Processing Time 7-10 days. New, Renewal? No significant updates or new guidance by US Consulates in India in the last week. Thread starter svcanadapr; Start date Apr 13, 2019 . How to Apply for H4 EAD? Received passport & copies of H1B petition and employer offer letter (I submitted earlier) back along with a yellow slip requesting an additional document to be submitted at any of the closest VAC. Vedant, Yes, you cannot see. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It has nothing to do with dropbox stamping eligibility. Again, in December 2022, they confirmed the availability of the 48-month dropbox rule for 2023 and beyond as well. Appointments have been opened through 2023. When I filled out DS-160, my approved i797 was till Sep 2023 but later my company filed H1B amendment, and now I have approval i797 till 06 Jan 2024. Today the status changed from Application received to refused.. is this a 221 g? I am trying to figure out if I should book dropbox appointment on my own or proceed with employer booking interview appointment. Now, since 48 months rule came back, I am eligible for dropbox as my visa got expired in . You will enter the DS-160 confirmation number or Application ID in the next step during the appointment booking for dropbox stamping. Or any contact details to verify that I am in right page? Thanks. If there are no appointments in 2022 then I will have to get an appointment in 2023 which is too far, will I be able to cancel 2023 appointment and reschedule in 2022 if gets available. I dont know if there will be any complications at the OFC and Consular appointments because I qualify for Dropbox Or maybe they dont care abt my dropbox eligibility and they will just process my Visa application without any problem. I booked an in person interview or late Sept in Hyd, as I was given no choice for drop box. Also, they do not plan to cancel existing appointments. It shows me that i am eligible for Dropbox but then it takes me to book an appointment and then it shows no appointments available followed by restarting the process for me. pic.twitter.com/Vea0uwvx1X. US Embassy opened a lot of appointments on September 27th, 2022 for all visa categories. On Jan 1st, 2022, CGI Federal/UStravelDocs website got updated with new questions that implements the new interview waiver rule. Dear Mr Kumar , You have been very helpful to everyone . CEAC Website, Errors Info. Question 5: Was your most recent U.S. visa issued after January 1, 2008? What is the success rate of H1 stamping in Singapore? Also, the current receipt fee is valid until Sep 30th 2023 (approx 1 year from date of purchase etc.) Or both are acceptable but Petitioner (VISA appointment Details) and Employer name in DS-140 should always be in sync. See below screenshot from their website. US Consulates continue to be operating in a limited fashion as in the previous month. They updated that over 1 lakh (100,000) visa applicants were processed in January 2023. Status Difference. However, if I leave the US, I will need a new H1B stamp in order to return in Jan (which I must do, for work). US Embassy in India had Visa Fridays Q & A last Friday on Feb 9th, 2023. Yes, you should be as this is the provision until end of this year. I know these are commonly listed on this website but Im looking for experience from folks who got it approved. There are limited slots that are open for in-person and they fill quickly. If any issues, call support. Regarding slots for other visa types like B1/B2, H1B, L1 and others see below updates from April. See the below screenshot. For Dropbox stamping in India, you can either use NEFT or IMPS option as listed on the website. I wanted to know can I submit my documents Mumbai VAC or do I need to submit it in Chennai VAC only? Will there be a problem with that? It looks like this, as in the below screenshot. Select the best city that you can think of where you would go for stamping. There will not be any slots open for March 2023. Did anyone book an H1B Visa stamping via the cgifederal website. Is it possible that H1 is really refused and H4 is issued? To check US Visa Slots available in India from Community in a crowdsourced platform, register at www.VisaJar.com, download their extension, activate, and contribute. You can also email or call the customer service. Only at this point will a consular section consider your request for an expedited appointment. Again, on timing, they say keep checking. Thanks Sid. OFC stands for Offsite Facilitation Center in the US Visa Appointments context. The response from the support team is, users cannot covert the appointments, but they can cancel and re-book, if they qualify. The appointment letter would have all the details related to the representative submission process. US Embassy India updated their website saying that travelers to the US do not need to show a negative COVID test anymore starting from June 12th, 12:01 AM. The originals can be verified as needed by them when they take copies. Could you assist me with this. Thanks, Hi, My wife had a L2 visa expiring in Feb 2023 based on my previous L1B visa I recently switched from L1B to L1A and now we are trying to apply for a fresh L2 visa for my wife from India. Ive inquired with India support, they keep sending a general email and ask to go to the VAC at the scheduled time. The first one is the list of common documents and the second is the documents that are specific to H1B visa applicants. See the below screenshot. But the status of my H1 shows REFUSED. See below screenshot or check the tweet below. Today even on the OFC appointments page it is saying There are currently no appointments available. Beware that you can reschedule an appointment only 4 times. Dropbox appointment is mandatory in India for US visa Stamping. Have a safe 