No short cut to obtain a visa to US

There are no short cut to obtain a visa to the United States. Present only genuine documents. Mention the truth in visa forms and interviews. Do not be lured by false promises of so-called brokers and agents.This was the message of U.S. senior officials during the inauguration of new facilities at the U.S. Consulate General here on Tuesday.Geoff Pyatt, American Charge d'Affaires, told the media that the inauguration of the facilities was part of the administration's commitment to providing timely consular services. Visa interview appointments were more readily available and processing more efficient. At the same time, the U.S. immigration laws had not changed.

Mr. Pyatt cautioned against applicants' using the services of unscrupulous agents or brokers who created the false impression that they could help in getting a visa."They are committing consumer fraud. Those who pay them and submit false papers do so at great risk," he said, adding that those who presented such documents might become permanently ineligible to enter the U.S.David T. Hopper, American Consul General in Chennai, said, "Our best advice to visa applicants is to obtain accurate, reliable and free information directly from us, from our website or from our visa appointment contractor, Visa Facilitation Services."

Claiming that the demand for U.S. visas in the country saw an increase of 30 per cent in the last year, Mr. Pyatt said the U.S. embassy and consulates would process six lakh visa cases this year. "We are happy that so many want to visit the United States, and we encourage all legitimate travel." He added that there was 83 per cent increase in the number of cases handled by the Chennai office in the six months period that ended March this year compared to the corresponding period last year.Replying to queries, Mr. Hopper said the Consulate General processed 1,200 visas a day compared to 700-800 a day last year."We have done away with the backlog. Eight months ago, you had to wait five to six months to get a visa appointment. Now you can get an appointment in less than two weeks."

On the establishment of a consulate in Hyderabad, he said the administration had been working with the authorities of the Ministry of External Affairs and Andhra Pradesh Government. Noting that property had been identified for the location of the consulate, he said it had been planned to open the consulate next year.