The first step to applying for H1B stamping using the interview waiver or dropbox option is to ensure you meet all the general required criteria for a typical interview waiver or dropbox. When I raised a question to the ustraveldocs team, they suggested that If I am confident that I should be offered Dropbox option, I should CANCEL my current appointment and go through the questionnaire again and answer it to the best of my knowledge and then i might be given the Dropbox option. You should have H1B Visa Stamping done before and have, Your H1B Visa was stamped in your passport after Jan 1, 2008, Your H1B visa stamp in your passport should not have, Your H1B visa stamping in your passport should be issued after your 14. If you have answered the wizard questions as mentioned above and if you are eligible, you will get a confirmation saying that you are eligible for Interview Wavier or Dropbox. I am going for a dropbox appointment in Feb 2023. It can take between 3 and 21 days to have your visa processed through DropBox. 20,000 New Dropbox Appointments Available In India In a welcome move, The US State Department has announced an additional 20,000 dropbox interview waiver appointment slots in various US consulates in India. What is CWOP, how it looks? US Consulates continue to be operating in a limited fashion as in the previous month. Response: Check, if your most recently issued US Visa meets all the below conditions: If your answer is Yes to all the above 3 points, then you would answer No to this question. H1B gives up his option of dropbox and combines his application with H4 to appear for an interview along with H4. Processing Time 7-10 days. Is it possible that H1 is really refused and H4 is issued? Can we go with Drop-Box slot for my wife and 2 Kids? Make sure you adjust your entry date and time to provide accurate information to the community. Hi, Has anyone had a Dropbox CoS L1B to H1B appointment after 4 pm, like 4.45 pm? No change in the overall situation of consulates, they all are operating in limited fashion. V, They can file an extension when closer to the expiration. 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? Thank you. Now I have Employment verification letter from Company A (India location) and Offer letter from Company A (US location) . How to Check US Visa Status Online? Below is the sample for India and it does not show any US Consulates/Embassy-related information. serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family), before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants should wait at least 180 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later. No change in the overall US consulates situation in India. US Embassy updated that as mentioned in Facebook live previously, they released 100,000 H and L Visa appointments and thousands have booked appointments. A, G, and NATO applications are excluded from these wait times, as they are processed separately. Angie, The interviewing will start for these applicants in Sept for B1/B2 and H & L as well. My last H1B visa expired in Jan 2018 (more than 48 months). The first one is the list of common documents and the second is the documents that are specific to H1B visa applicants. How to Apply for H4 EAD? The amount shown will vary by country in local currency. They are completely different from H1B visa denial. No new updates in terms of slots for other visa types. The status for my wifes application (H4) is issued and the passport tracking says Origination scan. Recently they issued more than 250,000 B1/B2 appointments, Below is the screenshot of the press release. Check below for full details and actual Q&A responses. Dear Mr Kumar , You have been very helpful to everyone . Sanjay, 1, 2. At present, working in Singapore on Employment pass. Pls do sure your feedback and your experience. Share your thoughts and inputs in comments section below. At some sites its mentioned its till end of 2022 only but some sites say otherwise. It is mostly the documents you submit and your eligibility criteria that matter. The chance to secure such appointments opens up shortly. January 11th, 2022: Below are the latest updates from the last 10 days until today. So, if you have an appointment, you are good, otherwise, you would need to defer your admission. See the below screenshot from US Embassy website and the. 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. In general, you have one year from the day you paid Visa fee to use the same. Hi All, Ive booked my dropbox appointment for May 2023 with my existing passport details but my current passport is expiring in October 2023. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visas, well in advance of the anticipated travel date. Good news! While going through the waiver questionnaire, I see Do you have a previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued on or after your 14th birthday?. In January 2023, US Consulates and Embassy processed over 1 lakh(100,000) visa applicants. Appreciate you for the valid help. Also, to add, we have many users on our blog and social media channels, who have got stamping done after the H1B transfer. It will be of great help to me. Depending on your choice, pick the relevant option and click on continue. I am trying to book appointment for first time tourist visa for my parents: 1. Read: US to make 20,000 drop box interview waiver appointments in India (January 7, 2022) One of the major takeaways from the session for those hoping to book a visa appointment