Residents of the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep Islands and Pondicherry should contact:

American Consulate General, Chennai
Gemini Circle
220 Anna Salai
Chennai 600 006

Phone: +91-44-2811-2000
Fax: +91-44-2811-2020
Emails:
American Citizen Services: chennaics@state.gov
Non-Immigrant Visas: chennaiNIV@state.gov
Immigrant Visas: chennaiIV@state.gov

Web site

The Consular Office Hours of operation:

Immigrant visa services 8:00 AM - 5 PM., Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri (Monday closed)
Nonimmigrant visa services 8:15 AM - 5 PM, Monday-Friday

Consulate is closed on both U.S. and Indian holidays.

Anna Salai was formerly known as Mount Road. It is located next to Anna Salai (Mount Road) flyover. It is at the intersection of Anna Salai (Mount Road) and Dr. Radhakrishnan Road(Salai) (Cathedral Road). It is advisable to make reservations based on personal references not on what they claim on the phone as to how good their rooms are. Also it helps to stay close to the consulate as most of the medical work (for immigrant visa - consular processing) is in and around and not too far.

'Salai' means 'Road' in Tamil, official language in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Distances from

• From Airport: 12 km
• From State Transport Bus Terminus: 8 km
• Central Railway Station: 4 km

You may also want to avail the facility of optional "The Stars and Stripes Lounge" at Chennai.

From Airport:
Prepaid Taxi: Available at the counter near exit. You just pay a fixed fare as per the rate card maintained by them and there is no hassle of bargaining. They are yellow and black color taxis.

Private Taxi: There is no standard color for such taxis and they are more expensive. However, they are better maintained. There are several counters for them as well.

Call Taxi: They are reasonably priced and convenient. Some of them air-conditioned while others are not. You can call them at any time. They charge extra money during night time, which is 10 PM to 6 AM. Many of them are prompt and reliable.

State Transport Bus Service: They run from the airport to the Central and Egmore railway stations, and they pass via the US consulate. For a flat fare of Rs. 50, you can disembark wherever you wish. And you can tell the driver to let you off at the consulate. They have comfortable seats and have ample luggage space.

From State Transport Bus Terminus:
The State Transport long distance bus services originate and terminate from the Thiruvalluvar bus station at Koyambedu which is about 9 kms from the consulate. Charges are quite subsidized and there is merely any comfort riding them.

Deluxe air suspension buses (airbuses): Operated by private transport operators in a bus terminus next to the Koyambedu State Transport Bus Terminus. They cost more but they are comfortable and many of them are air-conditioned. This can really be useful for longer, overnight destinations.

From Central Railway Station:
You can either use the auto rickshaw or the public bus to get to the consulate. It is wise to bargain first and set the fixed price for taking you to the consulate. You can get there in around Rs. 30 to Rs. 50. Unlike the practice in other places like Mumbai or Ahmedabad, it is not advisable to pay according to the meter as most of the meters are manipulated to run faster and you will end up paying more money.

It is best to avoid overcrowded bus transport unless you are very familiar with the bus system and comfortable with it.

There are many hotels within 10 minutes of driving distance to the consulate.

The Taj Coromandel
Less than 1 km from the consulate

Address:
37 Mahatma Gandhi Rd,
Nungambakkam,
Chennai 600034

Phone: +91-44-2827-2827


The Taj Connemara
Around 2 km from the consulate

Address:
2 Binny Road,
Chennai 600 002

Phone: +91-44-2852-0123


The Park
Diagonally opposite the consulate

Address:
601 Anna Salai,
Chennai 600 006

Phone: +91-44-2827-4911

Note: This hotel is different from Park Sheraton on TTK Road.


Chola Sheraton
Less than 1 km from the consulate.

Address:
13, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai(Cathedral Road),
Chennai 600 086

Phone: +91-44-2811-0101

Email: fom.chola@welcomgroup.com


Tulip Aruna
Around 10 minutes drive from the consulate

Address:
144, 145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam,
Chennai

Phone: +91-44-2825-9090


The Residency Towers

Address:
1/460 Mount Poonamalle Rd,
Ayyappanthangal,
Chennai 600 056


New Woodlands

Address:
72-75, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road (Cathedral Road),
Mylapore,
Chennai 600 004

Phone: +91-44-2811-3111

Fax: +91-44-2811-0460

Email: reserve@newwoodlands.com


The Palmgrove
Arcot Road
Around 5 minutes drive from the consulate. Auto rickshaw costs around Rs. 30 to consulate.
Early reservation is recommended as this hotel is popular with the persons visiting the consulate. It is not an high end hotel but it will suffice the needs of many people. Hotel looks somewhat old. Hotel has vegetarian restaurant and room service. Of course, room service is more expensive.

Internet facility and the travel agency area located just opposite to the hotel.
As of Dec 24, 2007, Single A/C room (which as 2 beds), it costs Rs. 1,150 + Rs. 143.75 per day.

