Immigration Attorney
Services & Fees

June 23, 2004

A notice from the American consulate in Chennai states that the embassy in New Delhi will soon issue a press release announcing the end of the drop-box procedure for nonimmigrant visa applications at all four American consular posts in India.

Beginning on July 16, 2004, all nonimmigrant visa applicants will have to be interviewed prior to visa issuance.

Visa application through the drop-box service is ending because, beginning July 16, 2004, all four posts in India will start electronically collecting biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) from all visa applicants, except those traveling on official government business, or who are under 14 or over 79.
The consulates require fingerprints and facial scans in order to comply with the Department of State’s requirement that visas issued after October 26, 2004 must contain biometric identifiers.

The scanned fingerprint data collected at the time of visa application will be compared with fingerprint scans taken at the United States port of entry.

What this means:

It is anticipated that visa issuance at American consulates in India will be delayed once the drop-box service ends on July 16, 2004. Visa applicants should expect delays and plan accordingly.