u/Pureyetbitchy

Hi everyone!

We’re planning to apply for a US B1/B2 visa for our 13-month-old daughter.
Both parents have recently received their US visas, but neither of us has travelled to the US yet. My sister also lives in the US.

Our daughter already has her passport.

Could someone please clarify:

Is she eligible for Dropbox, or does she need an in-person interview?

What is the application procedure for an infant?

Does having both parents’ visas and a relative in the US make any difference?

Would love to hear from anyone who has recently applied for their baby’s visa from India. Thanks!

Practical Tips
Sharing a few practical things we learnt during our appointments, which might help others travelling to Chennai or Hyderabad for their US visa process.

1. Chennai – Biometrics Appointment (1 October 2026)
Our biometrics appointment was at 9:30 AM.

Parking: I would recommend taking a cab if possible. We drove there and left our phones in the car, but finding parking was quite difficult.

Phones and car keys: We didn’t take our phones inside, but we learnt that car keys are also not allowed. So, if you’re driving, plan where you will keep your keys beforehand.

Lockers: There was a private Xerox shop on the ground floor of the appointment building offering lockers for ₹50. This could be an option for storing prohibited items, but it’s better not to depend on it if you can avoid carrying them.

Updated DS-160: We had updated our DS-160 and asked the staff to attach the updated confirmation at the biometrics appointment.

The process was fairly smooth, and they weren’t very strict about the exact appointment time in our experience. We reached about an hour early, stood in the queue and got our biometrics done.

2. Hyderabad – Consular Interview (8 October 2026)
Our interview appointment was also at 9:30 AM.
Hyderabad was well managed, but the timing was much stricter than what we experienced in Chennai.

Reach on time: We reached around an hour early, but we were asked to wait until our appointment time. So, unlike Chennai, arriving very early didn’t necessarily mean we would be allowed in earlier.

Waiting area: Across the road, there is a shaded waiting area with seating, somewhat like a bus-stop waiting area.

Xerox and lockers: There is a Xerox and private locker shop next to this area. However, I’m not sure how many lockers are available, so it’s better not to rely entirely on them.

Avoid carrying prohibited items: Don’t carry your phone, smartwatch or other electronic devices that could cause issues at security. Also, remember your car keys if you’re driving, as these may not be permitted.

Stationery: I had carried a stapler and a highlighter. Security asked me either to discard them or keep them in a locker. I chose to discard them rather than go back and store them.

My overall suggestion
For the Chennai biometrics appointment, you can consider arriving a little early, as we were able to complete the process before the scheduled time.

For the Hyderabad consular interview, arrive on time, but don’t assume that reaching an hour early means you’ll be allowed in early.
Most importantly, avoid carrying unnecessary belongings. It saves you the stress of finding a locker at the last minute.

These are our personal experiences from October 2026, and procedures or security rules may vary, so do check the latest appointment instructions before travelling. Hope this helps someone planning their US visa appointments!

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are applying for B1/B2 visas in India. We have a group appointment for the two of us.

• Biometrics: Chennai
• Visa interview: Hyderabad
• Our child is 1 year old
• She is not part of our visa application, so she does not have a DS-160 or an appointment.

Our concern is: Will our 1-year-old be allowed to accompany us inside the VAC/consulate for both appointments?

Since both of us need to attend the interview, we would ideally like to take her with us. Has anyone recently had a similar experience at Chennai for biometrics and/or Hyderabad for the visa interview, where the child was not an applicant?

Would really appreciate any recent experiences or advice. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to buy the MG Windsor EV (38 kWh) and would love some honest feedback from owners.

Biggest pros and cons?

Any issues with DC fast charging?

Real-world range vs claimed range?

How has the ownership/service experience been?

Also, what does the lifetime battery warranty actually mean in practice?

Any conditions, exclusions, battery health guarantees, or fine print that buyers should know about?

Thanks! 🙏