This blog has been updated as per 13 December 2020. All the regulations and experiences are as per post COVID. The consulates follow CDC guideline and wearing a mask is mandatory. There are also hand sanitizing stations added now.
This blog has been written, particularly concerning students.
OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center) Appointment is the process where the U.S Embassy takes your fingerprints and picture. It is a very simple process and does not in any way affect your Visa approval/rejection chances. Most of the countries usually take biometrics. The experience described below is of a New Delhi OFC. This experience is similar to other Indian OFCs as per multiple student experiences and description.
OFC is a day earlier than the actual visa date. You can generally do an OFC on the same day as the visa interview, but it is a less preferred way and having a day's difference is advisable. If you are travelling from a different city with bags/luggage, you have plenty of time before your appointments on both days. The locations are secured sites, and hence nothing will be allowed inside other than your documents. You can not take your mobile phones inside either. Try leaving those either with your family member or at the hotel you are staying.
OFC experience
There are 5 checkpoints. Remember, here are the only three documents you will need in OFC:
The sample links we have provided is the same, and yes you do not need your I20 or your SEVIS fee document. The reason why we are telling you this is because we have seen people taking these document. People with bundles of documents. The following rules are mentioned on the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consulate Affairs Website.
1st and 2nd checkpoint, they will confirm your DS 160 details, name, passport number, etc along with your passport.
3rd checkpoint, they will check you, means security check, just a normal one, nothing fancy.
4th checkpoint, they will ask for your passport, DS160 and appointment confirmation. They will ask you to confirm your full name. And then they will put a tag on your passport back. The tag states how it will be delivered and also has a bar code on it. This barcode is scanned for the next day three times. We will get to that in a moment.
5th checkpoint - A lady giving the counter number. This counter number will blink on the screen against the counter number (as of post-covid due to lesser people in OFCs, the screen counter number system is not applicable). There are around 10-15 counters, but the number is not 100% confirmed.
So as soon as your number blinks, you go to that counter and keep your folder. Indian people are sitting at every counter, so do not worry. The officer asks you to read a document which is stuck on the table. It states that every information we provide is true and forfeiting them will be condemned as perjury.
After this, he will take your picture. If you are wearing glass, they will ask you to take them off and look into the camera. After this, you can put on your glasses and he will ask you to put your left hand on the fingerprint scanner, then right hand and finally both the thumbs. Then they stamp your DS 160 along with the appointment confirmation.
It is very important. Remember that you will have to take this DS160 and appointment confirmation page to interview the next day.
They will ask you to read the information on a notice board given outside. It is not important although it states how to get your passport back after the VO approves/rejects your visa.