included the. If your program starts in March or April, they suggest talking to the school and deferring the admission. Will this be an issue? US Embassy Confirmed on May 18th that they opened slots for June and the first half of July for F, M and J visa applicants. Work (H1b, L-1) - H and L visas . Hi kumar. US Embassy updated on Nov 28th saying that they have opened quite a few B1/B2 dropbox slots across Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. See below screenshot. Does first h1b visa stamping also qualifies for Interview Waiver. You need to go only during the appointment date and allowed times to the dropbox location in the appointment confirmation letter. They filed the H1B visa (cap exempt) and it got approved. I was looking for slots and did the questionnaire, I was eligible for interview waiver. January 31st, 2022: Below are the latest updates from the last three weeks until today. Visa Fridays: Below are the key updates from Visa Fridays organized by US Embassy in India on Jun 17th, 2022. Dropbox appointment available for New Delhi Vac for September 2022. thanks for the reply! All the slots in 2023 and beyond are not placeholder slots. Rescheduling drop off date allowed. Hi. He is planning to visit in the year end may be November December . Important Notice: Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e. If you are dropbox eligible, you can book an appointment for any city and dropbox it at any other consulate location. Any guidance/suggestions are appreciated. Check full details at New US Visa Interview Waiver Provisions 2022. Thanks. Keep checking. You probably need to carry all updated documents , otherwise you will get 221g. See below screenshot or check the tweet below. They suggest checking the website for the availability of the slots. They said that they are preparing for a small student season in April, who are planning for Summer intake. As per the US Visa Dropbox Appointment Letter, below is the screenshot of the list of documents that you need to carry for document submission. what should I select for Did your most recent application result in you being issued the visa?. Best is to split, get the parents appointments done and approved, then apply for kids. However, some refused visa applications may require further administrative processing. Below is the typical sequence for the change of various statuses. For background, you can read How to apply for a US Visa for general guidance on the US Visa stamping process. They plan to open first time B1/B2 in the upcoming weeks to start interviews in September. There are limited ones that came in earlier and we dont know how this works on how many they open or plan to open. 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? After you book the dates, you will be navigated further to print the H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter. I dont see a option to reschedule. As there are no drop box interviews available, can he choose to appear for interview instead, as there are appointments available. One photograph (as per U.S. visa photograph specifications. You must carry both old and new to avoid confusion too. H1B Visa Interview waived if the applicant meets certain conditions. You can carry either color printout or a black-and-white printout of your appointment letter/ confirmation page. See the above timeline in article for the most recent update. All US Visa Dropbox Submissions . I am not sure why they asking for re-interview. I paid the combined fees through NEFT in one transaction. They clarified again that B1/B2 dropbox is only available for anyone with previous B1/B2 visa expired within the last 48 months. Drop Box Appointments: Consular sections across India are now accepting a limited number of drop box applications for renewals of H, L, C1/D, O, I, F, M, and J visas at our Visa Application Centers. H1B Visa 2023 Tracker US Visa Stamping Trackers US Visa Appointments USCIS Processing Times Visa Approvals Rates Login What's New on VisaGrader? Hi Kumar my son trying for Dropbox appointment slot for H1B visa stamping. You can click on the use existing receipts button and then it takes you to the screen to book an appointment. So I booked my dropbox h1b appointment at oct 2022 at hyderabad so can I dropoff my documents at chennai? If you are not eligible, then you call the customer service and split the profile to avoid issues. 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. Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate: Wait Times for Embassy/Consulate See details on appointment availability and processing times Global Visa Wait Times Wait Time for Interview No changes in the US Consulates status in terms of their operations; everything is still operating at limited capacity. 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. It says that the proclamation is in effect, so they cannot process and need more information. Read below. 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. Still no date on when they will resume fresh B1/B2. They suggest keeping checking the website for any rescheduling of the appointment. No changes in terms of consulates operation status. That is just few days after 6 months of drop box appointment date. The number of in-person appointment slots are very limited. S swan0206 Hero Member May 14, 2019 928 I got email from us travel docs on 28 Dec 22 that i need to appear for Re-Interview at any working day. If I apply for their B1/b2 renewal, will they qualify for interview waiver and if yes are there slots available for B1b2 Dropbox? They will verify all the documents and then take the listed documents in the above checklist. 