USA Visa Requirements Decoded

Changes to Visa Rescheduling Process from January 1, 2025

To give everyone a fair chance at booking a visa interview and to reduce wait times, we are making some changes.

Starting January 1, 2025:

• You can schedule your first nonimmigrant visa appointment at any available location.
• If you need to reschedule, you can do so one time for free.
• If you miss your appointment or need to reschedule again, you must repay the visa fee to book a new appointment.

Since wait times are long, please choose a date you can attend. These changes will help make the process fairer and faster for everyone. We encourage all applicants to attend their scheduled appointments.

Important Update: Centralized Processing for U.S. Visa Appointments

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India have centralized the processing of nonimmigrant visa appointments to improve efficiency and handle more applications.

Here’s what’s changing:

• H & L first-time interviews – Mostly scheduled in Hyderabad
• First-time Blanket L visas – Processed in Chennai
• B1/B2 drop box (interview waiver) appointments – Centralized in New Delhi
• H & L drop box (interview waiver) appointments – Centralized in Chennai

Where to Submit Documents

• You can submit documents for free at any of the five Visa Application Centers: Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, or New Delhi.
• For a fee of ₹850 per application, you can also submit them at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Cochin, Jalandhar, or Pune.

In some cases, applicants may need to appear in person at the assigned visa processing location.

Guidance for Requesting an Emergency Student Visa Appointment

You may request an emergency student visa appointment if:

• Your program of study in the U.S. starts within 60 days.
• No regular visa appointments are available at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India.

Important Information:

• Peak student visa slots open in June and July (for Fall starts) and November and December (for January starts).
• Outside these periods, appointments are limited, and off-cycle applicants may struggle to book a slot.
• If you cannot secure an appointment, consult your university about deferring enrollment before requesting an emergency appointment.
• Emergency requests are only considered in exceptional cases.
• Applicants denied a student visa in the past year cannot request an emergency appointment.

Required Document:

• Original Form I-20 or DS-2019 showing your program start date within 60 days.

Check the official website for more details .

Important Notice for Students!

To prevent fraud and misuse of the appointment system, a new policy will take effect from November 27, 2023.

Key Changes:

• F, M, and J student visa applicants must use their own passport details when creating a profile and booking an appointment.
• If you use an incorrect passport number, you will not be allowed at the Visa Application Center (VAC).
• Your appointment will be canceled , and your visa fee will be lost.

What to Do If You Used the Wrong Passport Number:

• Create a new profile with the correct passport details.
• OR Use an existing profile with the correct details to book a new appointment.
• If your visa fee receipt was linked to the wrong profile, you must pay a new visa fee.

For Applicants with a New Passport:

• If you recently renewed or replaced a lost/stolen passport, you can bring a photocopy or proof of the old passport number and still attend your appointment.

Important Notice: DS-160 Form for Visa Appointments

When booking a U.S. visa appointment, ensure that your DS-160 form is properly completed with accurate details, including:
✔ Name
✔ Gender
✔ Visa class
✔ Date of birth
✔ Passport number

What You Need to Know:

• If you booked your appointment before November 15, 2023, you can bring your corrected DS-160 confirmation page to your appointment.
• If you booked on or after November 15, 2023, you must bring both:
  1. The original DS-160 confirmation page used to schedule the appointment.
  2. The corrected DS-160 confirmation page (if changes were made).
• If you cannot bring both, you must cancel and reschedule your appointment with the corrected DS-160 application number.

For more details, check the FAQs on DS-160 .

Requesting an Expedited Appointment

• You must have a confirmed interview date to request an expedited appointment.
• If approved, instructions will be sent via email.
• Do not cancel your existing appointment unless you receive confirmation that your expedited request is approved.
• If you haven’t received a response, your request is still under review.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP), managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with input from the State Department, allows citizens of 41 countries to visit the United States for business or tourism trips lasting up to 90 days without needing a visa.

For more information, Please click here

• When applying for a visa to the United States, determine the purpose of your visit, such as tourism, business, study, or employment, to select the appropriate visa category.
• Visit the official website of the U.S. Department of State or consult the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for detailed information on visa categories, requirements, and application procedures.
• Review the specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and financial obligations for the chosen visa type to ensure a successful visa application for the United States.

As a Nonimmigrant Visa applicant, you must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form accurately. Please carefully read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form before starting your application. Please note that once you submit the form, you cannot make any changes, so make sure all information is correct.

Please note that the call centre cannot help you complete your application. You will need your DS-160 number to book your appointment.

If you have previously been denied a visa, you must complete a new Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

You must pay the visa fee, which varies depending on your visa type. Please refer to the visa fee page for the current fee in both US dollars and your local currency.

To pay your visa fee, please read the bank and payment options page. This page explains the available payment methods and how to complete your payment. Once you have paid the fee, you will create a profile and receive a receipt number, which you must keep to book your visa appointment.

You are almost ready to schedule your visa appointment. Here's what you need to do:

• Log in to Your Profile: Log in to your profile using the same credentials you used to pay your visa fee. Once you are in the system, you will see your dashboard.
• Select the Schedule Appointment Button: Click the "Schedule Appointment" button to start the scheduling process.
• Schedule Two Appointments: You must schedule two appointments, one for the Visa Application Center (VAC) and one for the visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
• Schedule Your VAC Appointment: Schedule your appointment at a Visa Application Center. At the VAC, you will have your fingerprints and photo taken. This appointment must be at least 1 day before your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate.
• Schedule Your Visa Interview Appointment: Schedule your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate. Same-day appointments are available for certain visa classes. The VAC appointment time must be before the consular appointment time.
• Gather Required Information: You will need three pieces of information to schedule your appointment:
  1. Your passport number
  2. The visa application fee receipt number
  3. The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page
• Complete the Scheduling Process: As you go through the process, you will be able to select your visa type, enter personal data, add dependents, select your document delivery location, confirm visa payment, and schedule your appointment.

Before your appointment at the Visa Application Center, make sure to gather the following documents and items:

• A Valid Passport: You must have a passport that is valid for travel to the United States with validity dates at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States(unless country specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
• Your DS-160 Confirmation Page: Bring a printed copy of your DS-160 confirmation page.
• Your Appointment Confirmation Page: Bring a printed copy of your appointment confirmation page.
• One Photograph (If Applicable): If the applicant is under 14 years of age, you must bring one photograph as per U.S. visa specifications. See the photos and fingerprints section of the website for more details.

Make sure to review the specific requirements for your visa type and location. In some cases, you may need to bring additional documents or items. It's always a good idea to double-check the requirements before your appointment.

Here's what you need to know about collecting your visa:

• You will be notified via email and SMS when your passport is ready for pickup at the location you selected during the appointment scheduling process.
• If you prefer, you can also opt for premium delivery services to have your passport and visa delivered directly to your address.
• Please bring the following items with you when you go to collect your passport:

1. Your appointment confirmation page
2. A government-issued photo ID
3. Any other documents as requested during your interview

Double-check that all the information on your visa is correct before leaving the pickup location.

Important Notice: Please be advised that children under the age of 14 are not required to attend the visa appointment at the Visa Application Center or the interview at the Embassy/Consulate. Parents, guardians, or authorized representatives are permitted to present the necessary documents on their behalf.