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Tag: consulate

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad announces student visa appointment schedule

    US Consulate in Hyderabad announces student visa appointment schedule

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    Hyderabad: The US Consulate in Hyderabad has announced the schedule for student visa appointments for the upcoming season. The first batch of appointments will be open in mid-May, with additional appointments released later in the season. The consulate has advised students to prepare themselves for the appointments.

    To ensure a smooth and efficient process, US Consulate in Hyderabad has recently released a video detailing the prohibited items at its Nanakramguda facility. Visitors, including US citizens, must undergo security screening upon arrival, and there are several items that cannot be taken inside the consulate.

    List of prohibited items at US Consulate in Hyderabad

    There are several items that cannot be taken inside the US Consulate General in Hyderabad.

    MS Education Academy

    Following is the list of prohibited items at the consulate

    1. Cell phones
    2. Battery-operated or electronic devices,
    3. Bags including purses, travel bags, backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases (Unsealed plastic bags, small cloth bags and zip folders)
    4. Food or drink items
    5. Cosmetics
    6. Sealed envelopes or packages
    7. Flammable items
    8. Sharp objects
    9. Weapons
    10. Long-handled umbrellas, and
    11. Powders of any kind, including religious-related powders or spices.

    Visitors including those with US student visa appointments must carry government-issued identification, and it must be the original document. Photocopies of IDs are not accepted. Additionally, visitors must ensure that the name on their identification matches the name on their appointment at US Consulate in Hyderabad.

    New address of US Consulate at Nanakramguda

    The new facility of the US Consulate in Hyderabad is located at Sy. No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032. The consulate serves as the largest US diplomatic mission in South Asia

    The consulate office was built with an investment of USD 340 million and is situated on a 12.2-acre site with 54 visa processing windows.

    On March 15, 2023, the consulate officially ended its lease of Paigah Palace and began operations at the new facility on March 20, 2023.



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad releases video on prohibited items at Nanakramguda facility

    US Consulate in Hyderabad releases video on prohibited items at Nanakramguda facility

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    Hyderabad: The US Consulate in Hyderabad recently released a video regarding prohibited items at its Nanakramguda facility. The consulate serves as the largest US diplomatic mission in South Asia, and all visitors, including applicants for passport and visa services, individuals attending meetings or events, and even US citizens, must undergo security screening upon arrival.

    It is mandatory for visitors to carry government-issued identification, which must be the original document. Photocopies of IDs are not accepted. Additionally, visitors must ensure that the name on their identification matches the name on their appointment.

    List of items prohibited at US Consulate in Hyderabad

    There are several items that cannot be taken inside the US Consulate General in Hyderabad.

    MS Education Academy

    Following is the list of prohibited items at the consulate

    1. Cell phones
    2. Battery-operated or electronic devices,
    3. Bags including purses, travel bags, backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases (Unsealed plastic bags, small cloth bags and zip folders)
    4. Food or drink items
    5. Cosmetics
    6. Sealed envelopes or packages
    7. Flammable items
    8. Sharp objects
    9. Weapons
    10. Long-handled umbrellas, and
    11. Powders of any kind, including religious-related powders or spices.

    As the list is not exhaustive, other items can be prohibited at the discretion of security staff.

    Upon arrival at the consulate, visitors will be asked to place all their belongings in a tray that goes through an X-ray machine. If any prohibited items are found, the applicant will be asked to leave the premises and come back after keeping them somewhere outside the premises of the US Consulate.

    New address of US Consulate at Nanakramguda

    The new facility of the US Consulate in Hyderabad is located at Sy. No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032.

    The new consulate office was built with an investment of USD 297 million and is situated on a 12.2-acre site with 54 visa processing windows.

    On March 15, 2023, the consulate officially ended its lease of Paigah Palace and began operations at the new facility on March 20, 2023.



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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad at Nanakramguda to process over 3000 visas daily

    US Consulate in Hyderabad at Nanakramguda to process over 3000 visas daily

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    Hyderabad: After its inauguration on March 20, the US Consulate in Hyderabad held its first press meeting at its Nanakramguda office in the city on Wednesday.

    The press meet was addressed by Consul General, Jennifer Larson and Consular Chief, Rebekah Dramé. The officials clarified doubts over Dropbox facilities, visa wait times and other queries.

    The officials stated that visa procession windows at this office have been increased to over 50. Consular appointments – both visa and U.S. citizen services appointments, have been increased from 1500, at Paigah Palace, to 3500 at Nanakramguda and soon more officials will be appointed to run the office at full capacity.

