What is OFC Appointment for US Visa?

Offsite Facilitation Centre (OFC) Appointment is a pivotal step in the US Visa application process. It is one of the preliminary stages where biometric information and other basic documents are collected for verification. After which, the person goes for the main US Visa interview. The USA is one of the most sought-after study destinations for higher education. If you are also looking to start your study abroad journey in the US, then make sure you give this blog a read to equip yourself with the most crucial step before the US visa interview.

What is OFC Appointment for US Visa?

For students who want faster processing of their visa applications, the US embassy has set up OFC centres for students for their convenience. For all those unaware, the full form of OFC is the Offsite Facilitation Center. 

In this centre, students are given US Visa biometric appointments where candidates give their fingerprints (Biometric) and visa photographs before their US visa appointment. For this, the students need to book an appointment to visit the OFC centre and have all the required documents in place before visiting the OFC.

Once the student has given his/her biometrics along with their photograph, the DS-160 confirmation page is stamped. All aspirants need to show their passport and the stamped DS-160 form at the time of the visa interview at the consulate.

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A Complete Guide on Post-Study Work Visa

How to Book an OFC Appointment for a US Visa? 

The students who want to pursue their further education in the USA can schedule their appointment just around the time their visa interview is scheduled. 

For this, they may visit the website: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/. They will then have to choose the New Application/Schedule Appointment placed on the left of the screen. 

Documents Required for Booking OFC Appointment

The following are some of the essential documents that the student will need to carry to their OFC appointment:

1. Carry your current passport and also your old passports (if you have any).
2. All students must carry a printed copy of the Appointment Confirmation to enter the OFC centre.
3. Finally, you will also have to carry a printed copy of the DS-160 form confirmation page to enter the OFC centre without which you will be denied entry.

How to Book an OFC Appointment?

Take a look at the following steps on how the student can book an OFC appointment to speed up their study visa process:

1. Visit the US Embassy’s Indian official website and create your account by providing the required details
2. Search for the DS-160 form and fill it with the correct details.
3. Pay the fee for the visa either online or at a designated bank.
4. Next, you will need to book two appointments which could be either online or by calling the embassy. The first one will be for the OFC and the other one for the visa interview which will be conducted at the embassy. 
5. Finally, you will now be able to visit the OFC appointment to provide your biometrics and your photograph.

OFC Appointment Fee for US Visa

Students will only have to pay the fee for biometrics at the time of filling out the OFC appointment form for the US Visa interview. Apart from this, the candidate won’t have to pay anything extra.

What Happens at the OFC Centre?

Many people often confuse the OFC Centre with the final visa interview. However, applicants must note that at the OFC Centre, they will only be required to submit the aforementioned documents. After which, the candidates will be called in for their fingerprinting and the visa photo process will take place. 

If you have any confusion regarding the same, they can approach someone at the centre who can assist them in their native language. 

Keep in mind that no officials from the US embassy will be present as the entire process is taken care of by a third-party company.

What to Expect at the OFC Centre?

Wondering what will happen at the OFC Centre, well to help you, check out the process that will take place at the OFCappointment for a US Visa.

First of all, this is not a visa interview. Here you just have to show your documents, Passport, copy of your OFC appointment, and DS-160 confirmation.

Step 1: Upon reaching the centre you will have to wait for your turn. 

Step 2: When you are called, your fingers will be scanned which is a part of the verification process. 

Step 3: Next, your photo will be taken as part of further verification. 

Step 4: After the completion of the process, you will need to visit the US consulate for the visa interview at the scheduled appointment date.

Step 5: Once your visa interview is done, you need to visit the OFC centre again to collect your passport if your visa application is approved.

Finally, your passport will be delivered to your home if you have opted for the ‘Premium delivery’. In case, your visa gets rejected you won’t have to visit the OFC centre.

What Happens After OFC Appointment for US Visa?

After the OFC appointment, one will have to attend the visa interview with the US consulate at their local US embassy. Once the visa appointment is conducted, you will have to return to the OFC centre to collect your passport after furnishing the printed copy of your visa application.

All those who come into the visa waiver category won’t have to get their fingerprints taken. Rather they can submit their documents at the “Drop Box” facility. People who qualify for the visa interview waiver are the following:

Children below the age of 14.
Applicants who have applied for visa renewal under the same category.
All those who fall under the following categories: A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, C-3, and NATO.

All those people who are unsure of which category they fall under should connect with the local US embassy.

How to Reschedule OFC Appointment for US Visa?

What if you miss your OFC appointment? Or, what if you have already taken the OFC appointment for a US visa once and want to reschedule it? Well, you easily do it by logging into your account and choosing the ‘Reschedule Visa Appointment’ option. Keep in mind that an individual is only allowed for two reschedules. 

You must remember that the closing timeline is 48 hours for appointments. If you fail to attend the appointment for the selected date then make sure you reschedule or cancel the appointment at least three working days before the same. Or else you will have to wait till the passing of the appointment date before you schedule a fresh one.

To cancel your OFC appointment, you must visit your appointment confirmation email or document which shall contain instructions on how to cancel. Remember, an individual is permitted to cancel only once. In the event of a second cancellation, you will need to pay the visa application fee again before being able to reschedule the appointment.

OFC Appointment Centres in India

Take a look at the list of OFC appointment centres for US student visas in India for all Indian applicants:

Indian Cities	Address
New Delhi	American Citizen Services Unit, U.S. Embassy, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi, India 110021
Mumbai	Trade Center, Gr. Floor, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra East Mumbai 400051
Kolkata	Jasmine Tower, 31, Shakespeare Sarani (1st Floor) Kolkata 700017
Hyderabad	Survey No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032
Chennai	Good Shepherd, No 82, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034

Last-Minute Tips for OFC Appointment for US Visa

If you wish for a smooth and quick OFC appointment for the US visa, you must ensure that you are well-prepared for the appointment. To help you clear the appointment as well as the US visa interview, we have compiled some tips.

• Before leaving for the appointment, make sure to double-check the appointment details, such as the time, date, and location of your OFC appointment.
• Reach the chosen place of appointment atleast 20-30 minutes before as it will give you enough time to go through the security checks and registration. 
• Since the setting will be professional, make sure you dress in formal attire. Avoid wearing light grey or white clothes because they can interfere with the photo background and biometrics equipment because they can interfere with the photo background and biometrics equipment.
• It will be best if you avoid using any electronic devices inside the office. See if you can switch off your mobile phones and other devices. 
• Ensure that you listen carefully to the staff’s instructions and make sure to abide by them.

FAQs

This was all about how to go about the appointment before your visa interview for the US. If you want to know more about visa application processes, contact our Leverage Edu experts today for proper guidance.