The United States of America has implemented a new visa processing system in India, which was announced by the United States Embassy on Wednesday. According to the new procedure, the applicants  can pay application fee via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or through their mobile phones. Further, the applicants can also pay the fee at 1800 Axis bank branches across the country.

The US Consulate General in Kolkata, Julia Stanley has said that this procedure was introduced to simplify the fee payment. Also, this system would enable companies and travel agents to get multiple fee receipts for group travels unlike the previous procedure wherein a single bill was given for group travel. The new procedure, however, come into effect from September 26.

Any visa applicant, who have their queries, can get in touch with call centres, which will function between 8 am to 8 pm from Monday to Friday. The call centre executives at Hyderabad and Noida would answer the queries in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi and Gujarati.

Vox Pop:

Andhra Wishesh got in touch with some of the NRI s who were in India to extend their visas. When asked about the new system, the NRI s expressed their happiness. Here's the vox pop.

“Earlier I had to throng HDFC branches to pay the fee, and now things are being really simplified. Thanks to the US embassy. “

“This procedure is amazing. I can now pay the Visa fee with the help of the mobile. So, no need to change my tour schedule in India just because to pay the fee.”

Contact the customer care on these numbers for any query.
•    (91-22) 6720-9400 in India
•    1-310-616-5424 in the United States

All in all, it is apparently a good move by the US embassy, which is being hailed by a large number of NRIs.

(AW Phani)