Kolkata: US excitement eliminates restrictions on trips to countries from India on November 8 have been short-lived for many people from Kolkata who intend to fly to the US to meet friends and family members there.
A senior diplomat has warned that submitting a visa application will increase significantly longer because the Covid protocol, which leads to the delay in the journey.
The Karan Sarda businessman who lives in the state of Washington has been waiting to travel to meet him to lament the death of their mother in May.
Sarda and his wife’s B-1 / B-2 visa given for tourism and business needs ended one and a half years ago and they could not update it because of a pandemic.
After learning that travel restrictions have been appointed, they want to apply for drop box updates – the process where the visa is extended automatically for 10 years for visitors who have been to the previous US – but have not received slots to send applications.
“When my travel agent tried to take the slot, the earliest date available on June 16, 2022!” he says.
Hina Vasa, her husband Hitesh and their two daughters have submitted an update of VISA B1 / B2 eight months ago when their previous visa ended April 2020.
They were not aware of the fate of the application.
“We must travel in the last week of May to be able to attend our son’s convocation ceremony at Irvine, California,” said Hina.
Joydeep Mukherjee’s travel agent said he had 19 passports for visa updates but could not register until the slot was opened by the US.
Donald L Heflin, Minister of Advisory for Consular Affairs responsible for the issuance of Visa, has clarified that the promise to make promises gradually open from this year at the end of this month or in December but warned that the number would be much lower than in the past .
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While those who have a valid visa can soon be traveling, those who need a visa must wait.
In December and January, the focus would be on F-1 (Student) visas and H & L (work), followed by B-1 / B-2 drop box.
But the waiting time will be long.
Explain the reason for the delay, Hefin said there were regulatory regulations in several states and regional governments that need to be followed.
“In the Visa and Consulate office, the building is not designed with such social norms .
For the future, we will do a significant number of visas and drop box boxes, “he said.