Business Executive Program

How can I change my interview date once I have already scheduled?

You may reschedule your interview date by using the “Reschedule/Cancel NIV Appointment” available on the home page of VFS website www.vfs-usa.co.in .

Do you have any provision for an emergency appointment? I have to travel immediately?

You may log onto our website www.vfs-usa.co.in and select priority appointment required. You will be asked to do a self-validation check based on the purpose of the emergency and directed to a priority appointment calendar. It is essential that you be in possession of the required documentation before you make this request. Please be aware that false statements about the need for an emergency appointment may adversely affect the case credibility during the visa interview.

What do I do in a life and death emergency situation? I cannot wait and need to travel immediately?

On account of Medical Care or Funeral/Death, if the travel has to take place within the next 3 days, please e-mail such requests for emergency appointments for tourist visas to ChennaiNIV@state.gov”

What do I do in a business emergency situation?

Please note that such requests may be sent to the ChennaiBEP@state.gov e-mail address.

What is the Rush Service / Counter Passport Collection?

This is an optional free service by which you may opt to collect your passport across the counter at the US Visa Application Centre (VFS) located in Chennai. Your passport will be available across the counter for collection between 16:00 to 17:00 hours on the day it is received from the Consulate. If it is not collected the same evening the passport will be automatically dispatched to you by courier.  

I got married yesterday and would like my wife to accompany me. I have an appointment for next week but my wife doesn't. What do I do?

You may fix an appointment for your wife on the VFS website.

But I need to travel now. Her appointment is three months from now. What do I do?

It is far easier and more effective to interview families together. So please schedule your appointments accordingly well ahead of time.

My wife and I have appointments for next week. We just had a newborn baby. How do I fix an appointment for her?

We make exceptions for newborn babies. We accept e-visa forms for newborn babies who are accompanying their parents for the interview even though they do not have an appointment obtained through the VFS website. Minor children will still need confirmed VFS appointments.

My baby was born in America and I have his/her birth certificate. He/She also has an Indian passport and I have taken an appointment for him/her. Is this okay?

No. U.S. law considers anyone born in the United States to be a U.S. Citizen and may not be issued a U.S. visa. If you are seeking assistance for the American born child, please enter the Consulate from the Cathedral Road entrance to go to the American Citizens Services Unit (ACS). Your child needs to get an American passport and will enter the U.S. on that document not the Indian passport.

I have taken appointments for my family and myself. Do I have to bring my minor children for the interview?

Personal appearance for all visa applicants is mandatory. All applicants are required to schedule individual appointments for a visa interview. You may not bring your dependent without an appointment. Please reschedule your appointment so that the whole family can come together.

I applied in Delhi and have been asked to complete my interview in Chennai. But I’ve been told I don’t need an appointment. What do I do?

You may apply in Chennai using an e-visa form within one year from the initial date of refusal on any working Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday anytime between 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon.

I applied in Singapore (or any other post outside India) and have been asked to apply in my home country. What do I do?

You will need a confirmed appointment obtained through the VFS website.

I got my passport back yesterday with a visa stamped on it. But I found that my name/ date of birth are wrong. How do I fix it?

We strictly follow the information given in the passport for visa issuance purposes. However, if you feel that a correction is required, please send us your original passport along with a correction form through VFS. Correction will be made and new Visa stamped, if approvable. There is no cost for fixing typographical mistakes that are the fault of the U.S. Consulate. However if the name on your passport does not match with that shown on your petition and application, please approach your regional passport office and get it fixed.

I got my passport with visa back yesterday. My visa says "Kumar Doe FNU". What does FNU mean? Will I have problems as my Petition and educational certificates all show my name as "Kumar Doe"?

Normally the name shown on the visa is exactly as indicated on your passport. However if the applicant's passport does not have a name written in the surname field, the entire name is shown against the surname and the legend "First Name Unknown" or FNU is reflected in the " Given name" field while printing the visa.

My passport has no surname but I do have a surname!

Please approach the passport office for any necessary correction so that the passport shows the correct given name and surname before your employee comes to the Consulate for his/her visa interview.

I came for the interview yesterday and the officer did not give me a visa. Instead he gave me a letter saying I've been refused under Section 214(b). What does this mean?

Section 214(b) stated simply, compels the officer to assume that each applicant is an intending immigrant. It is the responsibility of the individual applicant to overcome the assumption. The reverse side of the refusal letter given to your employee has additional information about Section 214(b). Further, please be advised that Consular Officers make his/her decision based on the individual applicant's ability to explain them effectively and clearly about their eligibility during the personal interview.

I came for a visa interview yesterday and I was given a Form 221(g) and was asked to bring some additional details or was told that my case was pending for administrative processing. The same form says I can reappear without making another appointment on certain days of the week. I would like to know how long this letter is valid for me to reappear for another interview without an appointment.

You are advised to follow instructions as given by the Officer at the time of interview. You may re-appear when you are ready with the required documents on any Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 within one year from the date of your original application. After that date, you would need to make a new appointment and pay the required application fee again.

If the officer has checked the box that the case is pending for administrative processing, then the applicant will need to wait for further instructions from the Consulate about completion of his or her case. In many instances, the delay is due to some further processing, i.e. name checking or fingerprint check, and may take several weeks to resolve. Applicants will be notified as soon as the processing is complete and whether the visa can then be approved.

I came for an interview yesterday and the officer did not return my documents ie my I-797 letter/ degree certificates/ marriage certificates etc. What should I do?

The Consular Officer generally returns all documents to the applicant at the end of the visa interview. In case your employee has a doubt, please check with the officer at the same time. However, if any documents have been left behind, these papers are normally mailed out to the applicant at the address he/she has mentioned on the application form. The employee may also wish to remind the officer at the end of the interview that he or she is missing those documents and would like them returned.

Our BEP employee came for his visa interview last week in Chennai. After the interview, the officer said some additional administrative processing was required before a visa could be issued. As of now, I have not received any information from the US Consulate. If possible, could you please let us know the status of his application? How long will it take?

Please check the link “Administrative Processing” in our website.

My company's employees came for their visa interview in December 2004 and gave their fingerprints. Now they need to apply for a new visa. Do they have to come in again?

All applicants need to come for a personal interview each time they require a visa. Please visit the VFS website at www.vfs-usa.co.in  and schedule appointments.

The authorized signatories in my company have changed. How many more signatories can we include?

As per current Business Executive Program Rules and Regulations, each company may designate a maximum of four signing authorities.

The Consulate also requires a hard copy of the list of the current Authorized Signatories representing your Organization under the Business Executive Program - Names, Designation and Contact Number including the e-mail ID and their respective Sample Signatures. Please make sure to keep us informed of changes in authorized signatories.

I was working for a BEP company and am now working for another BEP company. I have a valid B1/B2 from the old company. I need to travel right away. Can I use the old visa or do I have to apply for a new visa?

Yes. You may travel on the old visa. However please be advised that you may be stopped at the port of entry by the immigration officer and may have to give a detailed explanation as to why you are traveling to the U.S. this time.

I have less than 6 months remaining on my passport. May I apply for my U.S. visa?

Please get a new passport, as regulations require at least 6 months validity on a passport before we can issue a visa.

I currently have a valid US visa. Do I need to be electronically fingerprinted at the visa section before I travel to the United States?

No. You will be electronically fingerprinted at a Port of Entry on arrival in the US. If you are applying for a visa; you will be fingerprinted at the Consular section, during your visa interview.

I need to renew my recently expired non-immigrant visa. What should I do?

A US non-immigrant visa cannot be renewed. You must apply for a new visa to replace an expired one. You may schedule an appointment for a personal interview.