The United States embassy here Wednesday announced a new visa
processing system under which Indians travelling to the US can have easier visa
procurement and fee payment system.
"The new visa processing system will streamline
appointment scheduling, simplify fee payments and provide the applicants with
new delivery options.
Under our new system, we have more payment options available
for visa application fees," said Julia Stanley, minister counsellor for
consular affairs.
While the changes in procedure are a part of global support
strategy programme by US state department across the world, the new system will
be implemented in India Sep 26.
Under the new system, the US visa applicants will be able to
pay application fees through electronic fund transfer, mobile phones and
collect their documents from 33 document pick-up locations in the country.
The moves comes after the launch of interview waiver
programme back in March which allowed certain qualified applicants to renew
their visas without coming for the interview.
In 2011, the US consular office processed around seven lakh
visa applications witnessing an increase of 11 percent over 2010.
According to Stanley, a significant change in the processing
system is that 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 consulates.
The consulate has also launched its new website in Hindi and
English where applicants can also track their application status.
"Applicants can also contact us; schedule their
appointments through telephone, e-mail or online chat. The call centre service,
free for all, can answer questions in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil
and Telugu," Stanley added.
Applicants renewing their visa may not have to give their
fingerprints more than once.
