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Application procedure for getting an us non-Immigrant Visa in India


All visa applicants must make appointments for a visa interview and fingerprint collection. Please follow this procedure for getting a non-immigrant visa in India: 1. Photograph Get a digital photograph Size -2.5cmX 2.5cm (JPEG file) as well as one paper photograph Size- 2 inches x 2inches 2. Application form-https://ceac.state.gov/genniv Fill DS-160 form and upload your digital photograph. Print the DS-160 form confirmation page that has CEAC barcode on it 3. Create profile- www.ustraveldocs.com Crate profile and perform steps 1 through 10 of the schedule an appointment until you see payment confirmation screen. 4. Visa fees Pay the application fee at any of the branches of designated banks- Axis Bank. Step 2 and 3 can be done interchangeably in any order. 5. Schedule Appointments The time it takes to get the fee receipt activated may vary from three hours to 2 business days, depending upon how you make the payment. Do not attempt to take an appointment till then. You will require the receipt number (bank reference number) from the visa fee receipt. Most people must schedule two appointments: one for OFC (fingerprints, photo) and another one for consular interview. You must first schedule a visa interview appointment and then schedule an OFC appointment. Step by step instructions to schedule an appointment You need to print your appointment letter

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6. Visit the OFC Location On the day of your OFC appointment, visit the OFC location to get your biometric information such as the fingerprints and photograph collected. Renewal applicants need not do this step provided they have already visited OFC location during previous visa application. 7.Interview Report to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where your appointment for a visa interview is scheduled, at least 15 minutes advance in the scheduled appointment time. In the new visa procedure, unlike the previous one, you dont have to submit any documents in advance for the interview at Mumbai or Hyderabad. You will need to bring the original bank fee receipt with its two-barcode stickers, your interview appointment letter and all original supporting documents. Exceptions: Children from the age 8 to 14 are required to appear in person at the embassy/consulate for the interview along with both parents. In case one parent is unable to attend the visa interview, the absent parent should provide a letter to the childs application for a U.S. visa. In addition, applicants who are 80 years older, and have not been previously found ineligible for a U.S. visa, are not required to come to the U.S. Embassy/consulate in person to apply for nonimmigrant visa. All other rules, requirements and fees for both a childs visa interview and for those 80 or older remain in effect. 7. Visa issuance If you are issued a visa, your passport will be returned by the courier to the passport/ visa collection location you specified at the time of taking an appointment and later at any time before the day of the interview.

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U.S. Visa Photo Requirements Photographs requirements are the same for U.S. visa, green card (permanent resident card) and for the U.S. passport. Important: please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete. Important: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete. Photographs are required for all applicants, including children. The photos should be printed on thin photo-quality paper. The photo must be in color. The photo must not be older than 6 months. The photo must measure exactly 2 inches by 2 inches. The photo should show a clear, front view, full face of the person. The person should be in normal street attire, without hat or dark glasses against a plain white or off-white background. The persons expression should be natural, with both eyes open, looking directly ahead. Normal, unexaggerated smiles are acceptable, but unusual expressions and squinting are not. Photos in which the face of the person being photographed is not focused will not be accepted. The persons head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair, should be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches. The head should be centered in the photo. The head of the person being photographed should not be tilted up, down to the side. It should cover about 50% of the area of the photo. In general, the applicants head, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom and from hairline side-to-side. It is preferable that ears be exposed. Photos with dark, busy or patterned backgrounds will not be accepted. Unless worn daily for religious reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed for the photo. A signed statement from the applicant must be submitted with the application verifying the item is worn daily for religious reasons. In all cases, no item or attire should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the face. Eyeglasses worn on a daily basis can be worn for the photo. However, there should be no reflections from the eyeglasses that obscure the eyes. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tined lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example). A medical certificate may be required. Uniforms, clothing that looks like a uniform, and camouflage attire should not be worn in photographs except in the case of religious attire that is worn daily. Otherwise, normal street attire should be worn.

