Please help - T T Service fees

[nkrishnan]

My mom has a visa interview tomorrow (Jun 16th). From Path2USA and immihelp.com I understood that the TT service fees will be accepted in cash or DD form. But just now i learned from other friends (who recently had visa interview) that they accept only DD. Her interview is at 9:45 AM and all the banks in Chennai open only at 10:00AM. Anybody out there sure that they will accept cash or anybody know any bank near the Chennai consulate that opens early so that she can get a DD for Rs. 441? Please reply soon, thanks in advance

[csingh]

that is really strange...the consulate website says courier fee can be paid in cash but the ttsvisas website says Demand Draft...
I know for a fact that ICICI bank's branches open really early. Atleast that was how it was in 2003 when I was in India and they'd started opening at 8 am (or maybe even earlier) just for the convenience of office goers.
I'm trying to see where their branches in Chennai are, but there seems to be something wrong with their website.
Will update you if I find some more concrete information.

Update: Couldn't find their branch address but you could call ICICI bank's 24 hour customer care number at Chennai: 5208 8000. They should be able to help you.

[ronline]

Please check chennai consulate website - cash is not accepted
chennai.usconsulate.gov/wwwhnivrdphoto.html
u can find a list of banks on the website from where u can get ur dd.
chennai.usconsulate.gov/wwwhbanks.html

[gc369]

Chennai Consulate still accepts Cash for couriser fees:

http://usembassy.state.gov/chennai/wwwhnivrdphoto.html

Courier fee Rs. 441

* Applicants for the following non-immigrant visa categories are exempt from paying the Non-Immigrant Visa Application Fee: A, C-2 , G, and NATO.

* * As of October 11, 2003, applicants for the following non-immigrant visa categories will be exempt from paying the Non-Immigrant Visa Issuance Fee: A, C-2 , D, F, G, J, K, M, N, NATO, S, T, and V.

Visa fees are payable only via Demand Draft drawn on a nationalized or international bank. The draft should favor the "American Consulate General, Chennai". Please see the list of banks in Chennai from which the American Consulate General, Chennai will accept demand drafts.

Important: Please write your complete name and passport number on the back of each draft.

Courier fees may be paid in cash or via a demand draft favoring "T.T. Services"

Not an Indian National? Visa Fees for other countries can be found in the Visa Reciprocity Tables.

Photo instructions for non-immigrant visas

[nkrishnan]

UPDATE:

My mother was able to get a DD from the ICICI bank and go to the interview on time. At the counter they asked her if the Service fees is in CASH or DD. So i believe they accept cash too, eventhough the TT service website and the appointment receipt says only about DD. Anyway it was a last minute confusion for us, but the outcome was positive, she got the visa. Don't know for how long yet. Another thing was that when she went to pay the visa issuance fees of Rs. 2200, they said they won't accept that DD since it does not have the issuing branche's stamp( she took it from a State Bank fo Tranvancore in Kerala). So they asked her to go out and get a DD from a bank near the consulate and be back by 2pm. And she was able to do that. Just makes me wonder, when they took the DD for Rs. 4400 for the application fees in the beginning, they didn't notice it or was it ok for that DD.
Thanks for all your help.