    MS Education Academy

    The officials stated that the US Mission in India has set a goal to process one million visas this year adding that apart from B1 and B2 visas, ie; for visitors, the wait times have been dropped down to below 6 months.

    In terms of drop box facilities, they stated that if a person has in the past been granted any visa for the US, the drop box will ease the process for them as it waives off interviews and shortens wait time. Intercategory visa change or renewal may also be done through drop boxes.

    The following are the wait times at the Consulate in Hyderabad:

    WhatsApp Image 2023 04 19 at 6.22.28 PM

    New address of US Consulate in Hyderabad’s Nanakramguda

    The new facility of the US Consulate in Hyderabad, which is the largest US diplomatic mission in South Asia, was built with an investment of USD 297 million. The new consulate office, constructed on a 12.2-acre site, has many new features, including 54 visa procession windows.

    The consulate is located at Sy. No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032.

    US Consulate at Paigah Palace began operations in 2009

    The US Consulate office in Hyderabad which is the first US diplomatic office to open in India after 1947 began its operation in 2009.

    Till March 15, it was housed in Paigah Palace, Chiran Fort Lane, Hyderabad. It covers three states viz., Telangana State, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

    The palace was built by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra who was a Paigah nobleman and it is spread on four-acre land. It is a double-storied building.

    In the past 14 years, the US Consulate approved over 16 lakh visas and processed 42511 citizenship services. Now, the US authorities are looking forward to surpassing those numbers.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Indian Americans rally in support of India at San Francisco Consulate

    Indian Americans rally in support of India at San Francisco Consulate

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    Washington: A large number of Indian-American community members held a peace rally in support of India in front of its consulate in San Francisco that was vandalised by separatist Sikhs early this week.

    A group of pro-Khalistan protesters on Sunday attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

    Scores of Indian Americans drove from in and around San Francisco and waived the tri-colour flag to show solidarity with India on Friday.

    They condemned the destructive activities of separatist Sikhs, who were also present there in small numbers.

    Local police were present there in sizable numbers to prevent any untoward incident. Some of the separatist Sikhs chanted pro-Khalistan slogans, but they were outnumbered by a large gathering of Indian Americans who chanted “Vande Mataram” and waved the Indian national flag along with that of the US.

    Indian Americans were chanting slogans in favor of India.

    In recent months there has been a rise in anti-India activities in Canada, Australia and the UK by Khalistan supporters who have vandalised some Hindu temples in these countries.

    India on Monday lodged a strong protest with the US Charge d’Affaires in Delhi over the incident of vandalism at the Indian consulate general in San Francisco by some pro-Khalistan elements during a protest.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said the US government was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

    About 4.2 million Indian American/Indian origin people reside in the US. Persons of Indian origin (3.18 million) constitute the third largest Asian ethnic group in the US.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • India lodges protest with US over attack on San Francisco consulate

    India lodges protest with US over attack on San Francisco consulate

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    New Delhi: India on Monday lodged a strong protest with the US on the attack on its Consulate General in San Francisco.

    Summoning the US Charge d’Affaires here, it conveyed its strong protest at the vandalisation of the property.

    “The US Government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation. It was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents,” the MEA said in a statement.

    The MEA said that the Embassy in Washington D.C. also conveyed concerns to the US State Department along similar lines.

    After the London incident where the tricolour was removed from the Indian High Commission building, videos of a mob attacking the Indian consulate in the California city have surfaced.

    As per reports, with loud music playing in the background, a large mob is seen in the video, attacking the Indian consulate, spray-painting a huge graffiti on its outer wall, saying “Free Amritpal”.

    In fact according to reports, several videos, apparently filmed by the miscreants themselves, showed men breaking glass doors and windows of the consulate building with butts of Khalistani flags.

    Employees of the consulate were later seen removing the flags in the videos, when suddenly a mob can seen breaking through a barricade from behind which they were shouting slogans. The employees can be seen running inside the building with the protestors trying to follow them.

    Videos further showed that after doors of the consulate were slammed shut on their faces, the protestors starting hitting them with flags, while one of them smashed the windows of the building with a sword.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad moves to own facility built at cost of $340 million

    US Consulate in Hyderabad moves to own facility built at cost of $340 million

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    Hyderabad: The US Consulate General in Hyderabad on Monday opened operations at its new facility at Nanakramguda.

    Fifteen years after commencing the operations from historic Paigah Palace in Begumpet, the Consulate has moved to its own building in the Financial District, Nanakramguda, an information technology cluster in western part of the city.

    “Today marks a milestone in the US-India Strategic Partnership,” US Consul General, Hyderabad, Jennifer Larson, said.