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A photograph depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable. Photos of military, airline or other personnel wearing hats are not acceptable. Photographs of applicants wearing tribal, national costume, or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are not acceptable. The minor child must be the only subject in the photo. Nothing used to support the minor child, whether by mechanical or human means, should be in the cameras frame. Only original photographs are acceptable. Copied or digitally scanned photos of photos will not be accepted. In addition, photos must not be digitally altered or retouched to alter the persons appearance in any way. The applicants appearance and the background of the picture must not be altered. Group photos are NOT accepted for a party applying for a visa together. Since a separate visa/green card/ passport is issued to each qualified applicant, an individual photo is required in all cases. Do not enclose photographs in glassine or other types of envelopes. Snapshots, magazine photos, most vending machine prints, or full-length photographs are not acceptable. Photos should be printed with out borders. Side or angled views are NOT accepted. Digital reproduced photographs must be reproduced without discernible pixels or dot patterns. Photocopied photographs are NOT accepted. If the digital camera has sufficient resolution-capable of capturing and storing images with 3.5 million pixels (megapixels) or more-it can be used to take the photos. However , printing of digital images is best done by professional photography processing labs because many ofthe-shelf digital printers cannot achieve the image- quality required for passport and visa photographs. In any case, the image-quality criteria, described on this website, must be met in the submitted conventional film photo and/or the digital image printed photo. Using a pencil, light print your alien registration number (a number) if you have one. Otherwise, write your name on back of your photo. The applicants signature must appear on the reverse side of the photograph. Even though 1 photograph is required for the nonimmigrant visa application, it is advisable to keep a few

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USA Visa Appointment in India Step-by-step Instructions If you would like your spouse/child to travel to the U.S. with you, apply for your visas at the same time. Book your visa interview appointments for the same day and attend your visa interview together. If you are applying as a family, you can schedule your appointment together using the add Dependent option while scheduling the appointment. The U.S. Embassy/Consulates control the number and allocation of interview appointments, not any outsourced agency. Appointments are not transferrable. It is strongly recommended that you dont fall prey to people who try to hawk appointments. Such cases are reported to consular as misuse. Overall Application process Appointments for nonimmigrant visas for the U.S can be made either online or calling the call center. Appointment by phone
Pay Now

In order to ensure the proper amount is paid and activated in a timely manner, first create a profile here and choose the Schedule Appointment option. On the payment confirmation screen you will be presented with payment options and further details of how to initiate payment. This can take up to 2 business days from time of payment for your receipt to be activated. National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) * New Mobile Payments IMPS * New Cash Over the Counter at DRUK Bank Cash Over the Counter (AXIS Bank and Citibank) Overview In most cases, each visa applicant, including children, is required to pay a non-refundable, nontransferable Machine Readable Visa (MRV) application fee, whether a visa is issued or not. The visa application fee is determined by the type of visa for which you wish to apply. Remember, the MRV fee is non-refundable. Please confirm whether or not you need to apply for a visa. You may not need to apply for a new U.S. visa if you already hold a valid U.S. visa or are a national of a Visa Waiver Program participating country. Certain individuals may not need to pay an MRV fee, for example:

If you are applying for an A or G visa for official travel, you do not need to pay the MRV fee If you are applying for a J visa to participate in a U.S. Government-sponsored program, you do not need to pay the MRV fee Certain individuals may not need a visa, for example: If you already hold a valid visa for your intended purpose of travel, you may not need a visa. If you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda (but not applying for an A, E, G, K or V visa category), you may not need a visa. For more information about fee exemptions, please visit this page.

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Remember: Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. Please plan accordingly so that you are not required to pay another visa application fee. Visa application fees are non-refundable.

Fee Payment Options In order to ensure the proper amount is paid and activated in a timely manner, first create a profile here and choose the Schedule Appointment option. On the payment confirmation screen you will be presented with payment options and further details of how to initiate payment. Note it can take up to 2 business days from time of payment for your receipt to be activated. National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) You may pay your MRV Fee using the popular and convenient NEFT payment system.

CURRENTLY WE DO NOT ACCEPT OVERSEAS ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS. YOU CAN ONLY MAKE THIS PAYMENT IF YOU MAINTAIN A RUPEE BANK ACCOUNT IN INDIA.
You may pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee with a NEFT transfer directly from your bank account. Over 87,000 bank branches are enabled to make NEFT payments. You may also make your NEFT payment through online banking or mobile banking meaning you do not have to visit your nearest bank branch. Be aware that your bank may apply charges to your account for NEFT transactions. After logging into your profile and while on the payment confirmation screen, you will receive a unique account number to which you will send the NEFT payment. Please make only one payment per

unique account number as there are the payment is non-refundable. IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU KEEP THE UNIQUE ACCOUNT NUMBER THAT YOU ACTUALLY USE TO MAKE YOUR NEFT PAYMENT. You must have this number as proof of
payment in order to schedule your visa interview appointment. It is the applicant's responsibility to save this number. If not, you may not be able to schedule an interview with your payment.

