Pretoria - As of Thursday new procedures for US visa application with lower fees for applicants will come into effect, the US Embassy said.
The two changes will come into effect for non-immigrant visa interviews which will result in fewer fees for applicants.
Applicants will no longer have to pay or buy a pin number to make an appointment for a visa interview and successful applicants can pick up their visas for free at a pre-selected DHL location. However, applicants will retain the option of paying DHL for home/office delivery, or paying for expedited delivery to a DHL office.
The embassy said under the new system, applicants must first complete an online application on http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html after which they must pay an application fee at an ABSA bank branch. Applicants must first obtain a preprinted special deposit slip, visit http://southafrica.usvisa-info.com or call the call center (080 098 0444 or 021 300 9700).
Applicants must then make a visa appointment either online at http://southafrica.usvisa-info.com/ or by phone at the same numbers.
"The change in visa fee collection applies only to non-immigrant visa applicants. Persons applying for immigrant or fianc,e visas will continue to pay fees at the US Consulate General in Johannesburg using the existing application process," said the embassy's Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau.
Those who booked before 7 April but have an appointment between 7 April and 30 April 2011 will be contacted regarding their payment options.
The embassy added that only the non-immigrant visa appointment system and the location for non-immigrant visa fee collection are changing. All other requirements relating to eligibility and documentation for US non-immigrant visas remain unchanged. - BuaNews