    “At a cost of $340 million, our new consulate facility in Hyderabad is an investment in the US relationship with India. We look forward to increasing our staff – including visa officers – in order to continue expanding US-India ties in the months and years to come,”” she said.

    Established in 2008 at the historic Paigah Palace, the US Consulate General in Hyderabad is the first US diplomatic office to open in India since India’s independence. Groundbreaking at the new location in Nanakramguda took place in 2017.

    Located on a 12-acre site, the new consulate embodies the US State Department’s mission to provide safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities for U.S. diplomacy. The $340 million construction project included $70 million in local investment and employed a combined workforce of over 1,000 American, Indian, and third-country nationals.

    The US Consulate General represents the US in the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The US-India relationship in the region spans a wide range of key issues, including higher education and cultural programs, military cooperation, health and environmental issues, and commercial ties, the US Consulate said in a statement.

    The US Consulate General Hyderabad issued more than 18,000 student visas during 2022, while US companies have invested billions of dollars in the region’s tech, defense, aerospace, and pharmaceutical sectors.

    Through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the Consulate works with local partners to preserve historic monuments, while Consulate staff work with local journalists to combat disinformation and expand coverage of climate change. US and Indian militaries also teamed up for joint exercises based out of Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, it said.

    Visa applicants who have scheduled interviews should now go to the US Consulate’s new facility in Nanakramguda for their interviews.

    All other visa services – including biometrics appointments, “dropbox” appointments (interview waiver), and passport pickup – will continue to take place at the Visa Application Center (VAC), located at the Lower Concourse, HITEC City Metro Station, Madhapur, Hyderabad.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad releases video explaining visa services at Nanakramguda

    US Consulate in Hyderabad releases video explaining visa services at Nanakramguda

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    Hyderabad: The US Consulate in Hyderabad has released a video explaining visa services at its new facility in Nanakramguda, ahead of the reopening.

    The video features Consular Officer Cathy, who explains the process for applying for a visa to visit or work in the US. She emphasizes that the process has not changed and still involves making appointments for biometrics and an interview.

    New address of VAC, US Consulate at Nanakramguda

    Cathy goes on to explain that biometrics appointments will now take place at the new Visa Application Center (VAC) location, while the interview appointment will take place at the new US consulate in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad.

    She also provides the address for the new facility, which is located at survey number 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana.

    Drop box procession for US visa

    The video also covers drop box processing, which remains unchanged. The applicants can still use the dropbox if their visa hasn’t expired more than 48 months ago. All dropbox cases will be taken to the VAC and transferred to the consular section.

    In another video, the US Consulate in Hyderabad explains how to reach the VAC, which is located at the Lower Concourse, HITEC City Metro Station, Madhapur.

    US Consulate in Hyderabad ends operations at Paigah Palace

    The consulate officially ended operations at Paigah Palace, located in Begumpet, Hyderabad, on Wednesday, and is set to reopen at the new facility on March 20.

    The new US Consulate in Hyderabad, which is set to become the largest one in South Asia, was built with an investment of USD 297 million.

    The US Consulate office in Hyderabad began its operation in 2009 and has approved over 16 lakh visas and processed 42,511 citizenship services in the past 14 years. With the new facility, the US authorities are looking forward to surpassing these numbers.



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    #Consulate #Hyderabad #releases #video #explaining #visa #services #Nanakramguda

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • US Consulate in Hyderabad ends operations at Paigah Palace, moves to Nanakramguda

    US Consulate in Hyderabad ends operations at Paigah Palace, moves to Nanakramguda

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    Hyderabad: US Consulate in Hyderabad on Wednesday officially ended operations at Paigah Palace and gears up to re-open the facility in Nanakramguda on Monday, March 20.

    Yesterday, the consulate lowered the US flag at the palace located at Begumpet, Hyderabad.

    Later, US Consul General Hyderabad Jennifer Larson tweeted, ‘Today we lowered the U.S. flag at Paigah Palace for the last time. It’s been an amazing 14 years here and we’re excited to open a new chapter in the U.S.-India partnership at our new facility in Nanakramguda’.

    New address of US Consulate in Hyderabad’s Nanakramguda

    The US Consulate is shifting to its new address in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad. On Monday, the US flag will be raised at the new facility.

    As of March 20, the address of the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad will be Sy. No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032.

    The US Consulate in Hyderabad which is going to be the largest one in South Asia was built with an investment of USD 297 billion.

    Apart from 54 visa procession windows, the consulate office which is constructed on a 12.2-acre site will have many new features.

    US Consulate at Paigah Palace began operation in 2009

    The US Consulate office in Hyderabad which is the first US diplomatic office to open in India after 1947 began its operation in 2009.

