A Guide to Using Visa Facilitation Services
Sourced from VFS India-US Website
Visa Facilitation Services or VFS as it is popularly known as, facilitates pre-visa formalities such as getting an visa interview appointment, canceling or changing interview appointments, paying visa fees, interview etc.
The VFS, being an independent entity from the US Missions, are able to handle these formalities efficiently and thereby streamlining this part of the Visa process. While the VFS website has all the relevant information, we have summarized the process of applying for VISA through VFS in this page in easy-to-follow steps.
Step 1: Pay the Fees
Before you can fix an Interview date through VFS, you need to pay the necessary fees and service charges at designated HDFC back branch and get a Visa Fee Receipt from the Bank. VFS recommends that the applicant check for appointment availability before paying the visa application and service fees.
The fees payable are: -
- Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee): 4600 INR (100 USD). Payable in cash/ *DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring ‘US Embassy – Visa Fees’.
- Service Charge: 322 INR. Payable in cash or by *DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring “HDFC Bank a/c VFS”.
- Issuance fee: Indian passport holders will no longer be required to submit an Issuance fee demand draft for $50 at the time of the visa interview. Other Nationalities must logon to http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index to determine the Issuance Fee amount payable.
*DDs issued by cooperative banks are not accepted.
IMPORTANT: You can take an appointment only after TWO Working days from the day you receive the receipt as it takes that long to get activated. You will need to carry a photocopy of the 1st page of your passport along to the bank. The fees are not refundable. You must appear for an Interview within 1 year (365 days) from the date of your fee receipt or it will no longer be valid. The receipt is valid for a single appointment.
Step 2: Apply for Non-Immigrant Visa
Apply online:
To apply online, you will need a computer with windows XP or latest, an internet connection and a printer. Once you have the fee receipt, open the VFS site at https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx and click on the Apply for a Non-immigrant Visa link.
Before you get started you may want to have the following information and documents to hand:
• Passport
• Receipt issued by HDFC Bank. You will need the barcode number of the Receipt.
• Relevant documents based on visa class (Refer to the USCIS website)
• E-mail address
The online application is pretty simple and you have to fill up the form and then submit. The automated system will then generate an Appointment Letter, which you will need print. Do not fold this letter.
While scheduling your interview, you are allowed to pick the date of interview. Now, if you are a fluent English speaker and have not been previously refused a visa, you are allowed to schedule at any of the US missions and such can pick your dates from any center.
However, if you cannot fulfill these criteria, then you have to select a date available with the US Mission which covers the area where you reside.
| US Embassy |
Address |
Areas Under Jurisdiction |
| US Embassy, New Delhi |
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021 Tel: 011-2419-8000 FAX: 011-24198407 Email: nivnd@state.gov http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/ |
States of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Bhutan. |
| American Consulate General, Chennai |
No. 220 Anna Salai, Chennai 600006 Tel: 91-044-2857-4242 FAX: 91-044-2811-2027 Email: chennainiv@state.gov http://chennai.usconsulate.gov |
States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep islands and Pondicherry. |
| American Consulate General, Mumbai |
Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026 Tel: 91-022-2363-3611 to 3618 FAX: 91-022-2363-0350 Email: mumbainiv@state.gov http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov |
States of Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. |
| American Consulate General, Kolkata |
5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Kolkata 700071 Tel: 91-033-3984-2400 FAX: 91-033-2282-2335 Email: consulatekolkata@state.gov http://kolkata.usconsulate.gov |
West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
Step 3: Report for Interview
Report to the US Embassy or Consulate where your appointment for the visa interview is scheduled at least one hour before time.
You should have these documents with you:
• Printed Appointment Letter
• Filled Up Visa Application Forms
• One recent photograph
• Original HDFC Bank Fee Receipt with its two barcode stickers.
NOTE: Applications without an original HDFC Bank Receipt or with an incorrect photograph will NOT be accepted.
• Special Procedure for Mumbai Consulate
Applicants scheduling their Visa Interview at Mumbai Consulate have to submit their Visa packs across-the-counter at the US Visa Application centers located in West India after scheduling their online interview appointment.
VFS Counters
| NORTHERN INDIA Counter Timing: – 0800-1300 hours & 1400-1500 hour |
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| New Delhi International Trade Tower, S-2 Level, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110019. |
Jalandhar Ratan Tower, 2nd floor, Namdeo Chowk, Circuit House Road, Jalandhar – 144001. |
Chandigarh SCO-186-187, Sector 8C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh – 160009. |
SOUTHERN INDIA Counter Timing: – 0800-1300 hours & 1400-1500 hour Email info@vfs-usa.co.in Chennai# 044-42316767. Timing: 0800-1300 & 1330-1700 Monday through Friday excluding all-India holidays observed by the US missions |
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| Chennai Gowthami Towers, 2 A, First Street, Cenatoph Road, Teynampet, Chennai – 600 018. |
Bangalore 102, The Presidency, 1st floor, St. Marks Road, Bangalore – 560 025. |
Hyderabad Sunil Chambers 1st floor, Road No. 7, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034. |
Kochi 3C, South Point Hinton, Chittoor Road, Near Kasba Police Station, Kacheripady, Ernakulam – 682018 . |
EASTERN INDIA Counter Timing: – 0800-1300 hours & 1400-1500 hour Email infokolkata@vfs-usa.co.in Kolkata# 033-22882480. Timing: 0800-1300 & 1330-1700 Monday through Friday excluding all-India holidays observed by the US missions |
| Kolkata Om Towers, 4th floor, 32 Chowringhee Road Next to Park Street Metro, Kolkatta – 700 071 |
WESTERN INDIA Counter Timing: – 0800-1300 hours & 1400-1500 hour Email infomumbai@vfs-usa.co.in Mumbai# 022 – 66547600. Timing: 0800-1300 & 1330-1700 Monday through Friday excluding all-India holidays observed by the US missions |
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| Mumbai Tirupati Apartments, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Opp. Mahalakshmi Temple, Mumbai – 400026. |
Ahmedabad Gujarat Chambers Building, Shri Ambika Mills, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad – 380009. |
Pune 106, Sohrab Hall 1st Floor, Sassoon Road, Behind Pune Station Junction, Pune – 411001. |