Payment by Mobile Phone


Applicants with a mobile phone can pay their MRV Fee via their phone using the IMPs system, however, the applicant must be preregistered with their bank to complete payment via their mobile phone and be in possession of a valid MPIN. Payment of Visa fees shall be in Indian Rupees (INR) and must be the exact amount as listed on the payment confirmation screen available after logging into your profile. Applicants can initiate an IMPS payment via SMS to their bank or via the m-banking facility provided by their financial institution. Applicants must enter the correct Beneficiary Mobile Number, Beneficiary MMID number and correct amounts. Please note, many banks operate a payment limit of INR 5,000/- per transaction. To see a list of daily limits employed by India banks, please click here:

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Once the payment has been verified, you will receive a SMS containing the 12 digit IMPS reference number. Applicants must then enter the IMPS reference number after logging into their profile. Once verified, the applicant will be able to proceed to the appointment scheduling stage. It is important to pay the correct fee as paying the incorrect amount will cause delays in scheduling your appointment. Applicants who pay via the IMPS system during regular business hours (9AM - 5PM) will be able to schedule their appointment within 3 hours. Applicants who make their payment after 6PM will be able to schedule their appointment after 9AM the next business day.

Payment at AXIS bank /Citibank


You can pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee in cash at any of the designated AXIS or Citibank branches. Before going to the bank, you must print and carry the applicable U.S. visa fee collection slip available after logging into your profile. Take the completed fee collection slip to the bank when you pay your fee. After receiving your payment, the bank will give you a receipt. Values are shown in (USD); however the Fee payable is in Indian Rupees (INR) at the current Consular Exchange rate shown here

payment at DRUK Bank:


You can pay your nonimmigrant visa application fee in cash at any of 4 DRUK Bank branch. Before going to the bank, you must print and carry the applicable U.S. visa fee collection slip available after logging into your profileTake the completed fee collection slip to the bank when you pay your fee. Be sure that you pay the exact amount indicated on the deposit slip. After receiving your payment, the bank will give you a receipt. Values are shown in U.S. dollars (USD); however the Fee payable is in Bhutan Ngultrums (BTN). This page has more information about the different visa application fees. If you cannot open or view the fee payment slip, please download and install the latest version of Adobe Reader from the Adobe website. There is no fee to download or use Adobe Reader. You can pay the MRV Fee at any of the following DRUK Bank locations.

Scheduling Your Interview

Whether you schedule your appointment online or contact our call center, you will need the receipt number printed on your receipt. To schedule U.S. visa appointment by phone, please call the call center Online procedure Note: If you are scheduling a group appointment, follow group appointment procedure. For individual or family appointment, please follow the step-by-step instructions as follows. Please note that steps 1 through 10 are considered create profile step which are required BEFORE you can pay the visa application fee.

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1. Visit the Stanley web site- www.ustraveldocs.com/ 2. If you are first time visitor to their web site, click on new User? towards the bottom of the screen to register yourself. Complete details 1. Once you have registered, visit their web site again to schedule an appointment Complete details 2. Before processing, make sure to review the general instructions and collect the required documents . 3. Select Visa type and hit continue. Select your state of residence and hit continue. Select Language of interview and hit continue. Complete details

Select Visa Category and Hit continue. Select Visa Class and hit continue.

Complete details

Make sure that all the information you have entered or selected so far is accurate. If there is anything incorrect, please hit Back button. Otherwise, hit continue. Enter your personal details such as passport details, contact information and mailing address and hit Continue.

Complete details

If you have any dependents who will be attending the interview along with you, enter their details and hit continue. If you would like to make an appointment for other family members in the same appointment slot at the same date and time, enter their details by clicking add dependent. If you are scheduling a one person appointment, skip this step and click Continue.

Complete details

Answer a couple of questions related to prior visa refusal and whether you are applying for U.S. visa renewal and hit continue. Specify document Delivery and hit continue. Complete details

Make the visa fee payment.

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U.S. visa fee payment options 12. Enter visa fee receipt information (BANK REFERENCE NUMBER) and hit continue. Alternatively, if your activated fee receipt number is already displayed, you dont need to enter that any more. Just hit continue.

13. Schedule Consular Appointment and hit continue. 14. Schedule OFC Appointment and hit schedule OFC Appointment which is actually a continue button. 15. You will see the appointment conformation screen. You can print the appointment conformation screen as the appointment letter. Alternatively, you can also enter your email address (the one you registered which is already shown by default) and click on Email Appointment Conformation. You can enter any email address you like or several email addresses one by one. Or, you can click on printable version and it will let you download the PDF version of the appointment conformation letter. This version is cleanest of all.