    Till March 15, it was housed in Paigah Palace, Chiran Fort Lane, Hyderabad. It covers three states viz., Telangana State, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.

    The palace was built by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra who was a Paigah nobleman and it is spread on four-acre land. It is a double-storied building.

    In the past 14 years, the US Consulate approved over 16 lakh visas and processed 42511 citizenship services. Now, the US authorities are looking forward to surpass those numbers.



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    #Consulate #Hyderabad #ends #operations #Paigah #Palace #moves #Nanakramguda

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Khalistan supporters force closure of Honorary Consulate of India in Brisbane: Report

    Khalistan supporters force closure of Honorary Consulate of India in Brisbane: Report

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    Melbourne: The Honorary Consulate of India in Brisbane was forced to close down on Wednesday due to safety concerns after Khalistan supporters organised an unauthorised gathering and blocked the entry of the office, days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured India that his government will not tolerate “extreme actions.” The incident is the latest in a series of radical activities against the Indian community in Australia.

    It comes days after Australian Prime Minister Albanese assured his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Australia won’t tolerate any extreme actions like attacks on religious places.

    The Honorary Consulate located on Swann Road in the Taringa suburb of Brisbane was forced to close down after Khalistan supporters blockaded the entry.

    Queensland Police says it was an unauthorised gathering, however, they were allowed to enter the consulate property and block anyone from entering it, according to The Australia Today portal.

    Parvinder Singh, a resident of regional Queensland, said he took leave from his work to attend an appointment at Indian Consulate, in Brisbane.

    However, Singh is left with no choice but to go back and reschedule his appointment to get his young child’s Overseas Citizen of Indian card issues sorted.

    “These thugs should not be allowed to dictate how we live our life in Australia,” Singh said.

    “They are threatening us when we visit Gurughar (Gurudwara) now these Khalistan supporters are entering into our daily life for worse.” “Queensland government and police need to deal with the full force of the law as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a few days back,” Singh added.

    “Australia won’t tolerate any extreme actions and attacks that took place in religious buildings, and there is no place for such action against Hindu temples,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on March 11.

    “And we will take every action through our police and also our security agencies to make sure that anyone responsible for this faces the full force of the law. We’re a tolerant multicultural nation, and there is no place in Australia for this activity,” he said.

    Sarah L Gates, the Director of Hindu Human Rights based in Brisbane, said: “Indian Consulate was forced to close today due to safety concerns after Sikhs for Justice targeted them with their propaganda.” “Slogans were raised against Hindus calling them supremacists with Khalistan Zindabad,” Gates said.

    A few days back, the Honorary Consulate of India in Australia’s Brisbane city was targeted by Khalistani supporters who raised the Khalistan flag at the office.

    The incidents come following the vandalism of three Hindu temples in Australia by Khalistani supporters.

    On January 23, the management of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple also known as the Hare Krishna Temple in Melbourne’s Albert Park found the walls of the revered temple vandalised with graffiti “Hindustan Murdabad”.

    On January 16, the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria, was vandalised in a similar manner.

    On January 12, the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne was defaced by ‘anti-social elements’ with anti-India graffiti.

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Hyderabad: US Consulate in Nanakramguda to begin work from Mar 20

    Hyderabad: US Consulate in Nanakramguda to begin work from Mar 20

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    Hyderabad: The new United States Consulate in Nanakramguda, which will be South Asia’s largest one, will begin consular services starting March 20.

    The US has invested $297 billion dollars for the United States Green Building Council’s GOLD-tagged construction.

    Hyderabad Consulate General which is currently based out of Paigah Palace, Begumpet will move to the new office on the above-mentioned date. The operations of the US consulate in Paigah Palace will be ceased at noon on March 15.

    In the new consulate, the services are set to begin on March 20 at 8.30 am. The consulate will be closed to the public from March 15 at noon until the opening of the new building on March 20.

    Visa interviews scheduled between March 8 and 15 will be conducted at Paigah Palace and the interviews scheduled on or after March 23 will be conducted at the new US Consulate building in Nanakramguda.

    Biometrics appointments, ‘dropbox’ appointments (interview waiver), passport pickup, and all other services will continue to take place at Visa Application Center (VAC), Lower Concourse, Hitec City Metro Station, Madhapur.

    For emergency consular services, US citizens can reach out to 91 040 4033 8300, until March 20.

    From March 20, US citizens requiring emergency consular services can call 91 040 6932 8000 and those with non-emergency consular questions are encouraged to email: HydACS@state.gov, said a press release

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    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )