US visa rate hiked to Rs 48/$

The US Embassy will adjust consular exchange rate from September 19 from the current Rs 46 to the dollar to Rs 48 to the dollar for all rupee-denominated costs of applying for visas, passports, including the non-immigrant visa application fee paid at HDFC branch banks prior to the scheduling of visa appointments.

Three weeks ago, the rate was Rs 46 to a dollar.

The new application fee for non-immigrant visas was Rs 6,288, equivalent to $131.

However, receipts issued by HDFC Bank prior to September 19, 2008, that reflect a payment of Rs 6,026 will be acknowledged and will need no supplemental payment.

According to Peter G Kaestner, minister and counselor for consular affairs and consul general for Embassy of USA, “We have to ensure that cost for applying for visas and passports is met and that due to fluctuating dollar and rupee ratio, the Embassy does not end up paying on behalf of the applicants. So, we always charge Rs 2 more than the ongoing rate.”

The US consulate in Hyderabad will employ around six Americans and 22 Indians to begin with and bring down the pressure of clearing visa applications on the other consular offices in India. According to Deborah A Miller, consul of the US Embassy, students visa applications were rising at 20 per cent every year in Kolkata.

Miller said, “We are employees in the consular section. In the last 18 months, consular section staff increased from eight to 14.”

Between October 2006 and September 2007, the US Embassy cleared 50,000 student visas, of which around 1700 were from Kolkata. In the last 11 months, the US received 57,000 student visa applications including 3,000 from Kolkata.