Phone: +91-44-2827-1881



Budget Hotels:
Nirmala Dakshin : +91-44-2852-0545 near the LIC building on Anna Salai
The Savera : +91-44-2811-4700 on the Radhakrishnan Salai (Cathedral Road)
President : +91-44-2847-2211 on the Kodambakkam High Road
Royal Palace Hotel : Located in Triplicane. Single room is around Rs. 500 per day. Free drop from the hotel to the consulate.

Kilpalk is about 10-12 kms away from the consulate and the most popular way is the public transportation. But with no knowledge of regional language, you may want to opt for an auto-rickshaw. It could cost you about Rs. 60-70 each way from the consulate to kilpalk.

Ispahani Center
123/124 Nungambakkam High Road,
(opposite Landmark Bookstore), Nungambakkam,
Chennai 600 034

It is a shopping complex nearby the US consulate. Over there, you will find,
Coffee Day: Coffee
Sweet Chariot: Dessert
Marry Brown: Quick bite

Bosotto Brother bakery on Nungambakkam High Road for cakes and bakery items.

Vegetarian restaurants near consulate:
Komala Vilas at Kodambakkam High Road: South Indian fast food
Palimar at Parsn complex: A la carte and buffet
Saravana Bhavan on Peters Road: Fast food
The Drive in Woodlands on Radhakrishnan Salai (Cathedral Road)

Commercial office buildings of the Parsn Manere and the Parsn Commercial complexes are located diagonally across the road from the US consulate, on the other side of the Gemini flyover. There are many shops to take care of photocopy, binding and other similar needs.

Kwality Xerox
Ground Floor,
Parsn Commercial Complex
Phone: +91-44-2827-5027

Karthik Graphics
1^st Floor,
Parsn Manere

Many shops are open from 9 AM to 9 PM, except Sundays.

Photographs

Konica Color Lab
Nungambakkam High Road
1^st Floor, Above Landmark bookstore,
Apex Plaza

It is very near from Parsn complexes and it is opposite Indian Oil Bhavan.

Phone: +91-44-2827-5878, +91-44-2826-4562

It is very well equipped and reliable place. They take digital photos and also give you the prints right away.

Premier Studios
Opposite Stella Maris College

They have been dealing with US visa/immigration photographs for a long time. They can give you instant photographs in less than 1 hour.

Demand Drafts This could be bitter experience. You might have to visit various banks before you can find one that would satisfy your needs. Some may say they would issue drafts only for their customers who have a pass book. The person who is not going to the US should apply for the drafts as it maybe easier to get the refunds if necessary (If the person applying left to the US immediately).

Bank of India is located further down the road from the Konica Lab/Thomas Cook on cathedral road. They are very friendly. They know about the US consulate drafts. They issue demand drafts within 15 minutes.

For those coming from US and need currency exchange:
Global Trust bank does NOT do any currency exchange. Many other banks say the same. Some would say they change money only for our customer who have accounts there. That looks totally stupid as most of the people who needs to convert foreign currency into Indian rupees would be the ones who would be staying outside India and unlikely have the accounts there. Some may say they would issue drafts only for their customers who have a pass book. So you are better off going to someone like Thomas Cook to exchange your travelers checks into Indian rupees before attempting to get demand drafts.

There is a Thomas Cook money changers in the Konica Lab who have decent rates and also good. It seems difficult to find one easily that has Forex department that changes US $ or Travelers checks.

Demand drafts must be drawn on any nationalized bank or foreign bank with a branch in Chennai.

The following is a list of nationalized or foreign banks with a branch in Chennai from which the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai will accept Demand Drafts:

ABN AMRO Bank
American Express Bank
Andhra Bank
Allahabad Bank
Bank of America
Bank Of Baroda
Bharat Overseas Bank
Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur
Bank of India
Bank of Maharashtra
Bank of Mauritius
Bank of Muscat
Bharat Overseas Bank
Bank of Tokyo & Mitsubishi
BNP Paribas
Central Bank
Canara Bank
Citibank
City Union Bank
Dena Bank
Duetsche Bank
HDFC Bank
Honkong Bank
ICICI Bank
IDBI BankIndian Bank
Indian Overseas Bank
ING Vysya Bank
Karnataka Bank
Karur Vysya Bank
Lakshmivilas Bank
Oriental Bank of Commerce
Punjab National Bank
Reserve Bank Of India
Standard Chartered Bank
State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur
State Bank of Hyderabad
State Bank of India
State Bank of Indore
State Bank of Mysore
State Bank of Travancore
Syndicate Bank
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
Tamilnadu state apex co-op Bank
The Jammu & Kashmir Bank
The Federal Bank
UCO Bank
UTI Bank
Vijaya Bank

The Consulate does accept demand drafts from the Global Trust Bank only with the seal of the Oriental Bank Of Commerce.