US Embassy and Consulates in India now accommodating visa appointments

As per an update, the US Embassy and Consulates in India are now accommodating “a limited number of regular visa appointments across all visa classes”.

Appointments for the same have to be made through http://ustraveldocs.com/in.

Other routine services remain suspended as of now.

While appointments will be added as per availability, slots are expected to be filled up quickly.

The US Embassy and Consulates in India have resumed – while maintaining health and safety protocols – immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services in all categories. Consular sections across India are currently processing all nonimmigrant visa categories, including – ·         Student visas ·         H-1B ·         H-4 ·         L-1 ·         L-2 ·         C1/D ·         B1/B2 Appointment availability is to be expanded on a regular basis.

As per the official update, “US Consulate Mumbai has resumed processing immigrant visas in all categories.  We are not, however, scheduling appointments for new cases in every category. Currently, we are reaching out to applicants whose interviews were cancelled in Spring 2020, according to visa category, for rescheduling purposes.  Once this is completed, we will begin scheduling new cases in each category through the National Visa Center.” 

While the interview slots are open, there is much uncertainty – due to significant backlogs – as to when an individual might be contacted for a visa appointment.

Those unable to secure a visa appointment – being unable to travel or get a slot – will be able to make use of their already paid fee, referred to as the MRV fee, until September 30, 2022.

Recently, there has been an expansion in the eligibility for the interview waiver. Secretary Blinken, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has “temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification”.

While earlier only applicants with nonimmigrant visas expired within 24 months were eligible for an interview waiver, the expiration period has now been extended to 48 months. This policy is to be in effect until December 31, 2021.

The expansion of interview waiver eligibility will allow consular offices to continue with the processing of certain nonimmigrant US visa applications, while, at the same time, limiting the number of applicantsthat will be required to appear at a consular section. Thereby, reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

An applicant with a US visa expired within the 48 months prior to the date of application is eligible for an interview waiver for a visa application, provided it is in the same classification.   Visa Application Centres across India are now accepting Drop Box Applications for renewals of all nonimmigrant visa categories up to 48 months after the expiration of the visa.

Effective January 26, 2021, all air passengers that will be entering the US will be required to present either a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 calendars days of departure or proof of their having recovered from the coronavirus within the past 90 days.

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