Effective Wednesday, March 12, 2008 all United States consular sections in India will adjust the consular exchange rate from Rs. 40/- to the dollar to Rs. 42/- to the dollar

This rate change is effective for all rupee-denominated costs of applying for visas and passports, including the nonimmigrant visa application fee paid at HDFC branch banks prior to the scheduling of visa appointments. The new application fee for nonimmigrant visas is Rs. 5,502/- (equivalent to USD $131). Receipts issued by HDFC Bank prior to March 12, 2008 that reflect a payment of Rs. 5,240/- will be honored.

For a full listing of specific fee changes and more information on all U.S. visa and consular services, please visit the Embassy website at http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov

The U.S.Department of State has revised the worldwide nonimmigrant Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee from $100 to $131 effective January 1, 2008.

Visa applicants who paid the $100 application fee and who appear for an interview after January 31, 2008 will be required to bring a non-refundable demand draft for the $31 difference in fee.

The U.S. Mission in India will not be able to significantly increase the number of visa appointments in January. Travelers are cautioned against speculative purchases of $100 MRV appointment receipts in December. Applicants who have not yet purchased a MRV fee receipt from HDFC bank are encouraged to wait until 2008 to pay the application fee to avoid the inconvenience of obtaining a demand draft for the $31 fee difference after January 31, 2008.

The new visa regulations for students applying to UK Demands more timely and efficient processes, Says Debasmita Ghosh

Students heading to the UK for higher education this fall will now have to encounter certain major changes in the visa regulations that have come into effect since October-November, 2007. Apart from some specific security regulations, changes have been introduced in the visa application form as well. Universities and consultants are doing their bit to enlighten aspirants on this aspects but students themselves must also carefully understand the regulations before taking the plunge in order to avoid future hassles in future.

Total foreign student enrollment increased by 3%; New enrollment up 10% Strong increases from top three sending countries: India up 10%, China up 8%, Korea up 6% USC is top host university; California is top host state; NYC is top host city Business and Management is top field of study.

WASHINGTON D.C., November 12, 2007 -- The number of international students enrolled in colleges and universities in the United States increased by 3% to a total of 582,984 in the 2006/07 academic year, according to the Open Doors report, published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE) with support from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This is the first significant increase in total international student enrollments since 2001/02. Open Doors reports an even higher increase in the number of new international students, those enrolled for the first time at a college or university in fall 2006, which rose 10% from the previous year.

A separate on-line survey conducted by IIE last month in conjunction with seven national higher education associations provides an early snapshot of what campuses are experiencing in the current Fall 2007 semester, and suggests anecdotally that campuses are beginning to see increases. (Survey results are available at http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=Fall2007Survey.) In addition, a report from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs showed the number of student and exchange visas issued in FY 2007 rose 10.2% compared to the same period last year.

Effective Monday October 15, 2007 the United States consular sections in India will adjust the consular exchange rate from Rs 42 to the dollar to Rs 40 to the dollar, thereby decreasing all rupee denominated costs of applying for visas and passports at the US Embassy and Consulates General.

Effective October 15, the payment of the $100.00 visa application fee at any of the designated branches of the HDFC Bank will require payment of Rs. 4000. Receipts issued by HDFC Bank prior to October 15, that reflect a payment of Rs. 4,200 will still be honored and there will be no need for a supplemental payment.