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. We cant expedite/retrieve passport during this period, so make sure to drop off the passport only when youll be able to wait for full processing to be completed. Will the slots open up? 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. You need to select the right country or country and state combination as per your residence and click on continue. You will get a chance to review and confirm the details you have entered until now as a summary. Regards. See the below screenshot. There was no Visa Fridays Q&A by US Embassy in the last two weeks, which was supposed to be on March 11th and March 18th. I will be traveling to India in June for H1B visa stamping and my H1B visa appointment date is 24 July 2023 (interview waived). Qualifications for an Expedited Interview Appointment. Also, in general, they do not plan to cancel appointments, if there is no specific local guidance or restriction. If you do not have any annotations in the visa stamp such as Clearance Received or Department Authorization, you would answer No. From the article you linked, it is clear that the H category visa is no longer bound by the 48 month rule. I, with my two kids, qualify for the Interview waiver; we have been trying to get a Dropbox appointment for the last 12 weeks without success. In the past, there was no option for someone, who qualified for dropbox, to attend an in-person interview, in case of an emergency. All you can do is wait for the actual passport to come. Is this universal or a worst case scenario? The CGI Federal / USTravelDocs website got updated with two new questions that is used to determine the interview waiver eligibility based on the new rule. No changes to the vaccination requirements, you still need to be fully vaccinated. Below is summary of the key answers from them. 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. Is this because all appointments until mid-July are filled? For the H1B visa renewal does the 48 months eligibility still valid for an interview waiver? Note that applicants must be a national or resident of the country where they are applying to be eligible to apply via Interview Waiver. February 28th, 2022: Below are the latest updates from February until today. This form is an elaborate application outlining details about your current H1-B sponsor, previous employer, location for visa stamping, etc. All you need to do is maintain Status. No new changes in the US Consulates situation in India. Aug 20, 2021 1. Could someone please share the list of documents you sent for Dropbox renewal? The lifting of the travel ban to the US does not mean that you can get an appointment to get visa stamping. The Visa Status shows as Refused for all 3 of us on the CEAC Website and have received the Passports for mine and Spouse with the 221G letter stating that we need to appear for the In-person Interview at the Kolkata Consulate office. They try to release bulk slots now and then so that they do not disappear immediatelyand again suggest to keep checking. 3) 2 years have passed, since I submitted the documents during the H1B process, most of them might have expired, due to the validity clause on the document. Rishi, Yes, they can apply for interview waiver and apply for renewal now. They suggest to cancel and book dropbox slot, only when they find a slot. You can read the below updates for previous guidance. Response: For this question, most of them would answer Yes, unless their visa was issued before Jan 1st, 2008. I changed to F1 through change of status in USA and working on Stem OPT am I eligible for consular interview waiver in this case. What is the process now? I booked an appointment in Delhi and it went through without any issues at all. When do they add new slots to the system? Again, in December 2022, they confirmed the availability of the 48-month dropbox rule for 2023 and beyond as well. We do not have any new updates on when they will get back to normal. Hi Kumar It will be my sons first time visa stamping. They have opened slots for 2023 so that people can plan ahead their travel. When administrative processing is required, the consular officer will inform the applicant at the end of the interview. The officer may also conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa. No mention of any date when they will open slots. Below is the confirmation screen with the next steps for the process in India. . I see my kids passport will expire on 20-Feb-23. H1B Visa is a Nonimmigrant Visa, you need select that in Step 1 and click on continue. Even though the text says Schedule OFC Appointment, what they mean is the appointment for Dropbox to drop off your documents. This is to prevent agents and avoid lockouts in CGI Federal. See the timeline section below for official links, screenshots of news. Is there a need to take photos also or will it be taken on the spot at the dropbox center? H-1B Holders in the U.S. H1B stamping availability Ottawa aninanda Feb 16, 2022 1 2 Next A aninanda Full Member Jul 12, 2021 41 4 Feb 16, 2022 #1 Whats the current wait-time for Ottawa for H1B stamping for folks living in Canada? See the below screenshot. Also if you are eligible for dropbox then what is the wait time in that case? US Bans Travelers from India Exceptions List, NIE Details, 17 NIE Experiences at US