14/03
Posted by UNITED STATES CONSULATE
CHENNAI- India
New Personal Appearance Rules Set For U.S. Visa Applicants
July 10, 2003
NEW DELHI --The United States continues to be a preferred destination for tens of thousands of Indian citizens who receive visas to travel for business purposes, to study at American universities and colleges, and to visit family members and for countless other reasons. The number of visa applicants has grown steadily and is projected to increase.
For this reason, potential travelers to the US should be aware of important changes in the visa application process to be implemented on a worldwide basis. The changes will come into effect in India on Monday, July 14, 2003.
The new procedures are being implemented by US embassies and consulates around the world following an extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. They have been designed to secure US borders and at the same time continue to welcome foreign visitors and facilitate their travel. The changes will help ensure the safety and security of the United States for all who are there, including foreign visitors.
In order to comply with new worldwide procedures for processing U.S. visas, applicants for nonimmigrant (temporary) visas to the United States must, effective July 14, 2003, make an appointment to appear for a personal interview with a consular officer unless they meet one of the criteria listed below:
Persons renewing or replacing a visa of the same category which is still valid or which expired less than twelve months ago.
Persons sixty years of age or older, provided they have not previously been refused a visa.
Children under fourteen years of age where both parents can demonstrate that they already have U.S. visas and that both are physically present in India.
Government officials on official travel for the central government, regardless of the type of passport they carry (applications should be accompanied by a diplomatic note).
Persons who meet one or more of the criteria listed above may continue to submit applications through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General "drop box". Drop box applications are accepted at the following locations:
TT Services Locations
Chennai : Raheja Towers (Facing G.P.Road)
S001 - Omega Wing
No: 113 - 124, Anna Salai
Chennai - 600 002
Phone: 91 44 2860 3164 , 3165
FAX: 91 44 2860 3167
E-Mail: chennai@ttsvisas.com
Bangalore: No. 219, Raheja Chambers
12, Museum Road
Bangalore - 560 001
Phone: 91 80 5595002, 5594996
FAX: 91 80 5091731
E-Mail: bangalore@ttsvisas.com
Hyderabad: H.No. 5-10-188/2, Summit Building
Hill Fort Road
Hyderabad - 500 004
Phone: 91 40 23231615, 1715
FAX: 91 40 23232957
E-Mail : hyderabad@ttsvisas.com
New Delhi: 2E/23, Ground Floor
Jhandewalan Extension
New Delhi - 110055
Phone: 91 11 2355 4618, 4631
FAX: 91 11 2355 4247
E-Mail : delhi@ttsvisas.com
Calcutta: 22, Camac Street
Calcutta - 700016
Phone: 22813782 / 22813783
FAX: 22813786
E-Mail : calcutta@ttsvisas.com
VFS Locations
Mumbai:Tirupati Apartments,
Opp.Mahalakshmi Temple,
Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Mumbai- 400026.
(Below Gabbana, opposite Cross Word)
Email: info@visa-services.com
Ahmedabad: Gujrat Chamber of Commerce Building,
Shri Ambika Mills Compound,
Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad -380009.
Pune: 106, Sohrab Hall,
1st Floor, Sasson Road,
Behind Pune Railway Station
Pune - 411001.
Persons who have submitted an application before July 14 under the existing drop box guidelines will have their application reviewed under the rules in force at the time they applied.
All other applicants must make an appointment for an interview. In New Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta, applicants should make an appointment on line at www.ttsvisas.com. Applicants from Maharastra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh may make an appointment on-line at www.visa-services.com or by visiting the office of the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or Pune.
Some applicants from southern India may experience difficulty in making a timely appointment due to increased demand for visas from our Consulate General in Chennai. As the new personal appearance requirement goes into effect, all consular sections will make additional appointments to accommodate the increased demand. Those with an urgent need to travel who cannot make a timely appointment in Chennai and who have not previously been refused a visa may, until further notice, make an appointment to apply in New Delhi or Calcutta.
To avoid delays, visa applicants can take these steps:
Plan ahead. If you need to travel in the next few months, don't wait until the last minute to apply for an appointment. Make your appointment right away.
If you are not planning to travel until after October, please wait until later to book your appointment. Consular officials anticipate that the wait for an appointment will be reduced once the summer rush is over.
Application forms and further information on application procedures are available through TT Services or Visa Facilitation Services. Forms and general information about the visa application process may also be downloaded from the Embassy web site at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov or the Consulate General web sites at http://chennai.usconsulate.gov; http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov; or http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov .
The United States Embassy and Consulates will make every effort to assure prompt and courteous service.
