10 steps to your B1/ B2 visa for USA. Go get it yourself !!!

B1/ B2 visa for USA is not that difficult to get once you have done the documentation and submission on time. I have learnt it the harder way, I have made my own set of mistakes for my parents visa, but those mistakes gave me a degree of perception of how to go about the right way seek the much feared US visa. One might find agents to whom you would pay through your nose and get your job done. But if you comprehend English, have access to Internet, OR know of a buddy who has the combo of this two…your job is done. I have made some notes while I was doing the visa documentation myself. I hope this makes life easy for whom s ever is applying.

1> Read and search as much as you can on the VFS-USA website. https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/index.html.

2> After reading make a list of queries you have, even if your question sounds stupid…jot it down. VFS-USA has dedicated whole page to help the applicants find their queries. They have a dedicated Call center which is y\the best way to get your answers. Use this option without any hesitation. They have customer service both in English & Hindi. just take care of what time you call them and hope its not Sat/Sun. You got to have a valid passport to apply for a visa. If the expiration date of the passport is 3 months away from your date of applying, you will not be allowed to go ahead. So keep that in check.

All India Helpline Number :0120—6611411,

All India Business Hours:
Application Centre counter timings - 0800 -1300 hours & 1400 - 1500 hours
Helpdesk timings - 0800 - 1300 hours & 1400 -1700 hours
Monday to Friday except declared Indian and U.S. Holidays.

You can even email them:

Email:
If you belong to New Delhi Embassy District email us at: infousdelhi@vfshelpline.com
If you belong to Chennai Consular District email us at: infouschennai@vfshelpline.com
If you belong to Mumbai Consular District email us at: infousmumbai@vfshelpline.com
If you belong to Hyderabad Consular District email us at: infoushyderabad@vfshelpline.com
If you belong to Kolkata Consular District email us at: infousKolkata@vfshelpline.com

3> The application procedure starts with filling the HDFC receipt. This receipt can only be availed from a selected set of branches of HDFC Bank. You should search the closest branch for you. This link should be useful to determine the nearest Bank: http://www.immihelp.com/visas/hdfc-bank-usa-visa-fee-accepting-branches.html.

The HDFC is of prime importance because of the BARCODE NO that come on the receipt. The form gets activated after 2 working days of paying the fee. They give you 2 colored receipt. So that is like act like a PASSWORD to all your applications that go online. keep that receipt safe.

You would need to carry the passport of the applicant and check the current visa fee rate. The fee is payable by cash or by DD or HDFC transfer check. Credit cards and personal cheques are not accepted. It turns out to be Rs. 6580 more or less, per head. But best way is to enquire before you go. Either call up the VFS USA customer care or search over the internet. http://www.immihelp.com/visas/fees.html.

4> You would need two passport size pics clicked. Scan and photo print both. There are specifications give by US consulate that one needs to adhere while clicking the photo. Go through https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/photospecsnew.html and ask your photographer to follow these conditions. Don’t forget that you will need to send and online copy too through DS 160 form so carry a USB to scan that to your system.

5> The next step after getting your HDFC receipt and Pic would be filling the DS-160 Form. The DS-160 is available at http://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

This form would ask the personal, passport, previous trips to US if any, previous VISA issuances IF any, purpose of travel, your family info, your financial insight, the person whom you would be staying with, or the Hotel that you will be accommodated in & your VISA photo.

The form does not get saved locally so have to keep hitting the Save the file button while filling the form. Also the page expires if there is no activity for more than 10-15 mins. Hence I suggest just play with the form at first and get all your info together and then fill the form calmly. At the start of the form they provide you a APPLICATION ID. Save that locally on your system and if the page expires, that will help you to retrieve the incomplete form at any point of time.

If you have travelled to US priorly and applying for a renewal, list all your trips to US that will be helpful for them to determine that you have made visits previously and returned to your own country. In case of a renewal you will have to put in the VISA no which is typed at the bottom right corner of the visa issued that is a 10 digit RED number. That is IMPORTANT in DS 160. That is how they track the passport no if it was issued on an expired passport and you are applying with a new passport currently.

After filling the form you can review the form and submit it. Once the form is submitted no changes can be made to it. Hence review your form nice before submitting it. At the end it will give you a confirmation of DS 160 form which is important. So keep it safely saved on your system.

6> The next step after this would be taking an interview appointment with consulate. AGAIN !!! the key is read:https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/visaappointment.html Know everything about the procedure.

Another most important thing to keep in mind is, suppose you get the interview date for 10th May. Then it is mandatory to submit the required documents minimum 3 working days prior to the date. So if you submit them before the 6th May, you are eligible for the interview, and even if you are a day short….then your interview automatically counts in a NO SHOW.

