New online processing of US visas

United States, 19th October: Getting US visas will now become all the more easier and faster due to recent launch of online US visa processing.

And this is certainly great news for many aspirants of US visas, especially from India.

Online US visas across India—Indians will be elated by the news of new online US visa process. As per the information, applicants will, no longer, have to make visits to the US consulate or the US embassy and keep waiting in queues. They just need to visit the official website to apply for US visas.

The new online US visa processing came into effect from 26th September this year.

Pay US visa application fee online—Applicants for US visas will get the facility of making payment of US Visa fee either through mobile or through EFT(electronic fund transfer).

Giving details about the process of fee payment, Martha J Hass, consular services chief, said US visa fee can be paid at any of the Axis Bank branches.

Information with regard to activation of the receipt of US visa fee will be provided to the applicants through an SMS within an hour of fee payment. This will help them move ahead with appointment scheduling.

Online scheduling of appointment--The new process will lead to simplification of US visa fee payment as well as scheduling appointment for the collection of biometrics. Aspiring applicants for US visas can get information about various documents required for making US visa application process at the new website.

The new process requires first-time applicants for US visas to get one appointment at a US consulate and the other at an OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center).

While one appointment is meant for collection of biometrics, second is for a US consular interview. And before a US visa interview, applicants will be required to make a visit to the OFC in order to provide detailed biometrics including a photograph and fingerprints.

All this is aimed to make the processing of US visas more efficient and better. Appointment can be scheduled either by calling the Call Center or online.

A point worth notable in this regard is that candidates must give their DS-160 barcode number as well as receipt number concerning application fee payment for scheduling their appointments.