I changed job for employer B in Jan 2022 and got new I797 approved. Applicants for Chennai Consulate: Drop off at Chennai, Kochi, or Bangalore. Guru, Check the H1B Dropbox Step-by-Step Guide.. H1B Visa Dropbox eligibility if the visa expired more than 48 months ago. H4 EAD (I-765) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC, VSC. Even though the system may allow you book an appointment, you should meet the 48-month requirement on the day of submission. US Visa Appointment Wait Times. Were you able to get H4 by dropbox (first time stamping)? I have previously B1/B2 visa stamped on my passport. Just to reinsure the slot hasnt been changed, I logged into the system after more than a month, but the system gave me a message that my password had expired, and it prompted me to change the passwordwhich I did, and fortunately the date wasnt changed. Will the docs be accepted if one person in group is missing. Kumar,my B1B2 visa is expiring on 10 th March 2024, considering current rush for dtop box,how early should I need to initiate the process. its been more than 48 months, near to 5.5 years? Also, do not be confused if you see VAC instead of IW in the dropdown on the same screen. Documents will only be accepted at locations mentioned in appointment letter, so please decide the Post before scheduling the appointment. of my spouse H1B. I held L1B blanket visa initially and travelled to US in Nov,21. I have a drop box appointment for myself and my daughter(H1+H4) next week. When can you Apply for H1B Visa Stamping after Petition Approval? If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application. Very few in -person slots and they will only open for later this year. In the past, you could only submit your visa stamping documents at the specified dropbox location. You can check B1/ B2 Visa Stamping Experiences to see more from real experiences. Amit, You need to be eligible for it on the day you go for stamping or submission of documents. But, starting from Sep 1st, 2019, it is mandatory for you to go for the dropbox option if you qualify for the interview waiver option based on the questions answered on CGI Federal website. Do dropbox qualify for the same or are placeholders only for in person appointments? If that is the case, you shouldnt have any issues with dropbox eligibility. The CDC has determined that for the purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include those approved or authorizedby the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as vaccines with an emergency use listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO). Can I visit Hyderabad location for VAC instead of Chennai? So either the eligibility is going to be changed back to 12 months or expanded indefinitely. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the American people have invested $2 million over the past 20 years in the documentation, conservation, and restoration of 21 key historic sites and intangible heritage in India. We call received our I797 and I539 approval for Employer A sometime in 2021. (For a full list of vaccines in the Emergency Use Listing process see the WHO website:https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/key-resources/documents/status-covid-19-vaccines-within-who-eulpq-evaluation-process(PDF 332 KB).) Through the U.S. Also, some may also be eligible for dropbox stamping, even if it is past 48 months if they meet certain criteria until the end of 2022. 3. Has anyone gone through the process of dropbox submission through someone else? No, you cannot change the US Visa interview location. With the scarcity of the dates it is really difficult to book another appointment and any information will be of great help to me. US Visa Approval & Refusal Rates by Country and Visa H1B Visa Tracker (FY 2023) US Visa Stamping Dropbox (Interview Waiver) Tracker US Visa Emergency Appointment Tracker USCIS Processing Times US Visa Appointment Times Is it ok to book a drop box appointment slot before the extension is applied? They said they will open some later this year. Kay, You should not use the system for in-person, if it is not for emergency. It is called a Visa Interview Waiver or Dropbox Visa Stamping. Check Official news at State.gov. Passport. Can I you use electronic receipt (email) which has all the information present on I797A. There is no official confirmation on this but this is just a verbal update from the Customer Representatives on the line. Hi Kumar, I am also on h4 visa and have scheduled a dropbox appointment for an F1 visa. Yes, you can ask someone else like your friend, spouse, or travel agent to submit your visa application documents on your behalf. Student, we will make every effort to ensure that you get an appointment and, if qualified, a visa in time to start classes. A, Yes, you can. . We got VISA dropbox slot in Mumbai. Can i reschedule drop box appointment to Mumbai? Applicants for Delhi Consulate: Drop off at New Delhi, Chandigarh, or Jalandhar centersApplicants for