Seeking to simplify its visa processing system, the US embassy announced a slew of new measures to standardize procedures, including fee payment and scheduling of appointments which will now be facilitated through a new website.
Minister counselor for consular affairs, Julia Stanley, announced at a press conference that beginning September 26, US visa applicants will be able to pay application fees via electronic fund transfer (EFT) or with their mobile phones. They can also pay in cash at more than 1,800 Axis Bank branches.
For the first time, applicants can schedule their appointments online or by phone by contacting a call centre whose representatives will answer queries in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Telugu.
“It is our goal to make our visa process as efficient as possible to meet the increased demand for US visas worldwide… we are offering appointments by phone for the first time. The new global appointment schedule will offer group and expedited appointments,” Stanley said.
She added that the major difference from the current system was that first-time applicants will need to schedule two appointments — one for fingerprint collection at an offsite facilitation centre and one for consular interview at the embassy or consulate.
Responding to questions about the safety of documents as more than one location was involved in the processing, she said the US has always accorded “highest possible security” on visa issues and would keep all documents “very safely”.
In March, the US mission in India introduced the interview waiver programme (IWP) that allows applicants who meet certain criteria to be considered for waivers of personal interviews. “Under the IWP and our new processing system, an increasing number of applicants will be able to complete all visa requirements without having to visit a US embassy or consulate at all,” Stanley said.
