Legally, the visa specifies the period during which the bearer may apply at a port of entry to enter the United States. The presumption in the Act is that every applicant is an intending immigrant. Applications are not accepted by mail, except when an applicant has been specifically instructed by a consular officer to make such an application because of previous refusals. Under no circumstances will the Consulate be responsible for passports sent by mail. There is no advantage to being first in line.
Later arrivals have a much shorter wait to enter the waiting room.
The Consular Section is closed on American and Indian Holidays. First, they present their application fee to the cashier and receive a pink token. They then present their passports and completed applications to the visa clerk for data entry and take a seat until called by an officer for interview. After their application has been reviewed by an officer, they will be called back to the window and requested to pay visa fees and either to return at 4 p.m. to pick up the visa or to be seated while waiting for an interview. An American officer will conduct the interview.