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USA Nonimmigrant Visa Fees in India The Indian Rupee equivalent amount of application fee and issuance fee (if applicable) is subject to change depending on exchange rates. Application Fee (MRV Fee) The following visa fees apply for nonimmigrant visa application.
Visa type All non-petition based applications, including, but not limited to, Business and/ or TouristB1/B2 Crew Member- C1/D Ship/Airline Crew D Transit C Student F,M Exchange Visitor J Journalist and Media I Victim of human Trafficking T NAFTA professionals TN/TD Victim of Criminal Activity U Payable in advance to the bank. All petition based applications Temporary Workers- H,L,O,P,Q,R Transitional worker CW Payable in advance to the bank Additional fee for Certain H-1B, L-1A, L-1B Payable in advance to the bank Applicants for H-1B, L-1A, L-1B visa need to pay additional $2,000 if the petitioner has more than 50 employees in the U.S. and has more than 50% of those employees in H-1B or L (Including L-1A, L-1B, and L2) status. Applies to both first-time and renewal cases. K (fiancee) Visa Payable at the Consulate. E Visa Payable at the Consulate. L1 (Not L2) Blanket Visa Fraud Prevention and Detection fee Payable at the Consulate. F1 and M1 Sevis Fee (F2 and M2) $240 $270 $500 $200 Rs.13,200 Rs.13,200 $14,850 Rs.11,000 $2,250 Rs. 123,750 U.S Dollars Indian Rupees

$160

Rs.8,800

$190

Rs. 10,450

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USA Visa Fee Bank Locations in India
The U.S. visa service system requires each applicant to pay the standard nonimmigrant visa application fee and other service charges BEFORE booking an appointment. To facilitate this program, the Embassy has engaged Axis Bank and Citibank in india and DRUk bank in Bhutan. The visa application fee and other service charges, which must be paid before making an appointment, may be paid at any of the branches of these banks. The bank will provide receipt with 10 digit bar code and, using this; applicants can schedule appointments with the appropriate consulates.
Axis bank Locations

As there are over 1,800 Axis bank branches across India, the list of branches is not provided here. However, you can search directly on the Axis Bank web site.
Offsite Facilitation Centers in India

Offsite Facilitation center (OFC) locations are used by the visa applicants to submit biometric information including their fingerprints and digital photograph. One OFC is located in each city where the Embassy or a Consulate is located. You must take an appointment in advance before visiting the OFC. You will take an OFC appointment after you take the appointment for U.S. visa interview at the Embassy/ Consulate. OFC appointment must be before Consular appointment. OFC appointment must be at least one day in advance of the Consular appointment. In that case, the applicants have no choice but to visit that city twice. The Embassy/ consulate may make the effort in future to be able accommodate both appointments on the same day, but it is not guaranteed. However, each applicant needs to visit OFC only once and not when renewing the visa in future. Over the time, it is expected that number of applicants that need to visit the OFC will reduce. Schedule an appointment
Working Hours

Monday through Friday -8:00 AM to 5:00PM Sunday- 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM Closed on Saturdays

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Locations 3 Cenotaph Road, Sadasivam street Teynampet Chennai 600018 502 Gowra Grand S.P. Road, Begumpet Secundarabad Hyderabad -500013 Jamine Tower, First floor 31 shakespeare sarani Kolkata -700717 Trade Center, Ground Floor, G.Block Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra East Mumbai -400041 S-1 American plaza, International Trade center Nehru place, New Delhi 110019 New Delhi 110019

Chennai

Hyderabad

Kolkata

Mumbai

New Delhi

Documents to Bring to appointment You must appear in person for an appointment at the OFC. Bring the following documents with you: Passport Appointment confirmation page DS-160 confirmation page

When visiting OFC, the same Security measures as when visiting the Embassy/ consulate apply. There is no additional fee for OFC appointment as the visa fee already includes the OFC service. Fingerprinting process

