According to reliable sources, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi plans to issue a press release that will announce the end of its Drop Box procedure for nonimmigrant visa applications at all consular posts in India. According to Embassy representatives, the last day to utilize the drop box in Chennai will be June 30, 2004. However, members of the Chennai Business Executive Program will be given an extension of use until July 15, 2004.
As of July 16, 2004, all nonimmigrant visa applicants in Chennai will need to set up an appointment for a personal interview with a consular officer. Any applications received after July 15 will be returned to the applicant with instructions to set up a physical appointment.
This change in procedure will be in effect in July 2004 when U.S. consular offices in India start electronically collecting biometric identifiers from all visa applicants (with the exception of applicants traveling on official government business and individuals under age 14 or over age 79). These scanned biometric identifiers (fingerprints) will be compared at a U.S. port of entry with the applicant’s fingerprint to prevent the abuse of visa privileges by imposters/criminals.
The collection of biometric identifiers is a global change in U.S. immigration procedures and has already been implemented in over 150 U.S. consular posts worldwide.