As people schedule nonimmigrant visa appointment online through VFS, there many questions of administrative nature. We have tried to consolidate frequently asked questions in case you need to schedule, reschedule, postpone, cancel the appointment.

Many times, appointment dates are available for a long period. No influence or contact works to get an early appointment in normal course. No one can help in this matter. You have to wait for your turn.

You need to choose the correct language for the interview. If the interview dates are available in English but not in regional language (such as Tellurium, Tamil etc.), don't take the appointment in English and hope that some translator will be available at the time of the interview.
Exception: If you are applying at US embassy in New Delhi and if you speak Hindi or Punjabi you can request a visa interview in your language on the day of your interview.

While taking an online appointment, you would be asked to choose your "State of Residence", you must choose the last state where you lived for at least 6 months, unless you are an Indian citizen residing in the US and going to India for visa stamping.

When asked to enter your Visa Fee Receipt Number (the barcode number), you will also be asked to create a password based on your 'Mother's Name'. You must remember your password. If you want to reschedule/cancel, modify or download your visa application, you will need to enter your password and Visa Fee Receipt number to complete these tasks. If you forget your password, you must contact VFS.

The US Embassy/Consulates will make additional visa interview appointments available as resources permit. Additionally, cancellation or modification of visa interview appointments in the VFS appointment system makes new appointments available. Applicants who want an early appointment should check the VFS web site regularly.

VFS system saves your visa application forms (that you filled while taking an online appointment) and you can retrieve and modify them up to two business days before your interview. To modify the forms, you can visit the VFS web site. Follow the instructions and make your changes.
Note: You can not modify the information in Boxes 1 to 14 in the online DS-156 form. If you need to change the information in Boxes 1 to 14, make corrections with pen in the DS-156 form and take it to the consulate. Do not print another DS-156 form.
You can make changes to any of the questions in DS-157 form. You can write the details by pen if the details of your application change or your made a mistake.

While applying online for a non-immigrant visa in India through VFS, you can save your application for a maximum of 7 calendar days. Within this period, you may retrieve your application and continue to schedule your appointment. If you fail to confirm your appointment within 7 calendar days, your application will be deleted. You will have to re-enter your application all over again.

If you don't appear for your visa interview appointment, your HDFC Visa Fee Receipt will be deactivated. If you have scheduled the interview at the U.S. consulate in Mumbai and don't submit the required documents sufficiently in advance, it is considered the same as no show for the appointment. You will not be able to take another appointment until the receipt is reactivated which can only be done a minimum of two business days after your last visa interview appointment date.

In order to reactivate the fee receipt, bring your passport and original receipt to the nearest VFS application center. You have to pay VFS a service charge and request reactivation of your receipt. The service charge can be paid only at the VFS application center, either by a demand draft payable to "HDFC Bank a/c VFS" or in cash in person. Once the receipt is activated, you can take new appointment within the original validity of the receipt (i.e., one year from the date of purchase).

If you booked a visa interview appointment using your old passport but you now have a new passport, bring both of your passports to your view interview and inform a consular officer.

If you had a newborn baby after you scheduled an appointment, you don't have to arrange an appointment for your new child. You have to take following steps instead:

1. Pay the visa application fee and VFS service charge for your child at a designated branch of the HDFC bank.
   
   
2. Fill online form DS-156 with barcode for your child and take a print out.
   
   
3. Bring your child with you to your visa interview along with the child's mandatory documents and applicable supporting documents. The child's documents must include an original passport, one recent photograph, a completed E-Visa Application Form DS-156 and two-page Visa Fee Receipt.

Note: This exception to standard procedures is only for newborn children who were born after the appointment for parents was already taken.

Reschedule/Cancel Appointment

Learn about the rules before you change or cancel your visa interview appointment. The rules are as follows:

Move appointment to later date
You can move your appointment to a later date only once. To move your appointment to later date a second time, first cancel your current appointment and then book a new appointment.

Move appointment to earlier date
To move your appointment to an earlier date, cancel your current appointment and then book a new appointment.

Cancel appointment
You can cancel your appointment only two times. After the second cancellation your HDFC Visa Fee Receipt is deactivated for 90 calendar days. You will not be able to book another appointment until the 90 days have passed.

Move appointment to an emergency date
To move your appointment to an emergency date you must not cancel your current appointment . When you see the ‘Emergency Appointment’ link in the appointments calendar, click on it and follow the instructions. Book an emergency appointment only if you qualify for one and can provide documentary evidence of the emergency. Penalties apply to those that misuse this system.

Notes:

1. Your HDFC Visa Fee Receipt can be used to book a visa interview appointment and appear within one year from the date of issuance. The Fee Receipt will expire if you do not actually appear for the interview within one year and you will need to buy a new receipt if you still wish to travel to the U.S.
2. You can change or cancel your visa interview appointment up to two business days before your appointment unless your appointment is at the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai. If your appointment is at the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai you can change or cancel your appointment up to five business days before the appointment.