Security Measures at the U.S. Embassy/ Consulate

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The following are not permitted inside the visa sections: 1. All battery operated or electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, digital diaries, digital watches, papers, cameras, audio/video cassettes, audio/video playing or recording devices, calculators, torches, flashlights, radios, compact disc (CDs), VCDs, DVDs, MP3s, digital audio players (such as i-pod), floppies, flash drives, memory sticks, Bluetooth devices, laptops, Plam tops or portable music players (such as CD players), electronic items. Remote car key are not allowed either. 2. All ladies hand bags/ purses. Only a small ladies pouch in hand will be permitted. 3. All bags such as travel bags, back packs, briefcases, suitcases, leather, jute or cloth bags and zip folders. Only an unsealed, transparent plastic bag containing your application- related papers will be permitted. 4. Any food items. 5. Sealed envelopes or packages. Do not push folders or sealed envelopes through any of the counter windows outside or inside the consulate. However, if you are an immigrant visa applicant and have a sealed medical report, you can enter the consulate. The medical report must remain sealed at all times. 6. Smoking items such as cigarettes/ cigars/ matches/ match boxes/ lighters. 7. Any sharp objective such as scissors, pen knives or nail files. 8. Weapons or explosive material of any kind. 9. Bottles of any kind. Bring only the items and documents that relate to your visa application. Umbrellas are allowed. Therefore, if it is a rainy season, or if you think it may rain on the interview day, remember to carry umbrella with you. Bottle for baby milk, Diaper, a pair of cloths for baby etc. are allowed. If you are carrying any milk bottle, you will have to taste it in front of the security guard. The list provided above is not finite. Other items may be prohibited based on security staff discretion. Due to security Concerns,, the Consulate does not permit interested parties such as friends, relatives or business contacts to accompany nonimmigrant visa applicants to their interviews. However, interpreters are allowed to acompany hearing- impaired applicants. Please do not bring extra people to your visa interview, including your American citizen children. Food items and bottles of any kind are not permitted to be brought into the building. Consulate recommends that you find a baby sitter for your minor U.S. citizen children. Due to security issues and limited space within the Consulate, only visa applicants are permuted entry. The consulate recommends that applicants keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as the area around the consulate gets crowed. Friends and relatives of applicants are requested not to wait outside the visa gate where heavy vehicular traffic can present a danger to those who congregate on the streets. Family members are instead encouraged to meet visa applicants at nearby restaurants and alternate meeting spots.

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There is no facility at the U.S. Embassy/ Consulate/ Stanley Application Centers to store prohibited items. You will have to make alternate arrangements to keep the same before entering the facility. Due to security considerations, there is no information window for walk- in visitors at the Embassy or Consulate. Interested parties Interested parties such as friends, relatives, attorneys, or business contacts are not permitted to enter the consular or attend the visa interview of a nonimmigrant visa applicant or intervene on their behalf during the interview. If any interested party wishes to provide information to a specific consular section concerning a particular visa applicant, they are encouraged to supply this information directly to the applicant. The applicant can then bring this information to their visa interview. It is not advisable for an interested party to send letters to the Consular Section in anticipation of a visa application. Due to the high volume of applicants, the consulate may be unable to provide these letters to the Consular officer who will interview the applicant. US Visa fingerprint Collection Fingerprints are required for almost all visa applicants for U.S. visa. Fingerprints are not for children under 14 years of age, adults over 79 years of age, and A1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, C-3 and NATO applicants. If you have a diplomatic or official passport but apply for other types of visas, you will be fingerprinted. Electronic fingerprints will be collected for all 10 fingers from most visa applicants. Visas issued after fingerprinting are referred to asBioVisas. At the time of the visa interview, applicants will be asked to electronically scan all 5 figures of each hand. Applicants who are required to be fingure printed and have a cut or blister or other temporary skin injury on any of their figures may not be issued a visa until their finger heals before they can be fingerprinted. If a person lacks any of the fingers, prints from existing fingers will be taken. You must have clean hands for finger printing. The scanned fingerprint data collected at the time of visa application will be compared with fingerprint scans at the U.S. port of entry to prevent the use of U.S. visas by imposters and by those wanted for more serious offenses. This is a worldwide program and is not targeted at any country or region. All United States visa issuing posts collect fingerprint data, complementing the U. S-VISIT program in which nearly all visitors to the United States, including those from countries eligible for the visa waiver program, have their fingerprints and photograph taken at the airport on arrival in the U.S. To avoid delays, visa applicants can take these steps: Plan ahead. If you need to travel during the summer, dont wait until the last minute to apply for an appointment. Make your appointment right away.

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If you are not planning to travel until the end of summer, please wait until later to book your appointment. Consular officials anticipate that the wait for an appointment will be reduced once the summer rush is over. Have your travel plans organized. On the application form and at the interview, applicants must provide details on when and where they will be traveling and where they will be staying. Complete all application forms fully.

USA Visa Passport Delivery If your visa has been approved, the consular officer will retain your passport at the time of interview. The visa will be stamped into your passport and returned to you by courier within 7 business days. Usually, the delivery will be mush faster. Applicants may receive their passport in all probability the next working day after the interview. Most passports are returned within 2-3 business days of the interview. Passports can NOT be delivered across the counter at the U.S. consulate. Timings for U.S. consulate to hand over the stamped passports to the courier may vary based on the work load, holidays etc. The U.S. consulate can not assure a definite turnaround time. As the cost of the courier is included in the visa application fee, you dont have to pay anything extra at the time of the delivery. You will receive one passport per envelope as separate tracking of every passport is required due to security and safety rules. There is no discount either for multiple passports/envelopes delivery. Pick up Locations Please note that the delivery of the passport is at the pick up location and NOT to your home or office or any other personal address. It will be sent to you by blue Dart courier to one of the collection locations specified by you at the time of scheduling your appointment or later. In case you have urgent travel need, selecting the courier location closer to the interview location may result in faster pick-up time. Such collection locations are two types: Team Stanley Locations Blue Dart Location Tracking of your passport There are various options to track the delivery of the passport: Online: You can track your passports delivery status using Track passport Delivery link. Email:

