Frequently Asked Questions on Business Executive Program
- What is BEP?
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Frequently Asked Questions on General Visa Procedure
The Business Executive Program is a program developed to facilitate frequent business travel to the United States. Although it is helpful being an employee of a Business Executive Program company, this does not guarantee the employee applicant a visa.
Why should I enroll in your Business Executive Program?
The Business Executive Program helps consular officers make more informed decisions while adjudicating visa applications. Applicants carry a teal colored folder, which identifies them to the consular officer as an employee of a legitimate, well-established business. Members have access to a dedicated email at ChennaiBEP@state.gov to address questions about visa processing. Members also receive frequent updates on visa processing and yearly conferences with consular officials.
No. The issuance of a visa is based on many factors. One of these factors is the ability to cogently explain the nature and purpose of your employee's business trip to the United States. Whether or not an employee of a BEP company, it is most important that the applicants qualify on their own merit.
What kinds of companies are eligible for membership in the Business Executive Program?
To qualify for admission to the BEP program a company must be well established, have a significant workforce and have demonstrated a need for at least 25 visas a year.
I would like to enroll my company in your BEP program. How do I do it?
If you feel your company satisfies at least one of the following criteria i.e.,
1. BEP member at any other Consulate/ Embassy in India
2. Member of Fortune 1000 or S & P 500 or Sensex 100
3. Subsidiary/ Group company of an active BEP member company
Please complete the BEP Application package provided and send the hardcopy through mail to:
Business Executive Program
Non - Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Consulate General
220, Anna Salai, Chennai 600 006
Click here for the BEP Application
Please note that during the application process the BEP firm will be required to prove that you have obtained at least 25 business visas from the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai in the last one year. If you currently are unable to prove this level of travel, its strongly advised that you wait until your company is able to establish this level of activity and apply later if interested.
Do I need to make any payment to become a BEP member?
No, the membership is free of cost.
How do I obtain a BEP User ID and password to access the BEP/VFS link?
Companies which are approved to join the BEP will be provided with the BEP User Id and Password by the Consulate.
The authorized signatories in my company have changed. How many more signatories can we include?
Under current Business Executive Program Rules and Regulations, an active BEP member company may designate a maximum of four signatory 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 printed on the letterhead of your company. Please make sure to keep the Consulate informed of changes in authorized signatories.
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.
Report immediately to the BEP via email at chennaibep@state.gov about any employee holding valid US visas who resigns from the company, absconds, changes status in the US or has been turned around at the Port of Entry. Please include the visa details in the email.
BEP appointments can be scheduled only for direct-hire employees of member companies with an office in the Chennai consular district. Contractors and individuals sponsored by the company do not qualify for BEP appointment.
Will subsidiaries/ associates of BEP member companies qualify for registration under the Program?
If you feel that your subsidiary/group company may qualify for a separate membership based on volume of visas processed, please fill the BEP application package and send it to the Consulate. We shall contact you once the application is reviewed and a decision is made.
Do you have any provision for an emergency appointment? I have to travel immediately?
In case of real business emergencies, the authorized representative from the member companies may send their requests to ChennaiBEP@state.gov with the details. Expedited appointments may be granted after reviewing the urgency of the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions on General Visa Procedures
Where do I get information about visa procedures in Chennai and Visa Regulations?
You may visit the following websites for information–
(1) http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/
(2) The U.S. Department of State websites at http://travel.state.gov/ or http://foia.state.gov/REGS/fams.asp?level=2&id=10&fam=0 for visa laws and regulations.
Visa applicants should make their visa applications at the Consulate with
jurisdiction over the place where the applicant lives and conducts his or her life. You should list your current address on the DS-156 at serial number 15. If your employee is applying for a J-1 or J2 visa please fill out details of addresses on the DS-158 at serial number. 4.
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.
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 ChennaiBEP@state.gov
You may apply in Chennai using an e-visa form within one year from the initial date of refusal on any working day anytime between 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon.
The Consulate strictly follows the information given in the passport for visa issuance purposes. However, if you feel that a correction is required, please send your original passport along with a correction form through VFS. Correction will be made and new Visa stamped, if approvable. 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.
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.
The Consular Officer generally returns all documents to the applicant at the end of the visa interview. However, if any documents have been left behind, these papers are normally mailed out to the applicant through VFS. 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.
Please check the link “Administrative Processing” in our website.
No. If you hold a valid US non-immigrant visa in an expired Indian passport, you may carry both your expired and new Indian passport together and travel between India and the United States until the non-immigrant visa expires. You do not need to obtain a new non-immigrant visa.
What do I have to do if I have lost or misplaced my Indian passport with a valid US visa?
If you have lost your passport, please inform immediately the US Embassy/ Consulate from where your visa was issued. If you have a copy of the passport or visa, email this to ChennaiBEP@state.gov.Otherwise, if known, report the category of visa and the passport number associated with the lost/stolen visa. If you have already reported your visa lost/stolen to the U.S. Embassy abroad, and then you later find your misplaced visa, please note that the visas will be invalid for future travel to the U.S, and you must apply in person at an Embassy or Consulate abroad for a new visa.
You can arrive in the US up to the last date of the validity of the visa. The duration of stay in the US is determined by the DHS authorities at the Port of Entry.
If an employee leaves the company, should we have to cancel his / her visa?
No, only U.S. government officers should cancel visas when necessary. If the company wishes to cancel the valid H and L visas on resignation of the employee, the passports have to be sent to the Consulate, with a request to cancel the visas.