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Need one help. One of friends has applied for US Business visa renewal and his interview is in next few days. His passport expired and now he has got new passport but DS160 has old passport details. Does he need to update DS160 and what's the process?

Hi Everyone!

Does the UK visa usually take exactly three weeks as advertised, or does it come faster than that?

I have applied on 30th for a conference on 14-15 March. I know there is time, but the organizers are keen to do the tickets quickly.

Did you get an answer to this? I suspect your friend will have to create a new application altogether because passport number along with name, place of birth, gender and nationality is linked to the DS-160 permanently. Disclaimer: I am no expert but just went through the process of updating my DS-160 since my visa appointment was over a year after submission of DS-160 and it allows changes only to fields other than the one listed above.

In any case, don't take my word for it and contact some reliable travel agent or even call the Consulate helpline to get your answer.

Edit: Since I have posted, might as well narrate my own recent B1/B2 experience as well. It went like clockwork, the only excitement being when the DS-160 forms for my kids showed up as "expired", reason being they were submitted more than a year ago. Tried reasoning with them saying you took more than a year to give me an appointment but they claimed they could not proceed until I had updated the DS-160. Basically this creates a new confirmation number but it's quite easy to do since 70% of the fields auto-populate the data from your previous DS-160 submission. Make the requisite changes and submit the updated form. It's free if you have access to a laptop and the internet. Of course the spirit of enterprise (read "greed") means that there are service providers in the vicinity (literally the same floor as the visa application center) who offer to do this for you at a steep charge. A cheaper option is to go to a nearby cybercafe (autowalas waiting outside will happily oblige since they are in on the racket too). This costs a third of what the extortionists in the VAC building charge and was what we used. But it took us less than an hour and we went back and submitted the documents. This was on the biometrics collection day. Visa interview was absolutely chill. We didn't see any rejections in front of us, mostly parents visiting for their kids' graduation ceremonies or in some cases a corporate executive visiting his company's American office. Questions asked: what is the purpose of your visit? Have you visited the US before? Are X and Y (my kids' names) accompanying you on your trip? Does your wife already have a US visa? Took about a minute for him to communicate that our visas have been approved and a day or two for the confirmation on the CEAC website (may have been earlier, I frankly didn't check before that). Have opted for the express delivery so am now eagerly awaiting the stamped passports.

Here is a link that lists all countries that offer different Visa Free/On Arrival to Indian Passport Holders.

1. Visa Free Entry
2. Visa on Arrival
3. eVisa

Bookmark and keep as reference as this is refreshed regularly by MEA.

https://www.mea.gov.in/VFFIN.htm

Small query, first time Schengen Visa applicant. Main purpose of trip is tourism. Have planned a trip in April end to May first week. Now, can I also mention that I might need to travel again in August for my sister's wedding? I'm hoping that if I get a 6-month multi-entry visa for me and wife, that would make things little easier.

Can someone share some light on how to go about this? Should I book the tickets & travel insurance again for the Aug trip or just share the wedding invitation letter?

For first timers, you might get visa only for the duration of your holiday.

Earlier Germany used to be bit liberal but now even they have been conservative in giving visas for 6 months. But if your trip in August is confirmed, I would suggest to book your return ticket along with invite for the wedding and apply for visa. If you are lucky enough ,consulate might grant 6 months visa.

I with all my travel history was able to get only 30 days Schengen Visa for my September 2024 trip to Germany as my last trip to Europe was in 2018. Had to re apply for my Swiss trip in June 2025 which granted 6 months Visa.

No need to book later tickets for now. Just add the Invitation Card and any other evidence of her being your sister like a family photo or any document which lists all family members and ask for a 6 month Multi-Entry visa. Keep your sister's (and perhaps future brother in law's too) employment details and residency status details handy in case they ask during the interview.

Ideally none of these would be needed except a clear request for multi-entry but in your case, this being first Schengen application, best be armed will all details to avoid rejection.

Yeah, this is what I had heard as well. A couple of friends who applied from other countries managed to get multi entry Visa, but didn't know anyone who's got it from Germany in the first attempt.