Mumbai Consulate: Drop off at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or Pune centers. I travelled once to US on H4 Visa. It is H4 visa dropbox. Step 3. Knowingly you should not falsify information. DS 160 form - No need to carry a full copy of DS160. You need to follow the same process as in-person appointment booking. CEAC Website, Errors Info. Hi, my B1/B2 visa expires in April 2023, but i have got my drop box appointment for July 2023. is that ok? or any type of visa? Below is the screenshot of the news, you can check official news alert from US Department of State. Check US Visa Dropbox: Can drop off documents at any VAC location. But, when you try to book the appointment, the online system shows Schedule OFC Appointment as in the below screenshot, which can be confusing as the same message is shown for a Biometrics appointment as well. 1-703-520-2239 (from the U.S.), The U.S.-India Partnership Ambition and Achievement, Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. How to Apply for H4 EAD? Thanks. My mom already have B1/B2 visa stamp on the passport which expires on Nov 5 2023. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Most recenly I have travelled on B1/B2 to the US and back. Hi Sangita, i am in the same situatiohn and had my dropbox yesterday. Same issue here . You need to ensure, that all the documents as per the checklist are in there. Some mistake on their side, try to email or call them. ! If you applying for EAD, that would be with USCIS and they just need copies. Just fill out online and carry the DS160 confirmation page copy. How to Check US Visa Status Online? Hi I submitted my application at Bengaluru dropbox vfs. Parents B1/B2 VISA renewal Drop Box appointment list of docs, 1) Appointment Confirmation page 2) DS-160 3) Previous passports 4) Photo 5) Prior visa. This is crazy, it's going to be 2 years and still so hard to get a visa appointment. We will use the limited time available for theinterview to get as full a picture as possible of your travel plans and intentions. In general, to apply for dropbox, your visa has to be valid or expired within the last 12 months. > Yes 2) Was your prior visa annotated Clearance Received or Department Authorization? vin, 1. There are no questions for previous L1B visa or status change and all questions are related to H1B in the appointment portal while evaluating for dropbox eligibility. Complete your application fully and accurately. Since Sep 2019, US Consulates in India introduced appointments for US Visa stampings using the Interview Waiver option, popularly called Dropbox. Me also in the same situation could any one has info on this. Akshat, Well, did you get the dropbox confirmation screen in the past? What is the customer care number as I am stuck with duplicate profile situation? US Consulates across the globe continue to experience very high demand due to lack of staffing and the local COVID situation. The authorization to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the prior visas expiration has been extended indefinitely. It was supposed to end on December 31, 2021. The same country requirement was removed in mid-2021. Photocopy of form I-797. Please elaborate on which visa categories? Think earliest available Dropbox appt is in may for now.. slots were opened for jan/feb/March and got filled up few weeks ago. Hi Kumar For first timer H1B visa stamping in india with Dropbox facility and interview waiver? There were no US visa refusals in any other visa class, since your recent visa issuance, You shouldnt have any denials since your last visa stamping. GUIDE to Travel to US with valid Visa on Expired Passport ? I and my family was refuse a tourist visa early this year though we have been to usa more than 4 times. If the 48 months rule is considered on the date of the submission then just having the appointment should suffice. Can I still drop my documents for H1B stamping under this appointment schedule? As the slot availability was not known before paying the fees, I wasnt able to figure out that the date i would get would be after the expiry of the 48 month window. Note: Using the Interview Waiver does not guarantee visa issuance. While booking the appointment the portal just gave me an option to book single VAC appointment for Chennai, the portal did not show appointment booking options for consular interview. Note: Please be sure to select an interview waiver submission date at least 7 calendar days before your visa has been expired 48 months., Below is the screenshot of the confirmation you would get on the USTravelDocs CGI Federal Website, if you qualify for the Interview Waiver or Dropbox option for US Visa Renewal. Will I be still eligible for dropbox? With the scarcity of dates and slots filling up fast when I logged in to my account, clicked on continue and booked the date it gave me an OFC appointment and also an in person interview appointment . Do update how it goes here. Example: Lets say you had B1/B2 Visa stamping