US embassy unveils new system for faster visa clearance

The US embassy on Wednesday unveiled a new visa application process that involves the Internet and mobile phones for fee payments and scheduling appointments for interviews—a move that industry analysts have largely welcomed.

add_main_imageThe new system that will come into effect across India on 26 September is part of a global effort launched by the US State Department, Julia Stanley, minister-counsellor for consular affairs, told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday. This involves outsourcing collection of biometric data, though visa interviews will happen at the US embassy or consulates.

“As the US-India relationship continues to grow, we look forward to supporting and strengthening the people-to-people ties between our two countries by facilitating travel with secure and efficient visa processing,” Stanley said. NextMAds

Currently, biometric collection and interviews take place at the embassy or consulates. The new initiative is also aimed at reducing the number of people visiting the US embassy or consulate for the visa applications, according to a press statement issued by the embassy separately.

In 2011, around 700,000 non-immigrant visa applications were processed by US consular officers in India, 11% more than the previous year.

A new website will help applicants fill out forms or even apply directly online, pay visa application fees, schedule an appointment for the collection of biometric data and fix an interview at the US embassy or consulate.

“Applicants can also contact us via telephone, email or online chat. Our call centre agents can answer questions in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu,” Stanley said, adding this was a free service.

“Appointments can be scheduled through our new website or by calling the call centre. We are offering appointments by phone for the first time,” she said.

At present, an applicant has to pay the visa fee at a bank after which he or she can apply for the visa online. Applicants wait for about 10 days to get an appointment for an interview and it takes around seven days for the person to get the visa after a successful interview. The new processing system is expected to reduce the time in which applicants get their visas. Under the new process, first-time applicants will need to schedule two appointments —one for biometric data collection and another for the consular interview. Those renewing their visas would not need to submit biometric data again though they would have to go through the interview process again.sixthMAds

Once processed, passports will be delivered to 33 document pick-up locations across the country.

However, visa application fees will remain the same worldwide, interviews will still be conducted at the embassy or consulates and applicants still have to meet the requirements for the appropriate visa class, Stanley said.

The new system will also allow companies and travel agents to purchase multiple fee receipts for group travel and accommodate the scheduling of group and emergency appointments.

“It is a confidence-building measure. Earlier, people used to hesitate going for the interview,” said Iqbal Mulla, president, Travel Agents Association of India. “With this, they are morally encouraging people to apply for visas. Of late, the travel numbers have not been encouraging, so they are simplifying the process.”

Stanley said the move is aimed at increasing tourism between India and the US as it will benefit both countries and help in generating employment.

Apart from the changed visa procedure, the US is also boosting efforts to market itself as a destination. A Brand USA panel will make its presentation next week in India to promote travel to the US.

Tourism is becoming an important industry for the US, travel experts said.

“The US government doesn’t have a tourism department and they operate through public-private partnerships. They had not been focusing on emerging markets up until now because of the cost of getting there,” said P.R. Srinivas, former India head for hospitality and travel at Deloitte Haskins & Sells, a part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.

“But if with the slowing economy, they are diversifying their focus to other markets, India will fit that perspective where they can promote the US as a premium destination.”

The number of people travelling to the US may not increase significantly, given the country’s security policy, he said.

elizabeth.r@livemint.com