VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Pay Visa Fee at HDFC Bank :
How much?
Visa fee : 140$ ( Please Calculate Accordingly)
Note : Visa fee is revised when the dollar rate changes. Confirm the latest amount on the site
http://www.vfs-usa.co.in
Where do I pay this fee?
At select HDFC Bank Outlets.
Not all HDFC BANKs accept the fee so check according to your location.
HDFC branches accepting VISA fees..
https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/ApplnForms/HDFC/HDFCAddressList.aspx
note: This link is readable in Internet Explorer only.

What documents do I need?
Just a photocopy of the first page of your passport.
Preferably i20 xerox copy also.

How do I pay this fee?
Three options :
1) Cash (Highly Recommended)
2) Demand Draft
3) HDFC Bank Cheque
$140 fee is payable in CASH or by DD/HDFC Bank cheque favoring “US Embassy - Visa Fees”. DDs issued by cooperative banks are not accepted.
Service Charges to be paid by CASH or Drafts/ Cheques to be made in favour of "HDFC BANK A/C VFS" .

What's next?
After you pay the fee, you will get two copies of the receipt - One Pink and One Blue. Keep these safely. We will see what to do with them later.
There will be a barcode sticker on both receipts with the same number. Please note this number since you will need it to login to the VFS site.
Your barcode number will be activated two working days after you pay the fee. You cannot login to the forms till then.
Pink Slip is supposed to be submitted to consulate on the day of the interview. Blue Slip to be retained with you. Dont play around with the barcode sticker as the officer at the consulate removes this and pastes on your passport before the interview.

Step 2: DS-160 Form

What is DS-160 form??

Ds-160 form should be filled by every student and submitted to get a barcode number called as the CEAC BARCODE. This barcode is very important to book your visa slot.
Average time it takes to fill this form is arnd 1 hour.

What all documents are required ??

HDFC RECIPT .
I-20. which contains sevis number.
Passport Number and Passport also.
50x50 size (2x2 inch) Photo on a white background only. Which is to be scanned and uploaded on their site.
Date of Birth of Parents and Names as its their on the backpage of your passport.

What Questions does this form contain ??
The form contains many questions but some very important ones are:

1) Previous Employment.? If you write yes get ready to answer this in your visa.
2) Cousins/Brothers Staying in US.? Even if your brother/Sis is staying in US write no or else the VI will ask whats he doing and why didnt he return back to India after MS and all . If you are confident with the answers then write down correctly. They cant cross check if you write no, so no probs.

3) Where are you going to stay in US ? College Campus. Wuld be a VI question as well.

Rest of the questions are very simple. But keep saving each and every page. As there are 9 sections.

What to do after filling the form?
If you have filled the form and cross verified all the questions, submit the application. After you submit the application you will get a CEAC barcode number which is needed to book a visa slot.

STEP3 : Book Your Visa Slot.

Before you book your visa slot you would be asked two questions,

1) Whether you have been rejected visa twice in the last six months.

2) and Second question are you applying for the same visa which has been previously rejected. ??

Answer to both these questions is No if applying for the first time. If you by mistake answer them as YES, please correct it at the consulate on the day of the Visa Interview before the interview. There would be a counter where you submit your passport, i20, sevis application fee, visa confirmation page, hdfc receipt, DS-160 confirmation page. Tell the concerned person about the mistake.

SAFELY KEEP THE VISA CONFIRMATION PAGE, WITHOUT THIS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CONSULATE.



Step 4 : Pay SEVIS Fee :

What is SEVIS and why do I need to pay this?
SEVIS stands for Student Exchange Visa Exchange. If you want an F1 visa, you have to pay it. For further queries, visit http://www.fmjfee.com. You are supposed to pay atleast 3 days before your interview is scheduled. This is a very important, as all the information you have given to the university will be sent to the US-Consulate.
How much is the SEVIS fee?
$200
How do I pay this fee?
You can pay this fee online by credit card at http://www.fmjfee.com.
You will need to fill Form I-901 before paying the fee.
Please keep your printer ready to print the receipt after paying the fee. Print atleast 4 copies or atleast save this or mail it to yourself.
What documents do I need?
You will need your I-20 which contains your SEVIS number and School Code.

STEP 5: GETTING THE DOCUMENTS READY READ HERE