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Posted by UNITED STATES CONSULATE
CHENNAI- India
New Personal Appearance Rules Set For U.S. Visa Applicants
July 10, 2003
NEW DELHI --The United States continues to be a preferred destination for tens of thousands of Indian citizens who receive visas to travel for business purposes, to study at American universities and colleges, and to visit family members and for countless other reasons. The number of visa applicants has grown steadily and is projected to increase.
For this reason, potential travelers to the US should be aware of important changes in the visa application process to be implemented on a worldwide basis. The changes will come into effect in India on Monday, July 14, 2003.
The new procedures are being implemented by US embassies and consulates around the world following an extensive and ongoing review of visa issuing practices since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. They have been designed to secure US borders and at the same time continue to welcome foreign visitors and facilitate their travel. The changes will help ensure the safety and security of the United States for all who are there, including foreign visitors.
In order to comply with new worldwide procedures for processing U.S. visas, applicants for nonimmigrant (temporary) visas to the United States must, effective July 14, 2003, make an appointment to appear for a personal interview with a consular officer unless they meet one of the criteria listed below:
Persons renewing or replacing a visa of the same category which is still valid or which expired less than twelve months ago.
Persons sixty years of age or older, provided they have not previously been refused a visa.
Children under fourteen years of age where both parents can demonstrate that they already have U.S. visas and that both are physically present in India.
Government officials on official travel for the central government, regardless of the type of passport they carry (applications should be accompanied by a diplomatic note).
Persons who meet one or more of the criteria listed above may continue to submit applications through the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General "drop box". Drop box applications are accepted at the following locations:
TT Services Locations
Chennai : Raheja Towers (Facing G.P.Road)
S001 - Omega Wing
No: 113 - 124, Anna Salai
Chennai - 600 002
Phone: 91 44 2860 3164 , 3165
FAX: 91 44 2860 3167
E-Mail: chennai@ttsvisas.com
Bangalore: No. 219, Raheja Chambers
12, Museum Road
Bangalore - 560 001
Phone: 91 80 5595002, 5594996
FAX: 91 80 5091731
E-Mail: bangalore@ttsvisas.com
Hyderabad: H.No. 5-10-188/2, Summit Building
Hill Fort Road
Hyderabad - 500 004
Phone: 91 40 23231615, 1715
FAX: 91 40 23232957
E-Mail : hyderabad@ttsvisas.com
New Delhi: 2E/23, Ground Floor
Jhandewalan Extension
New Delhi - 110055
Phone: 91 11 2355 4618, 4631
FAX: 91 11 2355 4247
E-Mail : delhi@ttsvisas.com
Calcutta: 22, Camac Street
Calcutta - 700016
Phone: 22813782 / 22813783
FAX: 22813786
E-Mail : calcutta@ttsvisas.com
VFS Locations
Mumbai:Tirupati Apartments,
Opp.Mahalakshmi Temple,
Bhulabhai Desai Road,
Mumbai- 400026.
(Below Gabbana, opposite Cross Word)
Email: info@visa-services.com
Ahmedabad: Gujrat Chamber of Commerce Building,
Shri Ambika Mills Compound,
Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad -380009.
Pune: 106, Sohrab Hall,
1st Floor, Sasson Road,
Behind Pune Railway Station
Pune - 411001.
Persons who have submitted an application before July 14 under the existing drop box guidelines will have their application reviewed under the rules in force at the time they applied.
All other applicants must make an appointment for an interview. In New Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta, applicants should make an appointment on line at www.ttsvisas.com. Applicants from Maharastra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh may make an appointment on-line at www.visa-services.com or by visiting the office of the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or Pune.
Some applicants from southern India may experience difficulty in making a timely appointment due to increased demand for visas from our Consulate General in Chennai. As the new personal appearance requirement goes into effect, all consular sections will make additional appointments to accommodate the increased demand. Those with an urgent need to travel who cannot make a timely appointment in Chennai and who have not previously been refused a visa may, until further notice, make an appointment to apply in New Delhi or Calcutta.
To avoid delays, visa applicants can take these steps:
Plan ahead. If you need to travel in the next few months, don't wait until the last minute to apply for an appointment. Make your appointment right away.
If you are not planning to travel until after October, please wait until later to book your appointment. Consular officials anticipate that the wait for an appointment will be reduced once the summer rush is over.
Application forms and further information on application procedures are available through TT Services or Visa Facilitation Services. Forms and general information about the visa application process may also be downloaded from the Embassy web site at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov or the Consulate General web sites at http://chennai.usconsulate.gov; http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov; or http://calcutta.usconsulate.gov .
The United States Embassy and Consulates will make every effort to assure prompt and courteous service.
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