previously done in one of the US Consulates in India. Two questions here: 1) What I am experiencing above, is that the normal process? Me on H1B and and my wife on H4 decided the separate the profile and try to get appointment dates separately, we both got Drop box appointment on same date and time through separate logins, is it mandatory that H4 applicants to principal applicant visa stamped along with other documents? Or Apply for new passport and take both passport to consular appointment. Your thoughts ? What documents I need to submit? US Visa Appointment At Kolkata Consulate - Emergency Appointments Available. Please advise. Just want to check whether this Annotation will not impact my dropbox eligibility? You cannot skip if you were asked to attend the visa interview. AQI updates from U.S. Embassy and Consulates air quality monitors is available. I have taken an appointment for OFC document submission under interview waiver eligibility for B1/B2 renewal at Chennai VAC. You must already have a confirmed interview appointment date in order to request an expedited appointment. You do not have to be physically in India to book the dropbox appointment. The purpose of your intended travel and other facts will determine what type of visa is required under U.S. immigration law. Can you please confirm that even if I am eligible for the drop box , I can still do an in person interview as that is the only option I was given ? Do you qualify for Dropbox (Interview Waiver) Appointment in 2023? I am confused why no interview slot option is prompted since I am not eligible for Dropbox. Later I got the J-2 Visa in March, 2022 without any annotation with an interview. Your visa application (MRV) fee payment receipt. Because I am not renewing my visa, instead changing status from L2 to H4. As of November 8,2021, foreignnational air travelers to the United States arerequired to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions. The L1 blanket is not eligible for dropbox. I mean H1 and H4 get same Dropbox appointment to drop documents. You select the location of drop-off, date, and time for the appointment. The applicant does not have to go to dropbox submission, you can send your friend. My company has received I-797C approval notice(Not I-797A). Please suggest how you got this fixed. You can check Visagrader Dropbox Tracker for user data and estimates. And my spouse too, with H4? hello, Do we need to submit financial documents such as W2, bank statement from sponsorer ( son) for visitor visa renewal document drop off.? For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States. Schedule an appointment to submit your documents Step 2. 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. On H4 Visa I have Annotation NIE UNDER PP ON RISK TO LABOR MARKET. I paid VISA fee for drop box and the receipt is valid for 12 months. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. My spouse is eligible for drop box as per criteria. Since 48 month extension rule expired on Dec 31, will I be still eligible for Dropbox. As you go through the questionnaire on CGI Federal website, you would get a question that looks like in the below screenshot and reads as below: Did your previous B-1/B-2 visa expire within the last 48 months? dropbox, Arun, it can take a couple of days sometimes. Check the below screenshot and. Please visit our website to determine whether you are eligible for drop box processing and schedule an appointment for document drop-off. Hi,I am currently on h4 visa and about to change visa to F1.Will I be applicable for drop box,?and what all documents would be required? I was confused and answered Yes instead of No for the question Is your previous h1b visa is still valid and it took me to the drop box slots available page and I booked the slot. My husband and I have a US visa renewal (interview waived) dropbox appointment at Delhi VAC. now its in Telangana. There is nothing like US corresponce consulate, you can apply anywhere. Varsha, Usually, I see people doing it about 1 year before the expiry as a safety thing. 2. How is it helping you? My appointment was for 14:45 but was allowed to submit at 12:20. It has the screenshot that does not talk about country, we have users who were able to get stamping done as well. The text Schedule OFC appointment on the appointment booking screen can be confusing, but they have a reason. H-1B Visa (I-129) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC . So, not eligible. What should I mention in Ds160. I got married last year, do I need to submit my original marriage certificate even though it is not in the required documents list? Anyone with same problem? Print and save two copies of your DS-160 confirmation page. Do we need to carry NIE form for drobox for H4 Visa stamping. Please note applicants must only schedule their in-person or interview waiver appointment within the 365-day period. As a visa applicant, you will need to establish that you meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. Does