Renewing my expired B1/B2 US Visa was quite the journey, especially since I’d changed passports a couple of times since I got my last visa. Also note, my previous visa expired in May 2023. I initiated the process in Aug 2022 and after rescheduling this twice (due to personal reasons) I landed up for the document drop-off on Aug 2023. Here’s how I tackled the process step by step:

Disclaimer:
Visa Type: B1/B2 and I’m an Indian Passport Holder. This experience might not apply for you.

1. Filling Out the DS-160 Form and Scheduling the Interview: To get things rolling, I filled out the DS-160 form and scheduled my interview through the CGI portal. They asked me a few questions to figure out if I qualified for the ‘Interview waiver’ program. This helped decide whether I needed an in-person interview or could get a waiver. You can read more about the interview waiver questions here.

I picked my VAC Centre as Chennai. However, as part of the interview waiver, I chose to drop my documents off at Bangalore as this was more convenient.

Note: You can pick one of 11 locations if you qualify for the interview waiver. Some are free, while others are paid ₹850 each for pick-up and drop (₹1700 total)

2. Navigating the Interview Process: Finally in Aug ’23, I made my way to the VFS Centre in Bangalore. They only let me in 15 minutes before my scheduled time, so there’s no point showing up way earlier. Inside, they had different counters for different countries’ visas. For the US, we had to go to the first floor where a guard issues a token before you enter. Inside was a waiting area with enough chairs to seat about 30-40 people, and they had five (of fifteen) counters dedicated to US Applicants. They had a digital display for token numbers, making it easy to keep track.

3. The Visa Drop-off: My interview was set for 12:45 pm. I got there at 12:30 pm, and after a 45-minute wait, I was called for the visa drop-off. At the counter, they asked for a bunch of things:

• Appointment Confirmation
• DS 160 Form (Shouldn’t be over a year old)
• Old Passport with US Visa
• Current Passport
• One Photo (Meeting US Standards)
• ₹850 in Cash for Delivery

After handing all that in, the VFS agent gave me an acknowledgment and said it would take around three weeks for my application to be processed.

Inside, there are quite a few seats and about 15 counters. This was for a list of countries Saudi, US, Korea, among others. 5 of these counters are dedicated to US Visa Applicants. There are 2 TVs with the token numbers and an announcement as well made as and when new token numbers were called.

I had my appointment at 12:45pm. I reached by 12:30pm and had to wait about 45 mins to get called for drop-off. At the counter, he asked for 4 things:

• Appointment Confirmation
• DS 160 Form (Should not be more than 1 year old)
• Old Passport with US Visa
• Current Passport
• One Photo (US Standards)
• ₹850 in Cash for Delivery (other payment modes are not accepted)

Once completed, I received an acknowledgement from the VFS agent and was told that it would take up to 3 weeks for it to be processed.

Unlike the visa processes for some other countries, there were no sneaky charges or extra services pushed on me during the US visa renewal. It was all pretty straightforward, which was a relief.

You can take along your mobile phone, wallet, and small electronics like a watch or earphones. But remember, laptops are a no-go. They do offer Xerox and printout services, but they’re a bit pricey(Eg: ₹150 for printout of up to 5 pages. Additional pages at ₹10/page), so it’s better to come prepared.

Update: Exactly a week after submitting my passport, I received a courier from VAC Chennai with my passports. Had to pay ₹850 in cash at the time of delivery. I checked the passport for a new visa stamp and it was present. There was no confirmation/communication of approval from the consulate. However, I have heard that in case of review, they will intimate you about that.

In case you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. Will be happy to respond!