US visa terms, in plain English

OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center)

The centre where your fingerprints and photo are taken for a US visa in India, usually a few days or weeks before the interview. It has its own appointment, booked separately from the interview and possibly in a different city. OFC vs consular appointment →

Consular interview

The in-person interview with a consular officer at the US Embassy in New Delhi or a US Consulate (Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata). The officer decides whether to issue the visa.

VAC (Visa Application Centre)

A centre run for the US Mission where applicants who qualify for an interview waiver drop off their documents and passport, and where passports are collected.

MRV fee

The visa application fee paid to the US government before booking an appointment. It is non-refundable and the receipt is valid for 365 days from payment. Fee calculator →

DS-160

The online nonimmigrant visa application form. You submit it before booking and bring the confirmation page (with its barcode) to your appointments.

CEAC

The State Department's Consular Electronic Application Center website, where the DS-160 is filled in and where you can check your visa application status after the interview.

Scheduling portal

The official US visa appointment website for India, where you create a profile, pay the MRV fee and book or reschedule OFC and interview appointments. About the scheduling portal →

Dropbox / interview waiver

Applying without an in-person interview, by submitting documents at a VAC. Since 2025 this mostly covers renewals in the same category of a visa that expired within the last 12 months; a consular officer can still require an interview.

Reschedule

Moving an existing appointment to another date. In India one free reschedule is allowed per valid fee receipt; a second change or a missed appointment means a new fee. Reschedule rules →

Expedited (emergency) appointment

A request for an earlier interview for an urgent, documented reason such as a medical emergency or a funeral. You book the earliest regular appointment first, then request it through the portal. Emergency appointments →

221(g)

A temporary refusal under section 221(g) of US immigration law: the application can't be decided yet because something is missing or more checks are needed (administrative processing). You may be asked to send documents.

214(b)

A refusal because the officer wasn't satisfied the applicant qualifies for the visa, most often that they will return home after a temporary visit. You can apply again later with a new application and fee.

Administrative processing

Extra review after the interview before a decision is made. It can take days to months; check your status on CEAC.

I-20

The form a US school issues to an accepted F-1 student. You need it, and its SEVIS number, before booking a student visa interview. F1 intake guide →

DS-2019

The form a programme sponsor issues to a J-1 exchange visitor — the J-1 equivalent of the I-20.

SEVIS / I-901 fee

The US system that tracks students and exchange visitors, and the fee F-1 and J-1 applicants pay for it before the interview.

I-797 approval notice

The USCIS notice that a petition (for example an H-1B or L-1) was approved. Petition-based visa applicants bring it to the interview. H-1B stamping guide →

Visa stamping

Getting the visa foil placed in your passport after approval — common wording for H-1B and other work visa renewals.

Consular district

The states a US post traditionally serves. Indian applicants may apply at any US post in India regardless of where they live.

Online presence review

Checks of applicants' social media and public online information, applied to student, exchange and (since December 2025) H-1B and H-4 applicants. Profiles may need to be set to public.

Third-country national (TCN)

Someone applying outside their country of nationality. Since September 2025, applicants are generally expected to interview in their country of nationality or residence.

Visa vs I-94

The visa lets you travel to a US port of entry and ask to be admitted; the I-94 record, created on entry, shows how long you may stay. A visa can expire while you remain in status.

General information, not legal advice. Official rules are on travel.state.gov and the US Embassy India website.