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Send an email to passportstatus@ustraveldocs.com Enter a valid passport number (exactly as it was entered at the time of scheduling an appointment) in the subject and/or body. Do not include any additional text. You will receive an automatic response with the status. Phone: you can track your passport via 24x7 IVR. Call center: Phone: +91-120-660-2222 or +91-22-6720-9400 For those calling from the U.S.: +310-616-5424

India Hours: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday U.S Hours: 24 hours Call centers will be closed only on Saturday, Christmas, New years Day, Holi and Diwali. Call center agents are located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh (outskirts of new Delhi) and Hyderabad. Help is available in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, tamil, and Telugu. There is no fee for calling the call center. They can answer visa related questions.
Email:

Support-india@ustraveldocs.com Email can be sent in English or Hindi. E-mailed queries will be responded from Monday to Friday, within two working days. Skype:

You can talk to the customer service representative during India call center hours, as mentioned above. Skype name: ustraveldocs-india You can add them to your skype account as a new contact.

Modify Courier address If you have already scheduled an appointment online, but wish to modify your document delivery address, you can do so by visiting the Stanley web site. You may change your document delivery address

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


or document pick-up location at any time prior to 11:59 p.m. on the day of your interview at the Embassy or Consulate. Click on modify Courier Address link. What if my passport does not arrive? If you have not received your passport within 7 business days after your interview, you can either call or visit the nearest visa application center. Unavailable for tacking delivery If you dont take the delivery of the passports within 10 business days, they will be returned back to the Embassy/Consulate where you were interviewed. If this happens, please contact the call center for further assistance. USA Visa from India-Passport Collection Documents Following documents need to be presented both for passport collection after your U.S. visa is approved in India: Self pick up: o A print copy of your appointment letter. o Your original (not a photocopy) government recognized photo ID: e.g. PAN card, Driving License, Voters ID. Representative collecting the passport on your behalf, even in case of family members o Original government recognized photo ID of the representative: e.g. PAN card, Driving License, Voters ID. o Photocopy of your government recognized photo ID: e.g., PAN card, Driving License, Voters ID. o Authority letter signed by the applicant, authorizing the representative to collect the passport. It must contain the following information: Full name of the representative as mentioned on his/her photo ID card. Name of the applicant whose passport is to be collected.

In case of a group/family, a single authority letter with the required information of all the applicants will be accepted. Requirements for minor child below the age of 16 years of age: o An original, signed letter of authority from either of the applicants parents o Photocopy of the government-issued photo ID from either of the applicants parents o The representatives original government-issued photo ID.

For the security of your passports, they can not be delivered if all of the above documents are not produced. You must also sign for all documents handed over to you by the courier.

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

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H4 Visa (Dependent Visa)


H4 visa is issued to the dependent family members(spouse and Children) of H1 visa holders who would like to accompany the H1B visa holder in the U.S. during the period of their stay. This document outlines the complete process for H4 dependent visa, (also known as H4 dependent visa) for H1B visa holders. In such a case the principal applicant is always the H1B visa holder. Immediate family members like spouse and children under 21 yrs can qualify for this visa and can apply at the US Consulate in their home country. If you are applying for your visa along with your spouse, who is applying for H1 simultaneously, then you can submit both of your applications together. As an H4 visa holder, you're not authorized to be employed in the US and are not eligible to get a Social Security Number. You can, however: get a Drivers license pursue education open bank account(s) Are eligible for an ITIN (Tax ID for IRS Tax purposes) Make no mistake in filling out the visa application and understanding the legalities related to the H4 visa. Here are some useful tips for the H4 visa applicants.

H4 Visa Tips
Name
While providing the information to take visa interview and filing online application form visa applicants clearly state your Last Name and Given Name. If your maiden name is different from your name after marriage, please write the name on your passport. In case you have gotten your name changed, your passport must reflect this. Often there is a lot of confusion caused by name changes after marriage. Also please check if the passport issuing authorities have written your name correctly. Common errors are: writing the name in the Last name field, writing Last name instead of Given Name and vice versa. Applicants should check their passport and if the whole name is given in one line, they should get the same changed from passport office before applying for a visa.) In the nutshell, make sure your name is correctly filled out. It is advisable to get your spouse's name endorsed on your passport beforehand. If after marriage your last name has changed, then it's better to endorse the change in your passport beforehand. Otherwise you will have to continue your maiden name in the U.S. Your maiden name will be used in your identification card and driver's license in the U.S.

