Visa Processing Updates for U.S. Consular Posts in India

There are two recent updates that impact how certain nonimmigrant visas are being processed at U.S. consular posts in India. The first update relates to a procedural change that impacts certain foreign nationals who scheduled nonimmigrant visa appointments in India on or after November 15, 2023. The second change was implemented on November 27, 2023, and applies to F, M, and J visa applicants.

Appointments Scheduled Since 15.Nov.2023

Per the first announcement, if an individual scheduled an appointment on or after November 15, 2023, and then made a correction to the DS-160, the applicant is required to bring both the original DS-160 confirmation page used to schedule the appointment and the corrected DS-160 confirmation page to the visa application center or document drop-off location on the day of the appointment. If the applicant cannot bring the original DS-160 confirmation page and corrected DS-160 confirmation page, the individual must cancel the appointment and reschedule. For appointments scheduled prior to November 15th, if a correction to the DS-160 was made, that individual is only required to bring the corrected DS-160.

Policy Change for F, M, and J Visa Applicants

This second policy change requires all Indian citizens applying for F, M, or J visas to input their own personal passport information while setting up a profile and scheduling a visa appointment. This change was made to uphold the integrity of the visa application system and to prevent abuse of the system. Some of the key highlights of the announcement include the following:

• An applicant who has utilized an incorrect passport number in creating a profile or scheduling an appointment will not be admitted to the visa application center (VAC). Consequently, the appointment will be voided, resulting in the forfeiture of the visa fee.
• An applicant who has used an incorrect passport number in the profile or appointment booking can either generate a new profile with the accurate passport details or access an existing profile with the correct passport information to proceed with appointment scheduling. Utilizing either of these options requires the payment of a new visa fee if the previous receipt is associated with a profile containing inaccurate passport information.
• If an applicant has a recently renewed passport or has acquired a new passport due to loss or theft of the old passport, the applicant will be permitted to bring a photocopy or alternative evidence of the old passport number, allowing that individual to continue with the appointment.

Conclusion

Consular posts routinely take steps to improve security and stamp out abuse. Visa applicants should pay close attention to the instructions and updates posted on the embassy website.

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