What happens inside the consulate-Visitor Visa

[AshVaidy]

My parents recently went to the US consulate in chennai for visitor visa.
Just wanted to give you an idea of the current procedure, because I was looking for this kind of information and could not find it anywhere. So I thought this might be helpful for people going for visitor visa:
We made the appointment through TTService 5 months ago.

1. Eventhough they give a specific time for the appointment, they dont honor the appointment per se, people just come and stand in the line irrespective of the appointment times and they are allowed inside one by one.

2. Once inside, the applicants are subjected to frisking and baggage checks and made to walk thru metal detectors etc.

3. Then in the first counter you will hand over the DD for Rs.441 for TT service. It is Rs.441 for each applicant

4. In the next counter you will be asked to pay the DD for Rs.4600 and they will check the visa application form. At this point they may at times ask for various documents, this is the document verification stage. So please train your parents about all the forms you have in the bundle you are sending them. They should be able to give the officer the form he asks for.

5. Then based on the language in which you want your visa interview you will be directed to go to the appropriate line.

6. Here you will be asked a few questions and your visa will be granted/rejected. At this point they will only tell you whether you are granted a visa or not. You will know the visa validity duration only after you get your passport in hand.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[priyaj]

Thanks

Thanks for the info. Is there a way to track the delivery of passport. How long does it take for them to receive the passport back, (residing in Chennai).

Thanks

[anisure]

After the Visa is granted the CO ask to pay the fees.Is it the DD for Rs.2300?I thought it is the DD for Postal charges Rs.441.Plz clarify my doubt.

[immihelp]

Visa fees are given at https://www.immihelp.com/usa-visa-fees/

[AshVaidy]

I made the appointment through TTS so the DD for 2300 is collected at the end when the CO decides that the candidates are eligible for visa.
I dont know about the new system.

[immihelp]

It is the same way in new system as well except Mumbai consulate where you need to send it at least 5 days in advance.

[chanm]

In step 4 document verification stage, after verifying it, would they give the application forms, passport, documents, etc back to the applicant?

My assumption is that they would collect the documents and give a receipt and ask the applicants to go for interview. At the interview counter, the CO would have their application, passport, etc ready for interview. He may ask them few questions & ask them to pay final DD for Rs.2300 if they are eligible for visa. Otherwise, he would give the passport, documents back to them. Is this right?

Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks.

[immihelp]

step 4. They will not give those documents back.

Rest of the matter is correct.

[chanm]

thanks a lot. You have been very helpful & grateful.

[chanm]

In the document verification stage, do they have to give I134 and all sponsor documents in addition to application, passport, DD?
OR
Do they have to give the sponsor documents only if they are asked for? Please, clarify this.

Thanks in advance.