The final phase

This page gives you information about what you should do after you have got admission to a university abroad. In particular we discuss the following points.

1. Getting your VISA
2. Booking and buying your plane ticket

• Passport : You must have a valid Indian passport before you will be considered eligible for getting a VISA. It is a good idea to apply for your passport at least a year before the application procedure begins.
• I-20 : This is the document that will be sent to you by the concerned university. It tells the VISA authorities that the university is employing you as a student and wants you to be in the foreign country during a period specified in the I-20. The I-20 also mentions the remuneration that the university is going to pay you.

US VISA procedures is about to change from Sep 26, 2012 onwards. Here is a relevant excerpt from an Indian newspaper:

The United States Embassy on Wednesday announced implementation of a new visa processing system throughout India. The move will streamline scheduling of appointment, simplify fee payments and will provide for new delivery options. As per the new system, fee payments and appointments for visa can be scheduled through a new website – www.ustraveldocs.com/in. Speaking at a press conference held in New Delhi on Wednesday, Minister Counsellor for Consular Affairs, Julia Stanley said that from September 26, 2012, visa applicants will be able to pay application fees via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or with their cellphones. “They can also pay in cash at more than 1,800 Axis Bank branches. For the first time, applicants will be able to schedule their appointments online or by phone,” said Stanley. The new system will also allow companies and travel agents to purchase multiple fee receipts for group travel, which will also accommodate the scheduling of group and emergency appointments.

1. Schedule an appointment with the US consulate via the web. The website for this is www.ttsvisas.com (operated by TT Services). Student VISAs are handled only on Tuesdays.
2. After getting an appointment, go to the Consulate with all relevant documents (mentioned below) on the appointment date and appear for an interview.
3. If your interview goes well, the Visa officer will keep your Passport, I-20, Application Forms and return them by courier very soon (They (TT Services) charge INR 400 for the service)

For uptodate information you may visit the American Consulate in person, or you may as well send them an e-mail at ConsularCalcutta@state.gov. Also, you may visit the Consulate's webpage. You may also make telephone inquiries at 033-2282-3611 between 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday).

Booking a ticket : Since plane fares are quite huge and since either flying a plane only half-filled with passangers, or to give refund to many passangers at the last moment due to lack of seats is loss to the airlines company, there is this booking system. When you book a ticket you simply inform the airlines that you are willing to fly by their plane on such and such flight. It is no commitment on either your part or the company's part. So you do not have to pay anything to book a ticket. You can book a ticket just by dropping in at any travel agents office and asking the person in charge there to book a ticket for a flight of your choice. You need not show any document (passport or VISA) to do it. If you please you may cancel a booking as easily, or even by a phone call.

To book a ticket you should keep in the mind the following facts. First, always book your ticket from some travel agent, and not from the airlines company directly. No, the travel agents are not paying anything behind maintaining this page, nor is this page meant for advertisement gratis ! You should buy the tickets from travel agents because ( believe it or not !) they sell the tickets much, much cheaper than the airlines company itself does. A typical Singapore Airlines ticket (Calcutta to San Fransisco) may cost around Rs 53,000/- if bought directly from Singapore Airlines, but the same ticket may be bought at around Rs 27,000/- from a travel agent.

Some flight routes may require you to stop at someplace midway. Always ask the travel agent explicitly if you will need a separate visa for that. Many travel agents will arrange for the visa without being asked, but some might leave that chore for you if you do not insist!

AR-ES Travels Private Ltd.
Address : 20G, Park Street
Calcutta 700016
India
Phone : 2229-5502 (6 lines)
Fax :(91-33) 229-4381

Royal Avianca Air Trade and Tours
Address : 105, Park Street
Kohinoor Bldg (1st floor), Flat no 5
Calcutta 700016
India
Phone :
22260323, 22461102 (Office)
6803458 (Residence)
Fax :033 (2173032)
E-mail : probodh@cal.vsnl.net.in
Web-site : http://www.bengalhomeservices.com.

Tasha Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Address : 4, Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani
K.B.R. Complex
Suite # 2A (2nd Floor)
Calcutta 700071
India
Phone :
2282-5522 (5 Hunting), 2282-3315, 2282-4704, 2282-6259, 2282-6237(Office)
474-8554, 476-9617 (Residence)
98300 20076 (Mobile)
Fax :0091 33 282 6254
E-mail : sha@cal2.vsnl.net.in

Globe Forex & Travels Ltd
Address : 11, Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani
Calcutta 700071
India
Phone :
2282-8181-84
Fax :282 3344/4244

Panurge Co
Travel Service & Consultant
Address : 30 D & E Jawharlal Nehru Road
Calcutta 700 016
Phone : 2229 7873/1327/9151
[The office is situated just next to that of Bangladesh Biman. If you get down at Park Street Metro Station and walk towards Esplanade, the office will be on your right.]