Kolkata: US Consul General Melinda Pavek on Sunday morning inaugurated the relocated visa application centre in Kolkata that is two times the size of the earlier one and will help process twice the number of visa applications. The improvement in the infrastructure and efficiency could also lead to quicker visa interview slots, although that will also depend on the staffing of visa officials at the consulate.
The new facility, located at Pataka House on Free School Street opposite popular restaurants Tung Fong and Mocambo, began operations on Sunday. The earlier application centre at Jasmine Tower on Theatre Road concluded operations on Saturday evening.
The updated centre will not only have double the capacity of the earlier centre, it will also offer a range of services to make the application process more efficient and customer-centric.
Apart from higher capacity that will enable nearly twice the number of intake windows to speed up processing times for customers, the larger and more spacious facility will improve accessibility. Restrooms and processing windows have been designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind.
The centre with bilingual signage in English and Bengali will also have dedicated staff to assist applicants throughout the process.
“The US government is committed to continually improving its services and ensuring a positive experience for all visa applicants. The newly relocated centre is a testament to this commitment and a significant addition to the consulate’s resources,” said Pavek.
The consul general also touched upon the importance of Indo-US relations and said that facilitating people-to-people connections was at its core. “Our nations recognize the immense potential in collaborating across critical and emerging sectors such as technology, healthcare, renewable energy, and space exploration. Streamlined visa processes and facilities that prioritize efficiency and transparency facilitate these collaborations, empowering Indians and Americans to explore new ventures and partnerships. This year, we anticipate more than 1.8 million travellers from India will travel to the United States, further growing the ties between our nations,” she added.
Pavek was joined by Jeffrey Miles, visa coordinator for the US Mission in India, who highlighted the increase in interest in travel to the US, praising the work of consular officials across the country as they worked to reduce wait times. “As we celebrate the opening of this newly relocated facility, I am reminded of the remarkable achievements in the past year by our consular staff throughout India,” he said.