US Visa Renewal Applications can Now be Submitted via Dropbox

The US Embassy has stated that people who need to renew their US visas can now submit applications via dropbox; it has also been made clear that such requests will not be entertained by email. After adjudicating over 1.25 lakh in 2022, the US embassy and its consulates in India are preparing to receive a record-breaking number of student visa applications, as per John Ballard, consular chief at the US Consulate General in Mumbai.

“It was the largest group of students we have ever adjudicated in India, and we anticipate that in 2023, more Indian students will be coming to apply for visas”, Ballard added.

Meanwhile, on January 21, to reduce wait times for first-time visa applications, the United States announced new visa initiatives for Indians, including special interviews for first-time applicants. The US Embassy said in a statement that the consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and the US Embassy in New Delhi all opened consular operations on Saturday to accommodate applicants who require in-person visa interviews. “In the upcoming months, there will be a continuation to the opening of additional slots for appointments to take place on specific Saturdays,” the statement added.

The embassy said that the US government implemented remote processing of interview waiver cases for applicants with prior U.S. visas. “Dozens of temporary consular officers from Washington and other embassies will arrive in India between January and March 2023 to increase processing capacity,” the statement continued.

It also stated that the US State Department is permanently expanding the number of consular officers assigned to the Embassy and Consulates. The US mission in India released over 2,50,000 additional appointments for B1 and B2 visas, according to authorities in the US. The B1 visa is for business purposes only, while the B-2 visa is for tourism purposes.