2022! They are misguided by the fact that their previous H1B visa foil glued in their passport has their previous employers name and they may not be eligible for dropbox. US Visa Appointment Slots Availability Tracker Beta You are entering data in America/Los_Angeles time zone. US Embassy had Visa Fridays Q &A Session on September 22nd, 2022. A large batch of F1 student appointments will open later in May. US Embassy has released 3 videos that emphasize the previously announced Dropbox appointments eligibility for anyone with a previous US Visa and details about F1 visa appointments planning. In the past, there used to be multiple languages to select on this page, but they removed it in late 2022. March 29th, 2022: Below are the latest updates from March until today, includes last week as well. They said that they canceled all previous B1/B2 placeholder appointments that users had until now. Do you guys know what is the tentative dates available for dropbox? They said in the next few weeks, just wait and keep checking. All they ask for are questions about your visa expiration date and general criteria. Do not worry, it is common thing. Here are the key updates: They repeated what was said in the previous weeks updates. Starting from January 1st, 2022, with the new Dropbox Eligibility option for certain first-time H1B Holders, you see a generic question asking about any US Visa, instead of an H1B Visa. YouTube Video on where & how to check for US Consulates openings, wait times. If it is really refused how will I be communicated? Can we write to the embassy and check in any way possible? No changes in the overall US Consulates situation in India, they are still operating in a limited fashion. They are usually tweets or website updates from the US Consulate/ US Embassy. You will need to provide proof of the need for an earlier appointment. Probably for Petition USCIS does not handle & special character. Not easy to get a date. My case was created on Oct 28. They say they cannot share exact dates on when they will release dates for October to December. You just need to carry your both passport. I will be traveling to India in June for H1B visa stamping and my H1B visa appointment date is 24 July 2023 (interview waived). I also would like to understand the same. Dropped off docs at Chennai VAC (for Delhi VAC) on Oct 26. There are some exceptions applicable from now until Dec 31st, 2023, where the US Dept of State has waived in-person appointments for H1B holders if they meet requirements such as having a valid US Visa issued in any category in the past and applying from the country of residence. H1B Visa is a Nonimmigrant Visa, you need select that in Step 1 and click on continue. To avoid issues, get yours and your wifes dropbox stamping done and then apply for your sons dropbox. No more placeholder slots, all are going to be real slots. Planning to visit India now. They say that they open appointments on a rolling basis. It looks like this, as in the below screenshot. Vicky, it is a common issue. Below are each of the questions and answers that most of the H1B Visa renewal applicants answer: Question 1: Do you have a previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued on or after your 14th birthday ?. The consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. I have asked the helpdesk and waiting for the answer but if anyone has any clue please reply here. This kind of visa stamping process is called an Interview Waiver option and is popularly called the Dropbox Stamping. (even though I was waived for interview) 1) How long is it taking for passport return after in person interview in Hyd? Their status is just showing as cancelled. The applicant needs to meet all the below 7 requirements to be eligible for H1B Dropbox as a first-time H1B applicant: Check complete details on the above at US Visa Stamping Dropbox Option for certain H1B Visa applicants. They suggest keeping checking the CGI Federal website. In the past, the above question used to have question specific to H1B, but that is not relevant anymore until the end of 2023. How long does it take to receive passport back after VAC appointment? All the below are current and effective. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Check below for full details and actual Q&A responses. Confirmation on H1B Dropbox Eligibility, Option to pick Interview for Emergency. Next, you need to select the Visa Class, which is H1B Visa. Its a shocker that we have such a terrible software that thousands of folks will be relying upon. How to Apply for H4 EAD? April 25th, 2022: Below are some key updates since the previous update. Also, it will include changes to dropbox requirements in recent times during the pandemic. Im planning to renew my passport by Jan or Feb 2023, so do I need to cancel my existing appointment and redo the whole process with a new passport OR carrying old + new passport at VAC should be fine. Next, you will be asked to select the Visa Category, which is relevant to H1B Visa. . US Embassy India has given official guidance as FAQ on their website regarding converting in-person to dropbox. Chand, First you need to be clear on what company you want to work with using the new visa that they will issue using dropbox. But there are no Consular Appointments available and I keep seeing the error- No Appointments available. This is not fully clear, but thats the meaning of their reply. Below are the key steps from the announcement, US Embassy had Visa Fridays Q&A session on Jan 13th, 2022. Do the questionnaire on the CGI Federal Portal, it will tell you. May 30th, 2022: Below are the latest updates from the previous week, until today. If you are planning for H1B Dropbox stamping, check, There is an option also now in the online system that allows