Immigrant Visas

Appointments

Click IV Interview Dates to see when your appointment is scheduled.

Immigrant visa interview appointments are scheduled by the National Visa Center and by the U.S. Consulate General each month for the following month.  Applicants are notified of their scheduled appointments through the mail and should come to the Consulate at their scheduled appointment time, bringing with them their passports, appointment letters, all other requested documentation and bank drafts made out to the “American Consulate General Chennai” to pay application and issuance fees for each person applying for a visa.  In order to avoid unnecessary delays, it is important for applicants to notify the Consular Section in writing of any changes in address or other contact information. Click here for information on Immigrant Visa fees. Additionally, for courier delivery services, please pay courier charges Rs.365/- per applicant, by cash, at the VFS office.  The Consular Section cannot accept cash for payment of delivery fees. 

Application fees are paid to the cashier first thing in the morning; if they have not already been prepaid to NVC. Applicants are then seated until they are called for an interview. Most interviews take place before lunch. If no ineligibilities or technical problems arise, immigrant visas are generally approved on the day of the application. Visas are then sent to the applicant by VFS Courier Service.

For visa applicants who have an appointment:

We recommend that visa applicants who have an appointment arrive at our office no earlier than fifteen minutes before the visa appointment.

Applicants are encouraged to bring with them only those documents required in support of the visa applications. Examples of items not permitted on our premises are: sealed envelopes, cellular phones, cameras, tape recorders or players, calculators, any device with batteries (flashlights), radios, etc.), tobacco products, lighters, matches, briefcases, large bags, weapons, and pocketknives.

We also recommend that applicants keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as the area around our office gets crowded.