FYI - NEW VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURE

[bsriram]

FYI

For the benefit for fellow Indians, the visa application process ha been slightly changed

Please follow the process in the same order to complete your form, make a payment and schedule your appointments

1. Complete the DS-160 non immigraant visa application online at https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
   
2. Create a login at https://cgifederal.s...h&country=India.
   
3. The website is poorly designed. you have to click on the top bar to change your consulate and visa type, instead of the icons. For example the icon Fee payment does not take you to your payment option directly.
   
4. You have enter you DS-160 confirmation number first to proceed to payment options
   
5. Make a payment (NEFT,mobile or at citibank,AXIS bank in India)
   
6. Schedule a visa appointment at the US consulate
   
7. Schedule an appointment at the Offsite facilitation center (OFC )
   

Hope this is useful to everyone applying for a visa stamping

Regards

[cooldude76]

Advice- Better not to pay via NEFT. Please pay in cash across counter at AXIS or Citibank.

I saw many people facing NEFT problems for the payment done in 1st week of November 2012. Not sure on the current situation.

[tanu123]

I had a question do we have to still submit documents at the VFS three days prior to interview date?

I have scheduled the appointment and also got the confirmation.

Please advise.

[luck2u]

Yes, it's better to pay in local AXIS/CITI branch and your payment will get activated in 3 hours from the time you pay amount in local bank. So, this is better instead of struggling with NEFT process.

[tanu123]

hi luck2u,cooldude76... anyone please help

had a question do we have to still submit documents at the VFS three days prior to interview date?

I have scheduled the appointment and also got the confirmation.

Please advise.

[luck2u]

There is no need to drop a copy of documents @ VFS Office prior to your visa appointment. It was in old process and now it's completely new process. So, ignore about dropping documents.