Published by the Public Affairs Section, American Center, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (phone: 23472000), on behalf of the American Embassy, New Delhi.
Contact us: editorspan@state.gov
What's the most important thing to do when applying for a visa to travel to the United States?
"Listen to the consular officer carefully. Listen to the question being asked, and answer it truthfully and briefly, rather than telling some long story," says Vivek Joshi, vice consul at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. To fulfill its motto of "Secure Borders, Open Doors" the U.S. consular service is trying to find out four things about most visa applicants, Joshi says:
Who you are.
That your reason to travel makes sense considering your circumstances.
That you have sufficient funds.
That you intend to return to India at the end of your proposed temporary stay.
Other tips that Joshi shared with travel agents and travel reporters at a "Summer Vacation 2009: Destination USA" event at the New Delhi American Center in April included:
U.S. visa appointment making is outsourced and online: www.vfs-usa.co.in
Applicants must pay the visa fee at a designated branch of the HDFC Bank before an appointment can be made.
Though most cases are handled quickly, it is best to apply for your visa early, to allow time for processing.
Sometimes temporary backlogs occur in visa appointments. If you find your category is not available, keep checking back at the Web site, as appointments are re-allocated constantly to meet demand.
It is very important to follow the instructions on the Web site, and not the bad advice of visa "consultants."
Applicants who are coached and who present false documents are easily identified by the interviewing officers and are refused.
If you have all the documents required and listed at the Web site, your photograph according to the specifications and the receipt showing you have paid your fee, your visa interview should take only a few minutes.
In most cases, you will be told immediately if your application has been accepted or rejected.
It takes about five days for your passport, with the visa stamped in it, to be couriered to you. Special arrangements can be made for you to pick up your visa earlier in an emergency.
You should check your visa to ensure that the passport number, your name, birth date, etc. are correct as soon as you receive it, and get it corrected before you travel if there is any error.
Your passport should have a minimum of six months validity when you travel.