Don’t panic! Your HDFC receipt is valid for 1 year from the date is been issued. You need to follow this :

No-Show Procedures
Applicants who fail to appear for their scheduled interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy / Consulate General are considered as No-Show applicants. If you are a No-Show, your VFS service charge receipt is deactivated. You are required to reactivate your fee receipt prior to scheduling a new interview appointment.
Applicants scheduled at the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai who have failed to submit their documents a minimum of 3 days prior to their interview are not allowed to appear for their interview appointment. These applicants are also considered as No-Show and must reactivate their fee receipt prior to scheduling a new interview appointment.
Note that your HDFC receipt is valid for a period of 1 year (365 days) from the date of purchase and entitles you to one appearance at the Embassy / Consulate General. You may not purchase a new Visa fee receipt if it is still valid. Please check the validity of the Visa fee receipt before you proceed to schedule a new interview appointment.
Steps for a No-Show applicant to schedule a new appointment
Go to the nearest VFS application center a minimum of two working days after your scheduled interview. Bring your original HDFC receipt.
Pay the VFS service charge of INR 180 inclusive of service tax @ 10% and education cess @ 0.30% per applicant to reactivate your receipt.
Note: VFS cannot reactivate receipts earlier than stated.
If something substantial in your situation has changed (e.g. travel plans, employment), a new DS-160 is required. Use the saved version to update your information and submit the new form. This will create a new CEAC barcode. If nothing in your situation has changed, use your original CEAC barcode when making your appointment.
Return to this website and schedule a new appointment within the validity period of the receipt following the same procedure used in making your original appointment.

7> After taking the date to be on the safer side go submit the following if ready to VFS submission center. If you are in Bombay, it is bang opposite the Mahalaxmi Temple. If the applicant is unable to go anyone else can even go get the submission done. He will need to carry the Passports of the applicants & the Original HDFC receipt. The 2 copies of hdfc receipt will substarct here, they will take one and return you the other stamped. That is IMPORTANT for the interview date. Now that becomes your PASSWORD for the final day.

Application packet to be submitted to VFS

• Copy of the first and last page of your current valid passport. If you have any observations on your passport please submit a copy of the observation page also. You are recommended to have passport valid for travel for at least six months beyond your date of entry into the U.S.
• One photograph as per specification
• DS-160 Confirmation Barcode printout.
• Original, valid HDFC Bank visa fee receipt. (Embassy copy)
• Original interview appointment letter
• Visa renewal applicants must submit a copy of the previous expired U.S. visa stamped on their passport.
  Applicants applying for the Business Visa, working for a shipping company or airlines, need to submit a company letter in original.
• Applicants applying for the visa in order to travel with their employer as a Domestic worker must submit a copy of the contract between them and the employer and the employers’ visa and passport copy.
• Applicants joining their husband / parent on board a ship need a letter from the shipping company and the principal’s visa copy.

8> Now that you have taken the efforts of doing the submission, getting ready is the final step for the interview.

• Additional Supporting Documents required at the time of interview
  Copy of interview appointment letter, DS-160 Confirmation Barcode printout and Original, valid HDFC bank visa fee receipt (Applicant’s Copy).
  Birth certificate and, if applicable, parents' valid visas (for children's applications)
  If you are visiting a relative, carry photocopies of the relative’s proof of status e.g. Green Card, naturalization certificate, valid visa etc.
  If your are employed, carry a letter from employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed with the company; the period of authorized vacation; and the purpose of your U.S. trip.
  Business travelers need to produce proof that the Company will finance the trip. If the company is new or unknown it is helpful to carry tax records of the firm for the last 3 years.
  It is also helpful to carry evidence of how the trip will be financed along with letters of deputation, invitation or sponsorship.
  A tourist may show evidence of financial resources through bank statements and tax returns for the past 3 years.
  Dependents joining their spouse on-board ship need to carry their original marriage certificate and entire wedding photo album along with the spouse’s visa copy.

Give the consulate every proof of coming back to your country once you are done with tourism or business part of your travel. There are some agents who make their clients fill unwanted forms like I 34 and others. Dont panic….speak to customer care and get your doubts cleared.

9> Arrive the consulate at least 30 mins prior to the time scheduled. There is a facility at the VFS center where you pay a handsome amount of money to let them take you to the consulate from the center in a Bus and they even provide food and drinks on that facility. But you can skip that…have a healthy meal before you come for the interview and save that extra spending.

10> Document all your papers and label them… so that that the officer can review them with ease. Know the order of the documents so that when asked about something you are quick enough to answer. During the Interview if all your documentation both online and personal are up to the mark….you don't need to worry. They will tell you that you have been issued the VISA…and your passport will be delivered to address mentioned in your DS 160 form in 2 working days. But if you have been rejected a visa before, or you are at a marriageable age, or a Gujurati or Muslim be extra cautious. No racial discrimination fellows but mentioning what I have witnessed myself. If you ask me why…I would say….”not everything can be blogged, move your bottoms and mark for yourself”.

PS: Remember-while submission of the VFS Kit and the interview, they have strict rules about what one takes in and what one can’t. No cell phones, purses, bags, papers, plastic bags, water. Also there is no locker room facility. So keep that in mind. Also, be cool minded…the security guards are not the best people to confront. I have had bad experiences in regards to the talking etiquettes. They throw up a dark attitude most of the time even though they are your own countrymen & women.

Good Luck…