NEW PROCESS FOR VISAS IN PHILIPPINES AND INDIA

Nonimmigrant visa applicants in the Philippines and India have new processes in order to obtain their visas.

Philippines

Since September 3, 2012, Philippine nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to present a U.S. visa application deposit slip in order to pay the machine-readable visa (MRV) application fee. Applicants should print the applicable U.S. visa application deposit slip and take it to the bank to pay the fee.

Each U.S. visa application deposit slip will contain an expiration date. Bank agents will not accept payments based on expired deposit slips.

Once the bank confirms payment, it will issue a receipt to the Applicant. This receipt cannot be replaced. Applicants will not be able to schedule an appointment without the receipt number. For complete instructions and to print the deposit slip, please visit the on-line appointment webpage.

India

The United States Embassy in India has announced it is implementing a new visa processing system throughout India that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling through a new website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in, starting on September 26, 2012. Visa applicants will be able to pay application fees via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with their mobile phones. Applicants can also pay in cash at more than 1,800 Axis bank branches.

Applicants will be able to schedule their appointments online or by phone. The new system will also allow companies and travel agents to purchase multiple fee receipts for group travel.

Under the new system, applicants will have to make two appointments. Prior to their visa interviews, applicants will have to visit an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) to submit their fingerprints and a photo. Located apart from the Embassy and Consulates in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, the OFCs will reduce congestion at U.S. consular facilities and speed applicant processing. Most applicants will need to visit an OFC only once.