this imply I have to schedule drobox appointment before VISA fee expires? Can you confirm whether you were eligible for drop box? > Yes. I submitted on 13th sep till now my application status shows accepted and last update on 19th Sep. Its renewal of B1B2 I have to travel to Thailand on nov 2 for which i need to apply for visa atleast 10 days before to be on safer side. So next year I had to apply for new H1b and then on I had no stamping issue. i am in the same category my Visa expired 8 years back ..whether you have any update? Children under 14 years of age are eligible for dropbox. Now I am looking to book a dropbox appointment in Apr 2023. I was out by by 12:35. or do i need to get an appointment for before April 2023? Does this mean I cannot opt for in-person interview anymore? Documents for H4 Visa Stamping Interview, DropBox. Does anybody went through this situation before. Give it a try after few days. To help the situation and avoid public risk, back in 2020 US Department of State increased the 12 months from expiry to 24 months from the expiry of the previous visa for US visa renewals using dropbox or the interview waiver option until March 31, 2021. Listen H4 Dropbox eligibility for kids under 14 year age. References : USTravelDocs.com Visa Waiver official Page, Can someone please help me? This is just for confirmation , What was your earlier visa based on which you got a H1B dropbox facility. How the availability works? I had previous B1 and H1b visas, which are expired over 4 years now. I got new I-797 through new employer post stamped H1B visa expired. The appointment requirement for US Visa Dropbox applications applies to all of the US visa types that are currently eligible for interview waiver or dropbox. The Receipt Number, start data, end date and new I94 number are present. US Visa Dropbox Appointment Booking Process - Complete Steps Complete DS-160 form : First you need to compete DS-160 form and then print confirmation page and save it. Does this mean I have a drop box appointment? Please let me know. In many cases, US Visa Dropbox Appointment is a must, if you are eligible for it. Important Notice: Interview Waiver Processing. I paid for Visa Extension fee on March 2021. Hi, Please help me out with B1/B2 dropbox eligiblity, I have applied renewal for my old parents and paid MRV fee on August 23rd 2021. Your visa should not have annotations like Clearance Received or Department Authorization, Your visa should be issued after your 14th birthday. I even contacted VFS Support, but they were not helpful, and they were pushing it on me mentioning I had made that change. planning for India visit May/June next year, just exploring options for stamping. Inside he took token. The H1 and H4 stamping for me, my wife and kids (below 14 years) have expired in October 2019. To contact a customer service representative, please visitthe GSS Contact Us pagefor full information or use contact information below: The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States. This change corresponds to recent shifts in the market exchange rate for Indian rupees to U.S. dollars. I- 797 Current only 2. Also, luckily, in parallel, by the time I arrived in US, I got my H4 and H4 EAD approved and they were delivered to my address. Do I qualify for the recent interview waiver program? What about those whose visa has expired 5 years ago (and hence not eligible under 48month rule) and who want to travel to India now? Curious to know what happened to your case? Instead, now I got VISA interview at counsulate. US Visa Stamping at Consulates usually involves in-person interviews, unless you qualify for the Interview Waiver Eligibility, which is popularly called a Dropbox Visa Appointment. Naresh, Depends on the company status with blanket or not. Vinod, No, it will not. Shilpa, The prior visa refers to the immediate visa that was issued. Did you figure this out? In the past(before September 2019), no appointment was required with Visa Application Center(VAC) to drop off documents. I had a doubt if I will qualify for dropbox appointment or not. In the end, the website told me that I AM ELIGIBLE FOR DROPBOX. I am totally confused by this, also t did not show me appointments for any other locations just few for Chennai VAC. my kid is 3 years old and is on H4, Is kid eligible for drop box ? The key criterion is that you need to meet the 48-month criteria on the day of submission of the documents. 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 And H1B visas, which are expired over 4 years now dropbox submission, you send. Have users who were able to get stamping done as Well will the docs h4 dropbox appointment availability... Interview at counsulate myself and my daughter ( H1+H4 ) next week allow you book appointment... I be still eligible for dropbox, Arun, it & # x27 ; s going be..., if it is really difficult to book a dropbox appointment for an F1 visa in may now... 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