Avoid Visa Facilitators : U.S.
Special Correspondent
Courtesy: The Hindu, Thursday, October 11, 2007

Posted Oct 25, 2007

NEW DELHI: Promising faster visa clearance to travelers to the United States, a senior State Department official called on applicants to avoid middlemen promising guaranteed travel documents or selling packages of documents. “My message to you is straightforward: we have implemented many procedures to strengthen U.S. border security and worked to ensure that our visa process is the beginning of a positive welcome the U.S. gives to legitimate travelers,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty told newspersons here on Wednesday.

“Visa demand is skyrocketing throughout India. We are going to continue to streamline the process for general travelers. At the same time we caution them not to be fooled by advertisements of visa document packages or offers of guaranteed visa. There is no need of middlemen. The complete information is on the website. Please do not fall for unscrupulous operators,” she added.

Ms. Harty pointed out that though the policy of the U.S. government was to increase the number of H-1 B visas, there was no move in that direction by U.S. Congress whose approval was mandatory. On the cost of visas, she was not prepared to make an announcement because the Bureau of Consular Affairs was in the middle of a cost of service study.

With the U.S. Department of Commerce reporting over 4 lakh arrivals last year and estimates indicating a further rise this year, India is likely to move into the ranks of the top 10 countries sending visitors to the U.S. This year the U.S. received over 50,000 student visa applications from Indians, the highest number ever.

The U.S. has implemented several enhancements to the visa process to facilitate international travel from all countries, including India. Applicants can now use an electronic visa application form that reduces errors, eliminates duplicative data entry and increases the number of applicants consular staff can interview daily.

It has also increased staffing to meet demand and is expanding its facilities to accommodate more customers. In New Delhi, a $7 million renovation project will add 10 interviewing windows and double the size of the current section. A new consulate building in Mumbai is scheduled for completion in 2009 and a new consulate general will be inaugurated in Hyderabad next year.

"The bottom line is that we will continually strive to streamline process for legitimate travelers while protecting the security of our borders, and thus of our citizens and visitors, she said.