US opens visa facility in city

Despite the economic slump affecting the number of people visiting the US in the last six months from Kolkata,the US Consulate opened its new visa section in the city on Tuesday.

The capacity of visa interview windows has been doubled with a separate entrance allowing the visa processing to be smoother, said Beth Payne,US Consul General,Kolkata.

The project aims to improve facilities for consular operations in eastern India, she added.

With the US visa offices in India processing over 7,50,000 visa applications last year from the 4,59,000 processed in 2006,the US government is keen to encourage more Indians to visit the country.

We are expanding and renovating the US Embassy in New Delhi and the consulate in Chennai along with a new facility in Mumbai. We will also open a new consulate at Hyderabad, said Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs,Peter Kaestner.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram