NEW ONLINE US VISA APPLICATION FROM FEB 1
January 12, 2010

The US Consulate officials on Tuesday announced that a new online visa application process would be launched from February 1, wherein non-immigrant visa applications will be submitted using an electronic form.

The new system would streamline the application process, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the US Embassy in Delhi Jim Herman said.

"This would allow us to efficiently process applications," he added. The DS-160, a web-based non-immigrant visa application, incorporates all existing NIV applications into one interactive, online form. Visa applicants completing their applications as of January 19 will need to use the new form, he said.

The applicants will continue to complete visa application forms online, as they did previously with the electronic visa application form.

With the new form, however, applicants will now submit applications via internet, eliminating the need for paper applications. "The applicant would have to fill up visa papers electronically, answer a few questions online and approach the consulate with a print-out of a one-page confirmation with barcode," he said.

We have spent around five million dollars on hardware around the world to implement the new system," Herman said. The new measure is aimed at ensuring paperless process while applying for visas, Consular Section chief David Tyler said.

The new consulate building at Bandra-Kurla Complex here would be operational in summer this year, Tyler said.

The consulate now operates from a leased premise in Breach Candy area. The number of US students from India [ Images ] to the US has increased by nine per cent, from 94,563 to 103,260 during 2008-09.

China and Korea have the second and third largest students studying in the US. There was a slight drop in overall number of visa applicants last year in the backdrop of recession, but the number is picking up, he said.

Security has always been a concern while processing visa applications, the senior diplomat said.

Read the full article at Rediff.com

NEW US BORDER CROSSING RULES TO TAKE EFFECT JUNE 1, 2009
(Updated Apr. 6, 2009)

From June 1, 2009, all U.S. citizens 16 years of age or over will require a passport or other document approved by the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the United States by land and sea, as a part of American law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This new rule will also affect thise who have permanent resident status (Green Card).

Until this date arrives, U.S. citizens 19 years and older who enter the U.S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the Western Hemisphere will need to present government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license as proof of identity, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, or a passport. Children age 18 and under will be able to enter with proof of citizenship.

WHTI currently requires anyone, including U.S. citizens, entering or re-entering the United States by air to have a passport or other document approved by the Department of Homeland Security at designated airports.

For details, check the website of US Department of State http://travel.state.gov/travel/
cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html