US eases visa application norms for Indians

NEW DELHI: The US has eased visa application norms for Indians wishing to travel to the country for business and leisure.
Children under seven years of age are not required to appear for a non-immigrant visa interview after completed visa form is submitted. An applicant would not have to pay visa fees again if he reapplies after his application had been earlier kept on hold or shown pending for various reasons under section 221g of US visa rules.
In Mumbai, the US consulate has opened over 40 windows. This has reduced the waiting time for a visa interview with a consular officer to one hour as compared to three hours earlier.
The consulate has further upgraded its emergency appointment module for applicants seeking visas in case of unforeseen travel. Such applicants would get an automated email text reply notifying the status of their request made for emergency appointment.
The consulate shared this information at an interactive session held with travel agents, some of who are also members of Visit-USA committee at the consulate office in Bandra Kurla Complex. The session was held to explain relaxed visa norms to travel agents and who in turn can facilitate legitimate travel for their clients.
Though they welcomed the US initiative, many travel agents still had concerns to many visa norms. They pointed out instances of the consulate denying visas to parents if their only son or daughter were residing in US. At times, students were denied visa for further studies though they had earlier visited the country as tourists. Some said there was resentment among travellers due to the interview sessions which tend to be a bit personal.
US consular officials tried to allay fears, saying such instances are stray cases. " We process almost 1,500 applicants a day. So, it depends on how the applicants are able to convince the visa officer the genuineness of his proposed visit. There have been instances where applicants have fudge data," said a consular officer.