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NEW PROCEDURES OF US VISA APPLICATION (UPDATE)

Kindly note that US visa application procedure has been changed by the US department of state.

according to US EMBASSY-

The U.S. Embassy Announces a New Visa Processing System
New Delhi | September 5, 2012

"The United States Embassy in India today announced it is implementing a new visa processing system throughout India that will further standardize procedures and will simplify fee payment and appointment scheduling through a new website at www.ustraveldocs.com/in.  Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley, announced at a press conference here today that beginning September 26, 2012 U.S. visa applicants will be able to pay application fees via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with their mobile phones.  They can also pay in cash at more than 1,800 Axis bank branches."

SO, for seafarers it is essential to note that now you have to do your entire application on www.ustraveldocs.com/in , rather than earlier one that was VFS.

* Inform the company regarding your application and ask them for the IMO number and vessel name of the vessel you are to join (this needs to be filled up in the DS-160 form),ask for the US VISA APPLICATION to be duly signed and provided by company with a contract letter attached, they may provide application and contract letter at a later stage before your interview.


*Obtain a digital photograph that meets the requirements as mentioned on us department of states site, just google it up if you don't find not an issue, you can fill up without providing photograph but at the time of OFC and interview bring your photograph (not digital one) with you .Fill up the DS-160 Application form (no changes have been made in current version of the form)
 by logging on to www.ustraveldocs.com/in ,and selecting the option of DS-160, you will be redirected to US department of state's site where the form is available and is to be filled,properly and carefuly. please provide a proper digital photograph at the time of application,can be cropped to size by US department of state's cropping tool provided on its site, you can also save the form after each step and finally after verifying all data put your digital signatures and submit the form,take a print out of the DS-160 confirmation page,can also take a print of application if you want, otherwise it is not required at time of interview since they have all data in digital format.

*you will need to make a account/profile on the site www.ustraveldocs.com/in (mentioned above) by providing true data.

*start the take appointment procedure,you will need to provide your visa type (c1/d in ur case ),state of residence (the state where you have been living for past 6 months, and should be matching to state on your passport (recommended, not required by law),place where you want to take your passport after visa is granted (these will be OFC'S (described later) or blue dart officec where you can get you visa (pick up).

*take fee payment slip, by selecting option out of axis bank/citi bank payment or via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with their mobile phones.

*pay the fees at nearest branch (all branches accept the fees), withing 4 hours it will get activated.

*continue the procedure, and take your appointment form ustraveldocs.com/in.
  NOW YOU WILL BE NEEDED TO TAKE TWO SEPARATE APPOINTMENTS, ONE FOR INTERVIEW(at embassy/consulate) OTHER FOR OFC (offsite facilitation center), OFC'S have been made up to verify your documents (confirmation page/interview appointment letter/passport) and to take your biometric signatures (finger prints) and a photograph.

APPEAR FOR INTERVIEW,IF GRANTED A VISA YOU WILL GET AN OPTION TO GIVE A COURIER ADDRESS AT A PAYMENT OF 300 RUPEES,WHERE YOU WANT YOUR VISA TO BE DELIVERED (at least in mumbai its so),IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANY COURIER ADDRESS YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR PASSPORT FREE OF COST FROM THE CENTRE WHICH YOU GAVE IN PASSPORT DELIVERY OPTION (OFC OR BLUE DART OFFICE NEAREST TO YOUR HOMETOWN).

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