US embassy cuts long wait for visa appointments

New Delhi, Oct 5: The US Embassy is to bring down the long waiting time for visa appointments to help Indians travelling to America.

US Ambassador David C Mulford today launched the relaxed visa appointments schedule of the embassy, which allows applicants to advance their appointments through the website (www.vfs-usa.co.in).

The embassy wants to eventually eliminate the waiting period altogether, Mr Mulford said.

''We have...made a Mission-wide commitment to reduce the waiting time for a visa appointment, with the goal of eliminating the waiting period altogether, except of course, where it is an individual's preference to make an appointment for some future date to fit their own plans,'' he said.

Visa applicants will be able to avail the new appointments schedule from the embassy as well as the US consulates in Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Mr Mulford said there has been enormous growth in the movement of people between the two countries as ''relations between the United States and India have never been better''.

He said all Indian students (more than 80,000) studying this year in the US were able to get their visa interviews in time for the opening of classes.

The embassy has also taken measures to facilitate movement of business travellers from India as new business ventures between the two countries has grown exponentially, he added.

The embassy is ''sensitive to the inconvenience and long waits for appointments'', which have characterised the visa processing system in recent months, Mr Mulford said.

UNI