CONSULAR NOTICE

Service charge for reactivation of valid HDFC Visa Fee Receipts

New Delhi -- From 9^th May, 2007 an applicant that does not attend his nonimmigrant visa interview and has his valid HDFC Visa Fee Receipt deactivated must now pay a service charge of Rs. 158 to VFS to have his receipt reactivated. The receipt can be reactivated a minimum of two business days after the applicant's visa interview appointment date.

Here is how an applicant with a deactivated receipt should proceed:

1. The applicant must go to a VFS U.S. Visa Application Center and bring his passport and original HDFC Visa Fee Receipt
2. At the VFS center the applicant should request that his receipt be reactivated and pay VFS a service charge of Rs. 158. This service charge can be paid in cash or by a demand draft that favors "HDFC Bank a/c VFS". Note: This service charge can only be paid at a VFS center
3. Once the receipt is reactivated, the applicant can book a new visa interview appointment within the validity period of the receipt, that is, one year from the date of purchase

Note: An applicant that does not attend his nonimmigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai, as indicated by non-submission of documents to VFS, can also reactivate his receipt two business days after his visa interview appointment date by using the same procedure.