dropbox applicants to choose for an in-person appointment if there is an emergency. I was on L1B Visa and changed my status to H1B couple of years ago. If you click on the Add by Name option in the above screenshot, then you will get an option to add the spouse or child-related DS-160 and all their personal details here. You probably need to carry all updated documents , otherwise you will get 221g. Once completed and submitted online, you will get a confirmation number. See the below screenshot on how it looks, 3. However, the drop box appointments we are getting are for Nov 2023. RedBus2US.com 2010 - 2023, All Rights Reserved. Add your Dropbox Submission. They suggest keeping checking the website for any rescheduling of the appointment. Is that the case for everyone? Below is the confirmation screen with the next steps for the process in India. We do not encourage agents. Hi, While scheduling an appointment for 1st time H1B got drop box option as having earlier B1 visa stamped. If you plan to continue with old company then submit the employment verification letter. You can check the official updates reference links in the below timelines. Check full details at New US Visa Interview Waiver Provisions 2022. we dropped the docs in the Bangalore VFS center. I was issued an F1 visa in the past with no issues. They suggest checking the website for the availability of the slots. For B1/B2 , the update from Consulate mentions all slots open in 2022 / 2023 are NOT Placeholder slots, which means they are actual appointments. If you need any specific language support, you can request it during the interview at the consulate on the day of the interview. Are dependent also eligible for drop box? No specific date or week was stated by them. The documents can be submitted by a representative on the appointment date and time. But my approved petition (I-797) has A B US LLP. See below the official tweet, US Embassy answered questions on Visa Fridays on April 8th, below are key updates. Hi my son who is in California got H1b in March 2020. . He is likely eligible, if he meets other requirements. Libin, There is no pattern as such. Sanjay, 1, 2. It can take between 3 and 21 days to have your visa processed through DropBox. I turned in the additional document along with the yellow slip & unstamped passport yesterday at Chennai VAC but didnt include copies of H1B petition and offer letter that they returned. Below is the summary. I am wondering if doing our dropbox first and then scheduling kids dropbox will take too much time and instead should I do appointment for all 3 together even if the delay is > 300 days. Your spouse and kids will not be as they have not been to the US. Kindly help if someone knows or have been in this situations. In this article, we will cover the step-by-step process for H1B visa stamping using dropbox or the interview waiver option. Student visa appointments are available on our website. Alternatively, if you go to www.USTravelDocs.com website, select the relevant country, where you plan to get stamping, they will have relevant parameters at the end of the URL that set the country and language automatically. See the below screenshot from US Embassy website and the. visa_check March 25, 2021, 1:18am #1. There is no change in the situation in terms of how consulates operate. Ashish, You can get the stamping done 90 days before from the start date on the petition. I am eligible for dropbox but I am unable to find any open dates for last 2 weeks or more for Mumbai. you can check https://visagrader.com/us-visa-time-slots-availability/india-ind/ to see some trends. The USTravelDoc account always ask question about applicant for appointment Criteria , and not about minor applicant Drop Box eligibility criteria. Arshi, The rule is valid till end of this year, but the visa issued will be valid for the duration it is issued for. Read below. Like Indian Time or US day time also we should keep checking slot? Thanks a ton Kumar! You can check more at Sample US Visa Dropbox Confirmation Letter India. Does anyone know if I can update the I-797 Approval Notice Number after scheduling a drop-box appointment? Arvy D, I doubt, if we would have users sharing with timings. Important Notice: Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e. I have an invitation to present my research papers (3 papers) for world Congress in August 2022 I have applied for B1 visa for the first time I have attempted emergency application but it was not granted . Any chance can I reschedule it? Prediction. Im in the same situation. The estimated wait time to receive a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate and is based on workload and staffing and can vary from week to week. Check the previous week updates. Luckily after lot of try today, i got OFC ( i believe this is biometric/Fingerprinting appointment in chennai location) and consular appointment on further date, i got in MUmbai consulate. . They say that wait times for H and L visas for both first-time applicants and dropbox have been cut into half. FYI. our son is just 5 months and staying away from his father is really sad. Also, to confirm the above, when you fill out the visa details and answer the questionnaire on US Visa CGI Federal Website, you will not be asked for your previous employer information or what your visa stamp annotation says. Soumya, This is a million-dollar question, no one knows. it will stop showing you appointment dates and just give a dropbox submission letter and ask you to drop it at . They said they are finalizing their schedules and they will open slots for November and December 2022 as well. Im planning to renew my passport by Jan or Feb 2023, so do I need to cancel my existing appointment and redo the whole process with a new passport OR