Relief for Urgent Visa Seekers

It has been announced that beginning March 22, urgent visa applicants from Chennai and Mumbai Consular Districts can visit the Consular Sections in New Delhi and Kolkatta for their visa interview.

Criteria:

1. Applicant must apply in person
2. Must be fluent in English
3. Visa must not have been refused previously for any reason
4. Should be in a position to demonstrate the urgent need to travel before an appointment is available in the US Consulate serving his place of residence

The current backlog for visa applicant in Mumbai is about 2 – 3 weeks and for Chennai is about 5 – 6 weeks.

This shall remain in force until further notice. You may visit chennai.usconsulate.gov or www.ttsvisas.com for further information on this.

Archieves

Port of Entry Requirement for F and J visa holders:

From November 24, 2003, the US Consulate General in Chennai will no longer enclose I-20 and DS-2019 forms in envelopes attached to passports with newly issued F and J visas. I-20 and DS-2019 forms will be returned directly to the applicant at the time they apply for the visa. All applicants who receive F and J visas should carry their I-20 or DS-2019 forms with them to the port of entry in the United States

New Format For Visa Application Form DS-156

New Procedure For Reapplication

Effective January 02, 2003, if a Non Immigrant Visa application has been denied, the applicant can schedule another personal interview after the expiry of three days. But there must be a substantial change of circumstances

Drop Box for H1B applications

The US Consulate in Chennai had temporarily asked the first time H1B applicants to apply in person during the first week of September. This procedure has been discontinued and drop-box system has been reverted. If you have already fixed an appointment with the US Consulate, you can log into www.ttsvisas.com and cancel your appointment. H1B applicants have to apply only through the drop-box facility.

New application form for F, J & M visa applicants

The students applying for their visas under the 'F' or 'J' or 'M' category have to submit an additional form DS 158 effective from August 01, 2002. This form collects more information about parents, spouse and siblings and also a details about work history.

Interviews for non-immigrant visas
New procedure at the US consulate in Chennai

From March 04 2002 it is mandatory for all applicants for non-immigrant visas to make an appointment over the Internet before visiting the consulate.

• The basic rule that a person is allowed to appear for only one interview in a calendar year (365 days).
• This does not mean that a person who had an interview on 31^st Dec 2001 can reappear at the consulate on 1^st Jan 2002.
• The procedure for rejected cases remains unchanged.

Applicants who do not qualify for the drop-box system must:

1. Log into www.ttsvisas.com;
2. fill in the form giving details like passport number, etc.
3. Once this application is made an acknowledgement will be sent via email within half an hour.
4. Later, the time and the documents required will be mailed to the applicant.
5. The applicant has the option to choose the day on which s/he wishes to take up the interview but the time will be decided by the consulate.
6. Once such an appointment is made, the person may cancel it up to 48 hours in advance.
7. In case a person fails to make it at the appointed time, s/he will not be allowed an interview for the next 90 days.

Viola! No more looong queues before the consulate and you won’t need to wait all day long any longer!