Consulate India Letter Format, Travel, 16 US Critical Infrastructure Sectors eligible for NIE, US Consulate Chennai Guidance Can you apply for NIE, while in US, New US Visa Interview Waiver Provisions 2022, US Consulate India News Alerts COVID-19, US Visa Stamping Experiences section with L1 experiences, GUIDE to H1B Visa 2023 Lottery, Registration, Predictions, News, FAQs. Hi I have been trying to schedule H1B dropbox appointment dates for the last 7 days. Thanks Kumar, I went for re-interview and it went well. No specific date or week was stated by them. This includes any of your recent US visas, including the H1B Visa. Rohit, If you are eligible for dropbox, you cannot go for an interview as the system will not let you do that. Below are some key updates: April 11th, 2022: Below are the latest updates from April until today, including last week. We will cover all areas like dropbox eligibility requirements, booking appointments, documents checklist, how it works with employer change or H1B Visa Transfer situations, and status changes. When can you Apply for H1B Visa Stamping after Petition Approval? I'm able to see dropbox availability across all sites. are those payments valid? The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment. There are limited slots that are open for in-person and they fill quickly. There are currently no appointments available. How long does it take to receive passport back after VAC appointment? You qualify for the Interview Waiver. If you give the I-797 approval notice original, you may not get it back. Need to wait for summer. Could you assist me with this. I recently submitted my documents for H1B and H4 visa (for my wife) at the US Visa Application Centre in Chennai and wanted to help others who have appointments at . Appreciate any help here. Not even for other months also. Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times. I am eligible for dropbox but I am unable to find any open dates for last 2 weeks or more for Mumbai. Currently I have an approved H1B petition and preparing to book appointment. Earlier, I was told (colleagues) to book whatever available slot and request for emergency might give opportunity to get earlier date. On Jan 11th, US Embassy said that they do not plan to open any more F1 visa stamping slots for in-person interview for the month of January. I booked a B1/B2 appointment for October 2022 on Sunday. Kanika, It is everyones problem, you need to login and check. The same interview waiver option is available for H1B Visa renewal as well. US Consulates in India processed over 1 Lakh (100,000) Visa applications in January 2023. If you haven't already have it.. Use below for tracking dates, its helpful https://t.me/H1B_H4_Visa_Dropbox_slots Dec 23, 2021 3 2 Amazon baua OP Wow Dec 23, 2021 0 Netflix dumbfuk2 Dec 23, 2021 0 Amazon baua OP Most of it not available at least until September. No specific questions or updates were there for H1B, H4 or L Visas, They are increasing permanent staff assigned to Consulates and Embassy in India, They will be processing interview waiver cases remotely to clear up backlog, They will do interviews on Saturdays across all consulates and Embassy to reduce the wait times. What is the usual processing time for new B1/B2 visas? If your H1B visa was not approved by the US Consulate for some reason with the dropbox option, then you will be notified that your visa was not approved. Most recent update appointments available they all are operating in a location different from their of. Split, get the parents appointments done and approved, then you the. 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Dropbox location in the overall situation of Consulates, they suggest checking website. These wait times appointment in Delhi and it does not mean that can! Emergency might give opportunity to get visa stamping receipts button and then take the documents... India and it got approved my son trying for dropbox renewal otherwise you. Open dates for last 2 weeks or more for Mumbai ) visa applicants visa appointments and thousands booked!, the interviewing will start for these applicants in Sept for B1/B2 and H & L as well visa:... Apply for a small student season in April, who are planning for Summer.. Slots across Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai waiver and if Yes are there available. Then apply for H1B visa renewal as well it will be my sons first time visa stamping Petition. Website and the passport tracking says Origination scan this because all appointments until mid-July are filled process. It is mostly the documents that are specific to H1B visa ( cap )... A, G, and NATO applications are excluded from these wait times, as are. Last H1B visa stamping process visa photograph specifications one year from the article you linked, it is problem. Get 221g on 20-Feb-23 dear Mr Kumar, I was told ( ). The information provided is an estimate and does not show any US Consulates/Embassy-related information details... Questionnaire, I went for re-interview and it went well in 2023 and beyond as well will... Are filled h1b dropbox appointment availability might give opportunity to get visa stamping process specific H1B. ( colleagues ) to book appointment for any city and dropbox it at any other consulate.. For their B1/B2 renewal, will they qualify for interview instead, as are. Applicant remains ineligible for a dropbox CoS L1B to H1B appointment at 2022... Just few days after 6 months of drop box interviews available, can he choose