Thanks, my brother in law has just got German citizenship and my sister is also on the way to citizenship. I will mention this in the application and see. Ideally, the convenience of applying once is making me do this, but if the give only single entry, will apply again.

My spouse and I had got our US Visitor visas (B1/B2) in April 2024 (detailed summary here). Our daughter was born sometime later in 2024 and thought it would be good to have a US visa for her as well. Had got her passport in early Jan (wrote about it here) and immediately applied for the US visa. Filled in the DS-160 and completed the application through https://www.usvisascheduling.com/.

Since both parents have valid B1/B2 visas and she is under 14 years, she was eligible for interview waiver. I looked for a OFC/Dropbox appointment, it was available for the very next week at Delhi VAC. For dropbox appointments, you can actually drop-off passport and other docs at any of the VAC locations and few VFS locations. The complete list is here. As we were in Kerala at the time, I chose the drop-off the documents at Kochi VFS. It was un-eventful, was in and out in 15 min or so. For drop-off at non VAC locations, there is a fee of Rs 850 which I paid with a credit card.

Now starts the wait game

Jan 16 - Drop Off, In Transit to Post
Jan 21 - Delivered To Post, Application Received in CEAC Portal
Jan 30 - Application Received (Case Updated)
Feb 5 - Application Received (Case Updated)

Now it's been 3+ weeks since the application reached the consular office. Going through reddit, it seems like many B1/B2 interview waiver applications especially for minors seem to be getting delayed, some even 2 months. I guess at this point the only option is to wait, we don't really have any travel planned, so I guess can wait.

It may be late reply but please select both tourism and family visit options in the purpose of visit.

Germany typically gives only fixed days for tourism as purpose even for multiple entry. However for family visit, they give multiple entry long term like 1 year or 2 years. Please request this clearly in the visa covering letter.

You need to attach your BIL German citizenship, your sister residence proof like blue card or work permit. It will be great if they can give an invitation letter for wedding.

Also, take an one year health insurance. It won't go waste anyway. Provide an travel itinerary for the wedding. All of this paper work really helps for long term Schengen visa.

Folks I'm looking for US visa appointment and it's not available in Chennai. I'm open for other locations and which one do you recommend.

Especially in terms of proximity to airport and ease of access and decent rooms near by Visa offices (mind it Biometrics and Interview happen in two different places and appointments are available only in two different cities).

Me & my wife in our 30s are okay to explore but don't want to get bullied by agents, taxi walla etc when they will understand we're outsiders.

I can manage Hindi to an extent but it's very obvious like South's Hindi.

I found Mumbai most convenient. You can park at the public lot nearby and walk to both the VAC (for biometrics) and the consulate (for interviews). There are tons of autos outside who will take you wherever you want to go. The queues are relatively short and there is enough space to queue up. Am using Hyderabad to compare since my wife's biometrics appointment was there- it wasn't bad but since the VAC shares space with a Metro train station, it tends to get overcrowded and you have to wait outside in the sun sometimes.

Would not recommend Delhi or Calcutta because of the distance from Chennai. I think Mumbai/Hyderabad are your best bets.

Folks looking for a visa related advice here.
I and my wife carry US B1/B2 visa on Indian passport, and I know that we get Dubai visa on arrival, we have utilized it in past.

However, this time my 4.5-year-old son will accompany. His passport doesn't have the B1/B2 visa. So, he can't get Dubai visa on arrival and needs to apply for tourist visa.

But I have heard (can't find written evidence) that Dubai doesn't issue tourist visas to minors unless accompanied by mothers and they need to take a family visa! In this case it is I (father) and son who want to travel!!
Also heard somewhere that Dubai offers free visa for minors under certain circumstances / seasons - again can't find anything in black in white.

Can the wise people on this thread help me understand my options?

Unfortunately you can’t apply for visa for a minor unless the minor is accompanied by either or both parents.

Technically while applying it will be considered as “unaccompanied minor”. In this case your existing US visa won’t be helpful as both of you will have to apply for visit visa in advance or your son should have a valid US visa. The system itself won’t process the standalone application of the minor, I guess it comes under the purview of family visa, where minors are linked with their parents.