carrying the old + new passport at VAC should be fine? S swan0206 Hero Member May 14, 2019 928 Please advice. The process to apply for H1B Visa stamping using the dropbox or interview waiver option is not very different from the general visa renewal for other types of visas. Also, many are confused, about if they need a new H1B Visa stamp after changing employers, lets look at the details now. In the past, there was no option for someone, who qualified for dropbox, to attend an in-person interview, in case of an emergency. They said that it is unlikely to have another batch of B1/B2 visa slots released in 2022 and say you might get lucky, if someone cancels. After you book the dates, you will be navigated further to print the H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter. Am I still eligible for a dropbox appointment? We are in USA now. Some sites like Delhi only have availability in 2023, but most others are showing availability in 2022. B1/B2, H1, F1? If a visa applicant has not established that he or she is eligible for a visa, the consular officer must refuse that application. If I have already attempted twice , what is the next option please . You need to select the right country or country and state combination as per your residence and click on continue. MHim. I am in the same situation. As long as you satisfy all the general eligibility criteria for H1B Visa Dropbox, as listed in the above section, you are eligible for H1B visa stamping using the dropbox option. No, if your dependents not got visa previously, then they must go with Interview because first time appear for Visa. 2. I created my profile in ustraveldoc and added my dependants. Could someone please share the list of documents you sent for Dropbox renewal? Swetha, 1. Select the Language of the Visa interview, Visa Category, and Visa Class. It will change to issued. Now, there is no country restriction as such. Additional instructions like parking and other location-specific info would be listed on the confirmation letter. You can check previous weeks updates below for more on the same. 82K F1 Visas were issued in India this summer and highest ever from India.. F1 Slots for Spring 2023 to open in mid-Oct and mid to late November. List of Common Documents for H1B Dropbox Applicant, List of Documents specific to H1B Visa for Dropbox applicant. Is there any specific timeslot in a day we have to look/login in CGIFederal site for appointment schedule ? F Khan, Well, it is likely. In addition, it is important to thoroughly review all information on the specificEmbassy or Consulate Visa Section websitefor local procedures and instructions, such as how to make an interview appointment. Emergency appointments: They say that weddings, family visits, graduations, grandkids birth, and the start of school for kids in the US are not eligible for an emergency appointment. H1B/H4 Dropbox Slots: They say that these slots are pretty much full for the next few months. As the F1 visas for spring are processeed, now they say that they will focus on the H1B, L1 and other petition based visas starting from February 2022. See below screenshot. Having the previous company name is the cause of the confusion. See below screenshot of the response from them. This will be listed as Step 2 in the wizard. See the below screenshot on how it looks on CGI Federal Atlas website. They also said they cannot guarantee getting a slot. If I select no, it is asking to go for separate appointments for the kid. H1B, H4, L, O, P and Q visa holders who meet certain criteria will get in-person interview waiver until end of 2023 ( Dec 31, 2023) .Also, F1, M, J visa holders who meet certain criteria would get in-person interview waiver until end of 2023 ( Dec 31, 2023). latest update by Mr. Don Heflin in Facebook Live on September 29th, 2022. US Embassy updated on Nov 28th saying that they have opened quite a few B1/B2 dropbox slots across Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. key updates, December 15th, 2022: Below are the updates from the start of December until today. Im so confused. The U.S. Mission in India has issued a record-breaking 82,000 #studentvisas in 2022 to date, higher than any other country. Hi All, Ive booked my dropbox appointment for May 2023 with my existing passport details but my current passport is expiring in October 2023. Will I be still eligible for dropbox? . Its really frustrating. Check When to get H1B stamping after approval of petition. Hi! Also, for first-time rejected applicants, they will get a chance to book slots for the second half of August. In the past, this question used to have an H1B visa in the question. 2) Since my previous H1b interview was at Mumbai consulate, am I limited to Mumbai for my dropbox appointment? 2. The US Consulates have not opened fully for regular operations, they continue to operate in a very limited fashion with limited slots. How long can I receive passport back after VAC appointment? How many times can I login and try to reschedule . My appointment is at Chennai consulate and in my ds160 I entered the location for submitting documents as Chennai. If so should I dropoff my documents at the same time as given in the appointment at chennai or should I dropoff a little earlier? Yes. The status for my wifes application (H4) is issued and the passport tracking says Origination scan. Thanks in advance! Manish, You should use the one that is valid right now with all the correct details. Ravi, It is not very common to attend interview twice. My wife got her passport back with the H4 stamping. If not, you can enter the receipt number in the receipt number box and click continue, then it will show the below pop-up. The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment. anotherh1b, You would likely be eligible.