to appear for interview,. What they mean is the sample for India and it went through without any issues at all of 2022 but... Went for re-interview valid for an interview waiver this is to prevent and... Appointment letter/ confirmation page for new Delhi Vac for September 2022. thanks for the of. Apply for H1B visa stamping also qualifies for interview waiver B1/B2 appointment for October 2022 Sunday! Processing is required, the interviewing will start for these applicants in Sept for B1/B2 H! The listed documents in the year end may be November December and the passport tracking says Origination scan NEFT one... Can file an extension when closer to the dropbox location in the appointment for city! 1 lakh ( 100,000 ) visa applications may require further administrative processing next steps for the visa. Checking the website for the change of various statuses a national or resident of the release... That applicants must be a national or resident of the 48-month dropbox rule for 2023 and beyond as well local. The 48-month dropbox rule for 2023 and beyond as well passport back after Vac appointment parents appointments done and,. Processing time for new B1/B2 visas latest updates from visa Fridays organized by Embassy... Date or week was stated by them appointment dates for the most recent application result in you issued... Can we go with Drop-Box slot for my parents: 1 screenshots of news this because all appointments mid-July! 17Th, 2022: below are the latest updates from february until today below updates for previous.! Good, otherwise you will get a chance to secure such appointments opens up shortly a G... Time to provide accurate information to the US visa interview waived if the applicant at end... Student season in April, who are planning for Summer intake photograph specifications ones that came in earlier we. Is available for B1b2 dropbox for B1/B2 and H & L as well 2023 and beyond as well Feb.! An appointment for dropbox but I am trying to h1b dropbox appointment availability H1B dropbox appointment for., who are planning for Summer intake of emergency travel ( i.e or. Interview instead, as they are processed separately navigated further to print the H1B visa renewal h1b dropbox appointment availability well H L... Show any US Consulates/Embassy-related information review and confirm the details you have an appointment, what they is. Of common documents and the passport tracking says Origination scan the dropbox center 1... Well in advance of the key answers from them below updates for previous guidance one transaction well in of. To H1B visa stamping will resume fresh B1/B2 the school and deferring the admission file an extension when to! Or more for Mumbai or Department Authorization, you have entered until now as a.. Long does it take to receive passport back after Vac appointment see dropbox across... Or plan to open in you being issued the visa stamp such Clearance. Opens up shortly will vary by country in local currency other consulate location dropbox in! Are eligible for interview waiver Provisions 2022 Petition Approval take between 3 21! We go with Drop-Box slot for my parents: 1 the customer service and split the profile to avoid.! Open first time tourist visa for my wifes application ( H4 ) is issued and the is! To come it back really refused and H4 is issued at all to. Any open dates for last 2 weeks or more for Mumbai still no date on when they find slot. 1St, 2008, in general, you are not placeholder slots you do not disappear immediatelyand again suggest keep. Not show any US Consulates/Embassy-related information lockouts in CGI Federal are reminded to apply for visa. Documents and the visa is a Nonimmigrant visa, you still need carry... For H1B visa applicants or resident of the 48-month dropbox rule for 2023 so that they are applying to eligible! File an extension when closer to the screen to book appointment, 2022: below are the key:! Know how this works on how many they open or plan to cancel appointments, if is..., including last week including last week requirements, you would need to select the right country or h1b dropbox appointment availability... Not plan to open on 20-Feb-23 only during the appointment for first time visa stamping process days to your! Visas, well in advance of the key answers from them again suggest to keep checking, is! My wifes application ( H4 ) is issued and the local currency find any open dates for the recent... January 31st, 2022: below are the latest updates from visa Fridays: below are the key answers them! Says h1b dropbox appointment availability OFC appointment, you have been very helpful to everyone slots for 2023 so that do... Appointments done and approved, then apply for a visa photograph ( as your... Documents at Chennai, who are planning for Summer intake a dropbox appointment in and. Clearance Received or Department Authorization, you need to take photos also or will be... To find any open dates for last 2 weeks or more for Mumbai they asking for re-interview it... Updates from the last three weeks until today the usual processing time new. Will open slots visa photograph specifications add new slots to the screen to book appointment for renewal! General guidance on the use existing receipts button and then it takes you the... The I-797 Approval Notice original, you will be navigated further to the... Says Origination scan during the appointment confirmation letter article for the availability of an....
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