Kolkata VAC, US - OFC for Biometric

As of 24 Oct 2025: Visited US Consulate at Pataka Street at Mirza Ghalib street last month for my biometrics and the consulate itself doesn't have any of locker facilities and in fact you don't even have a waiting area. There is a separate entry with a gate where a private security/watchmen will check your VFS appointment and make you stand around the gate and allows you to enter 15 minutes prior to the entry. VFS which is on 4th floor takes the biometrics on behalf of the consulate and throughly scan you before they allow you inside and allows only Appointment papers along with Passport. No phones/smart watches and Bags bigger than small handhold purses size are allowed inside. There is a private luggage keeping and phone keeping service in the -2 Basement car parking area which charge you for 2 hours and is around INR 300 for bags and 200 for phones and in multiples. The also offer Printout/Photocopy as well as Visa appointments and DS160 corrections etc. Security/Watchmen will help you with this, Attaching a photos for reference

1. Arrive here 30 minutes before your appointment time to understand what is going on, they will only allow inside ten minutes before appointment time. 2. Deposit mobile (200/-)or backpack (300/-) in basement. 3. Go to 4th floor and lineup. 4. You will be assigned a window. Asked about your name and DOB. Take your current passport, D160 confirmation and Appointment confirmation with you. They will stamp DS160 confirmation. 5. You will be done within 30 minutes. Also, if you are late don't worry, they will allow you in within same day.

Nov 30, 2025: The unofficial locker service running in the basement is no more. The visa center security guards will not budge on bag or device keeping requests. So plan accordingly and never trust sources of info other than consulate and VFS as it may change day by day. Options to manage: If you are in a group then go one after another overall takes 20mins per person at max. The security will allow you to go even after your actual time slot so.

This is new BIOMETRIC centre of USA VAC VISA.(Old one is shifted here). North side of building is entry, not front Westside store side). Just reach 15 minutes before your appointment time. NOT BEFORE. Building security persons won't allow you to enter building before that. No mobile allowed inside. Reach 4th floor with 1) Appointment confirmation. 2) old DS 160 confirmation. 3) NEW DS 160 confirmation. 4) Latest Passport. NOTHING ELSE. New DS 160 is for those, whose VAC if booked before 15th November, 2023 or 1 year has passed. Process is 1) checking above on 4th floor entry. 2) After entry feeding in Computer & two stickers on your passport . 3) on last stage, there are 4 counters . Picture will taken by them 8n DSLR, four fingers & thumb biometric of both hands & your name & DOB confirmation by video recording. Here only DS 160 & Passport is needed. You will be asked to read (not voice) few lines written in English, Hindi & Bangali,(any one language). That's it. You will be out by 30 minutes. Be happy & don't be tensed. And those who reach late , don't worry, you will be allowed. VAC closes at 4 pm. Security & ALL other VAC VISA Biometric staff are well trained, helpful & cooperative . PRESS LIKE if you find this helpful.

Security allows entry either 15 minutes before the appointment or exactly on time. Even if you're slightly late, don't worry--they are still letting people in. Except for documents and your wallet, no other items are permitted inside. There's a locker facility in Basement 2 where you can store your bag and phone. It costs 300, and UPI is accepted. The same shop also provides services like DS-160 updates/corrections, photocopying, and passport photos (for minors). The locker space is ample, and they issue a token, which seems reliable. Once inside, the process is quick--takes around 10 minutes. They'll take your fingerprints and photo, and put a seal on the DS-160 copy that you bring. From the airport, the travel time is about 1 to 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on traffic. Ola/Uber charges are around 600-700. If your appointment is after 11 AM, it's quite feasible to fly in and out on the same day.

Smooth and hassle free experience. If you are visiting from outside just for this appointment, read on: Reach the place 20-25mins before. Security calls and allows inside 15mins prior to the appointment time. If appointment is at 03pm, you would be let in at 02:45pm. Business casual or formals are fine, since it's only biometrics collection center (with dropbox and passport collection services too). Carry essential docs in a transparent folder (passport, appointment confirmation, ds160 confirmation are must and enough) for the biometrics submission. Locker facility available in the basement for mobile phone/wallet (200/-) or backpack (300/-). Overall process hardly takes 10-15mins. Had to use Westside for washroom facility. Area has plenty of food options, including roadside eateries and dine-ins.

This is the new place moved from Jasmin Tower. Inside service was excellent, for dropbox there was no wait, you simply go to 4th floor and the person collecting the documents was extremely helpful. But be prepared to be told that the photos are not up to the US visa standards. They have a small shop at the basement (press -2 in the elevator). If you choose to use that shop, again be prepared to pay exorbitant prices e.g. photo for 300, 100 per page print, 10 per page xerox, bag locker for 300. This is borderline scam. So my advice is to please take a friend of yours or relatives to safeguard your backpack or mobile outside of the building. Another thing that has not changed is the security guards treating us like stray dogs, bro we are all Indians here!

In and out in 5 minutes. Appointment was on 12:30 but you can enter 15 minutes earlier only. Nice management too. DO NOT CARRY mobile phones, smart watches or any electronics. No bags. Just carry a file with necessary documents and nothing else. You can keep mobile phones in a store for 200 rupees. That's definitely a scam :p But nonetheless it was smooth experience