The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Appointments available for 400 applicants per day

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Monday, Nov 30, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Appointments available for 400 applicants per day

The customer service unit will now take phone calls for emergency matters

HYDERABAD: The Customer Service Unit for the U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad will now take phone calls for emergency/urgent matters from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at 040-4033-8300. Other non-immigrant visa inquires can be sent to HydNIV@state.gov.

After several months of decline, non-immigrant visa applications are on the increase for Andhra Pradesh. The U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad has visa appointments available for 400 applicants each day. With more demand, however, appointments fill up more quickly. Also, it’s holiday time and more people may want to travel.

We recommend potential visa applicants review their future travel plans and apply well in advance of your proposed travel dates.

Visa appointments are available up to three weeks in advance and new appointments are added daily, based on availability.

Book your appointments online through our VFS scheduling service at https:// www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx.

Q: I am a US citizen, currently residing in Hyderabad for my education. I need to renew my U.S. passport (My passport expires in December, 2009). I would like information on the procedure I need to follow for the pass

port renewal and also where I can download the required forms from. I would also like the address and phone number of the US Consulate in Hyderabad.

Kia

A: You may apply to renew your U.S. passport at any time. If your current passport was issued after the age of 16 years and was issued less than 15 years ago, then you can renew by mail or in person.

How you renew your passport will depend on your age. For detailed information, please visit our website at https://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov. Go to “American Citizen Services,” then “Passports,” then “Renewing A Passport.” This section will detail legal requirements and documents that must be submitted with the application.

Q: I have a few questions regarding my daughter’s passport (She is US Citizen). Her passport is going to expire on 11th Feb. 2010. She is in India right now visiting her grandparents. I want to renew her passpor

t in India. So could you please guide me what are the documents I have send to my parents so that my father can renew her passport in India. She will be coming to US in Spring.

Saritha

Consent of both parents is required before a passport can be issued/renewed for applicants under the age of 16. In order for the minor to travel or get a passport, each parent must sign a DS-3053 “Statement of Consent or Special Circumstances: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 16.” It must be notarized. In addition, your parents will need to present to the consular officer certified documentation showing they have consent of both parents to renew the child’s passport.

For detailed information, please visit our website at https://hyderabad.usconsulate.gov. Then go to “American Citizen Services,” then “Passports,” then “Renewing A Passport.” This section will detail legal requirements and documents that must be submitted with the application.

Q: Myself and my wife are holding B1/B2 visas with multiple entry to USA for ten years, valid upto 11th July 2010. We propose to visit USA during the month of June 2010 to attend the Graduation ceremony of my granddau

ghter. Can we apply for renewal of our visas before the expiry? If so what is the time limit? Can you apply in the month of January 2010 to be on safe side?

S. Koti Reddy

A: You can apply for a new visa at any time. There is no time limit prior to the expiration of a current B1/B2 visa. Because demand for visa appointments is increasing and appointments are filling up quickly, we advise visa applicants to make their appointments for the visa interview as early as possible.

Q: I need to book an appointment for my Non-immigrant US visa at the Consular service in Hyderabad. I am using https:// www.vfs-usa.co.in/ to book this appointment. I have selec

ted Andhra Pradesh as my state of residence on the first screen. In the next screen I am only being shown available dates in "Chennai" and not in "Hyderabad.” Could you please provide guidance as to why I do not see available dates at Hyderabad consulate on your website and if I need to do something different to check available dates at Hyderabad.

Raghu

A: As noted in “News To Know” above, there has been a significant increase in the number of visa applicants over the last month. We make 400 visa appointments available each day.

We always advise applicants to book as early as possible. You can schedule visa appointments up to three weeks in advance and additional appointments are available almost on a daily basis so you need to regularly check the availability dates. If, however, appointments in one consular section are fully booked on particular dates, the system offers you the option of scheduling appointments at the Consulate General in Chennai or the American Embassy in New Delhi.

Q: My visa was rejected under 214(b), can I reapply for visa? This is my third rejection.

Applicants may reapply for any visa category as often as they like as long as they pay the appropriate visa fee. However, if you have had your application turned down twice in the same visa category in the last six months, you are eligible only for an emergency appointment and only so many are scheduled for each day, based on immediacy/need.

If you have had your visa application refused three times, you may want to review your situation and determine whether you should submit another application.

If your circumstances have not changed, the result will probably remain the same.

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