US visa demand increases by 30 per cent

Jalandhar, May 4 (UNI) The number of aspirants seeking US visa has gone up by 30 per cent in the last three years.

US Embassy spokesperson told reporters here today that demand for US visa had been increasing constantly. The Embassy has decided to decentralise the visa application and documentation processing with the help of a private Indian company, he added.

The spokesperson said the Embassy had entered into an agreement with an Indian company, VFS, for providing better services to immigrant visa applicant at three centres in New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh.

''Therefore, now US visa seekers from Punjab would be having an option to submit their filled application (Packet-4) and requisite documents in Jalandhar or Chandigarh too'', she said.

This new arrangement has been effective since May one.

The US consulate would also start functioning in Hyderabad by May next year whereas the facilities at the Mumbai consulate would be expanded and strengthened by the year 2008.

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