Visitor Visa - B2

I am a retired central Govt employee of 70 years old and with engg / scientific back ground. Myself & my wife ( a home maker) had visa interview at US consulate Chennai in April 2013 for renewal of our B2 tourist visa. We had visited US some half a dozen times with earlier multi-entry visa given for 10 years . For renewal of this visa,we had finger printing taken the previous day. At visa interview the VO asked about my nature of work experience while in service . He asked me how long I am likely to stay at US to which I replied maximum 6 months . He asked whether my wife is employed to which I replied “No, she is a home maker”. He said he is approving my wife’s visa & gave me a pink slip telling me to go to counter 31 as my case requires some admin processing . At counter 31 , an Indian lady officer gave me another pink slip with number of query items listed and asked me to submit answers to applicable items and send the reply by email. Both our passports were collected by her. A case number was written in the pink slip enabling me to track my case status online.

Intially my case status was “Send Information” then changed to “ Pending process” after receipt of my email reply. This status continued for one full month at the end of which the status changed to “Issued” I got an email from consulate saying that our visas are issued and handed over to the courier. We were thrilled and collected the passports at local VFC office. To our surprise, when we checked the entries in the passports , we find that I have been issued visa for one year only and my wife was given a 10 year visa. I do not know the reason for the differential decision . I am 70 years old, was having 10 year visa to be renewed and made number of trips with no violation of over stay etc. Still the VO renewed my visa only for one year, reason unknown . This means I have to go through this cycle again after one year, if I have to renew again.

K Sundar.