Wedding Album
You have to show sufficient evidence that you are married to the principal applicant Please make sure that you carry a fairly descriptive wedding album. This means that your album must have many wedding pictures. You and your groom must be clearly visible in the pictures. All the snaps must be very clear and it should be easy to identify the bride and the bridegroom. It is better to include photographs showing some marriage rituals such as photographs around the Agni ceremony (if your marriage is Hindu marriage), engagement ceremony, photos of your families, etc.

Check your visa


Upon receiving your visa, please check for any errors in typing of:

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


your name your spouse's name date of birth type of visa validity date The key to getting the H4 visa is doing the right thing at the right time and at the right place. Complete your H4 visa paperwork, understand the process, and be proactive during the application period.

Documents Required for H4 Visa


Following is the list of documents required to prepare for H4 visa stamping. Remember that if you have the proper documents in place, the process is very simple. Completed Non-immigration Visa application H4 visa application form DS-160 Separate form for each applicant. Application visa fee original receipt issued by AXIS bank. Copy of interview appointment letter which you get at the time of taking a US visa appointment. Valid passport of each applicant. One photograph: 2 and 2 inches square (50 mm square) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. To be used in the application Form. US consulates are very particular about the Photographs specification. You must follow these guidelines for photographs.. . If the applicant is below 14 yrs of age, Original Birth Certificate of this applicant (child) is required. Original marriage certificate. Entire wedding photo album. A copy of marriage invitation card of both the families. Complete copy of all the pages of your principal H1's passport. Copy of principal H1 holders approved petition I797, form I-129 and LCA. H1B visa holder's employment verification letter. Pay stubs from principal applicant's current place of work and income tax return (if the H1 holder is already working in U.S.) When in doubt while collecting papers, always go for collecting more information than less. Once you have collected all the relevant pieces of information, getting the visa is a matter of time.

H4 Visa Interview Questions


Following are some sample questions that can be asked at the H4 Visa Interview. These questions are compiled from experiences shared by people on the discussion forum. Since each case is different, you must prepare accordingly. There is bound to be a variation in the line of questioning during your interview. However, there are some questions that are almost always asked during the interview. The US consular

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


may you just a few questions or ask you a ton of questions from the following list. Please use this list of H4 Visa Interview questions as a preparation tool before facing your interview.

Questions about the H4 and H1B Visa


What type/kind of visa are you applying for? When did your husband get his stamping? Why do you need a visa to U.S.? If you didn't go for the H4 interview with your spouse's H1B visa appt: Why did you not come with your husband for the interview? If going after spouse has left to U.S.: Why did you not leave with your spouse or why are you coming today for visa when you got married earlier (or on so and so date)? Who filed the visa application and where did you file it? Who made the interview appointment? How did you receive the documents? I see that you have been rejected earlier, do you know why? (Possible question, if you have been rejected before)

Questions about Your Marriage


When did you get married or what is your date of marriage? Did you have an arranged or love marriage? When did you meet your spouse for the first time? How did you meet your spouse? Who arranged this marriage or how did you get this proposal? Where did you get married? Is your marriage registered? Can I see some wedding photographs?

Questions about You


Where are you staying currently? Who are you staying with? Where will you stay in U.S.? Who will bear the expenses while you are in U.S. or who will financially support you in the US? Who will pay for your trip to the US? Do any of your relatives/friends live in U.S.?

Questions about Your Spouse


What is your spouse's date of birth? Which university did your spouse graduate from? What is your spouse's highest degree? Which company does your spouse work for? Who is sponsoring in your spouse's H1? Where is his employer located? Where are his clients located? What kind of work does your spouse do at the U.S. Company?

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


How long has your spouse been in U.S.? How long has your spouse been working for the sponsoring company? What will you do after your visa is completed/expired? How much he is earning or what is the pay of your spouse or what is the annual income of your spouse? Can I see some pay stubs from your spouse's paycheck? Can I have a look at your spouse's bank statements? Have your spouse applied for green card? Can you please show me your tax returns, bank statements, play slips, etc.?

Tips
Keep a copy of all your documents. Answer all questions clearly during the interview. Do not stumble on words or look nervous. Do not double talk. The interviewer will immediately know that you are misrepresenting information. Upon receiving your visa, carefully check for any kind of mistakes like name, date of birth, type of visa, validity date, etc. If you want to learn more about the H4 visa process, please read more information on our website. Feel free to ask questions on the path2usa forums as well.

H4 Visa FAQ
Q1: Can I convert my H4 visa to H1? If yes, what is the process?
A: Yes, any H4 visa holder may switch to another type of Visa, like Student visa F1 or working Visa H1 while in U.S. However, you must qualify and fulfill the requirements for the particular visa category.

Q2: Can the H4 visa holder work in U.S.?


A: No. H4 visa holders are not permitted to work in U.S. Remember that as a spouse you will accompany a legally employed person in the United States on a dependent visa. You should not try to seek employment in the United States on the H4 visa.

Q3: What to do If I want to work while on H4 visa?


A: In order to work in U.S. you must have a working visa status like H1B..

Q4: Who Qualifies for H4 visa?


A: A spouse and children (age under 21) of H1 visa holder's can qualify for H4 visa.

Q5: What is the process of getting the H4 visa? How do I need to file a petition?
A: The process is simple and there is no need to file a petition. You can directly apply for the H4 visa at the US Consulate in your home country.

Q6: Can I study in U.S. while on H1/H4 visa?


A: Yes, you can study on the H1/H4 visa.

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


Q7: What if the US consulate holds my case under Section 221(g)?
A: If your visa was not issued under Section 221(g) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, it means that your case requires further administrative action. It is not refusal per se. It only means that it is on hold. Here is what happens . The consular officer will return your passport. You may return to the Consulate on any working day with the required additional documents. Please follow the instructions that were given in refusal document 221g. The application fee paid to schedule the initial interview remains valid for the subsequent interview up to one year from date of payment.

Q8: Can I volunteer on the H4 visa?


A: Absolutely. You are allowed to volunteer on the H4 visa. However, there is a catch. If you volunteer for a job for free, which is otherwise a paid opportunity; it will amount to an illegal activity. Typically, H4 visa holders volunteer with religious and social organizations. There are many organizations that require volunteers for their projects. A threshold question is whether your volunteering qualifies for a paid job. If it does, refrain from doing it. If it does not, you should probably say yes to it.

H4 Visa Tips
The H4 visa is issued to the dependent family members of H1 visa holders who would like to accompany the H1B visa holder in the United States during the period of their stay. In such a case the principal applicant is always the H1B visa holder. Immediate family members like spouse and children under 21 yrs can qualify for this visa and can apply at the US Consulate in their home country. If you are applying for your visa along with your spouse, who is applying for H1 simultaneously, then you can submit both of your applications together. As an H-4 visa holder, you're not authorized to be employed in the US and are not eligible to get a Social Security Number. You can, however: get a Drivers license pursue education open bank account(s) are eligible for an ITIN (Tax ID for IRS Tax purposes) Make no mistake in filling out the visa application and understanding the legalities related to the H4 visa. Here are some useful tips for the H4 visa applicants.

H4 Visa Tips
Name
While providing the information to take visa interview and filing online application form visa applicants clearly state your Last Name and Given Name. If your maiden name is different from your name after marriage, please write the name on your passport. In case you have gotten your name changed, your passport must reflect this. Often there is a lot of confusion caused by name changes after marriage. Also please check if the passport issuing authorities have written your name correctly. Common errors are: writing the name in the Last name field, writing Last name instead of Given Name and vice versa.

22
LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & TRAINING CONSULTANTS


Applicants should check their passport and if the whole name is given in one line, they should get the same changed from passport office before applying for a visa.) In the nutshell, make sure your name is correctly filled out. It is advisable to get your spouse's name endorsed on your passport beforehand. If after marriage your last name has changed, then it's better to endorse the change in your passport beforehand. Otherwise you will have to continue your maiden name in the U.S. Your maiden name will be used in your identification card and driver's license in the U.S.

Wedding Album
You have to show sufficient evidence that you are married to the principal applicant Please make sure that you carry a fairly descriptive wedding album. This means that your album must have many wedding pictures. You and your groom must be clearly visible in the pictures. All the snaps must be very clear and it should be easy to identify the bride and the bridegroom. It is better to include photographs showing some marriage rituals such as photographs around the Agni ceremony (if your marriage is Hindu marriage), engagement ceremony, photos of your families, etc.

Check your visa


Upon receiving your visa, please check for any errors in typing of: your name your spouse's name date of birth type of visa validity date

The key to getting the H4 visa is doing the right thing at the right time and at the right place. Complete your H4 visa paperwork, understand the process, and be proactive during the application period.

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LIG 648, 1ST Floor, No: - 5, K.P.H.B. Colony, Kukatpally Hyderabad 500072, India Cell 9866162281 / 9849220726 Website: www.grtc.net.in Email: info@grtc.net.in

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