Can I you use electronic receipt (email) which has all the information present on I797A. Later I got the J-2 Visa in March, 2022 without any annotation with an interview. And wont arrive before my dropbox appt. I am in a similar situation. If not, email the consualte as well. Read complete details at US Visa Appointment Dropbox Booking shows VAC instead of IW. Nusrat, The 48-month rule has been extended indefinitely. I got an Dropbox appointment on sep13, and I submitted my documents,but when I checked for updates, it shows application received. Did you get your visa? You still need to book an appointment for your drop-off, and it has to be done at the location you designate. Tehas, how did your appointment go without the I797? I earlier possessed a B1 visa (1 year) in year 2017 which has the annotation Clearance received. So, My son eligible for under 14 year Dropbox. We will use the limited time available for theinterview to get as full a picture as possible of your travel plans and intentions. It was given in the past during COVID as a guidance to the CBP Officer at the port of entry. Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times. GUIDE to Travel to US with valid Visa on Expired Passport ? I have been issued a F1 previously however, I got rejected for B1/B2 and never received a visa in that category. I never pursued my 221(g) case that was given to me through employer A. I checked the status of that case few days back and it now shows Refused. I know it works if its Dropbox. He was kind enough to take time to share their experience with the community. View in Telegram. Cash 650/- as its VFS Global ( only exact cash no online payment ). If you can, it is suggested to have the spouse visa stamped and then submit the H4 to avoid any unforeseen documents requests or issues. Check H1B Dropbox Guide. So, not eligible. but now it comes under Telangana,so what should I mention against Hyderabad. This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India. Also, submitting parties may need to provide their identity documents as well. We will use our available resources to fairly assist all applicants to get appointments to allow travel in time for business, study, and other important obligations. I think you can reschedule your appointment up to four times. The U.S. Embassy/ Consulates in India offer free document pickup/submission services at the OFC where the Embassy/Consulate is located. I changed job for employer B in Jan 2022 and got new I797 approved. I am having F1 visa now my H1b papers are approved , i have to go to Consulate. 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. The Visa section of this website is all about U.S. visas for foreign citizens to travel to the United States. Copy of the interview waiver letter generated at the time of booking the appointment. It took almost 10-15 mins for him to submit. Or Apply for new passport and take both passport to consular appointment. It will be huge help. 1-703-520-2239 (from the U.S.), The U.S.-India Partnership Ambition and Achievement, Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. 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. You need to go to the Consulate/VAC location at the respective date and time. Am I still eligible for a dropbox Appointment.? My employer applied H-1B visa cap exempt from India and it is valid till Mar 2025. Is it for booking the appointment or attending the Dropbox? Restart the wizard and answer questions, if that helps. I got my new H1B petition approved in Nov 2021. See our Directory of Visa Categorieson usvisas.state.govto determine which visa category might be appropriate for your purpose of travel to the United States. Below are the three biggest changes since the introduction of the appointments for Dropbox: As per the official guidance from the USTravelDocs.com India website for renewing a US visa, they clearly say that starting September 1st, eligible applicants MUST schedule an appointment in order to drop off their passports. If not possible, then carry a color copy . Regarding below question : Can someone else submit my visa application documents at the dropbox location? The L1 blanket is not eligible for dropbox. Actually my previous visa is expired but it is still within 48 months of my expiration date So actually I am still eligible for the drop box. How to Apply for H4 EAD? There is no deadline on when the 48 months rule for an interview waiver will end. Biometrics? Please visit our website to determine whether you are eligible for drop box processing and schedule an appointment for document drop-off. User Visa Type VAC Location Submission Date Status Processing Time Last Modified More Is dropbox feature available in Canada consulate or mexico consulate ? CEAC Website, Errors Info. Does anybody went through this situation before. However, my kids are not as both parents should have valid US visa as per criteria mentioned. You can write to consulate/ ustraveldocs to get it clarified as well. B1/B2, H1, F1? If I get any info, I will share with you. The question was 1) Do you have previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued? Can you please help me for the following question for Drop Box Eligibility criteria for B1/B2 ? Q. In that case, can I go back and change it to in person interview? Required Document List For H4 Visa Holders. Previous copies of my expired H4 Approval notices. Do update how it goes here. Meaning, lets say you have a renewal for H1B, then your previous visa in your passport should be H1B as well. Is it OK to have drop box for F1 visa based on previous B1/ B2 visa. Submitted: Hello, I submitted my documents at hyderabad drop box on 28th Oct. STtus still shows documents received. I am totally confused by this, also t did not show me appointments for any other locations just few for Chennai VAC. H-1B Visa (I-129) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC . Is this kind of delay common nowadays ? Login Signup. > Yes 6) Was your most recent U.S. visa issued after January 1, 2008? I can not be physically present for submission, but I can give all the documents to a fruend/agent. US Visa Appointment Availability Tracker. I have my H1B Visa drop box stamping appointment next week. US visa Interview waiver is the term used for the dropbox facility. You will need to select the appointment date, and location to drop off your documents. India Mexico Canada Browse by Country. Appreciate your early response. Since now applicants can submit documents in any nearby consulate or VFS he opted for Pune VFS Global center location being very near to us. Step 3. If applicable, required documents based on visa class (such as a petition approval for petition-based visas; more information about . Thanks. > No 3) Was your most recent U.S. visa lost or stolen or cancelled? The Receipt Number, start data, end date and new I94 number are present. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Note: Using the Interview Waiver does not guarantee visa issuance. It will be free of charge for Consulate locations and there is a fee of Rs 650 INR, if you are submitting in other locations. Click Continue to proceed with your application.. My companys lawyers told me that it should be fine to select L1 Individual on CGI federal for the stamping since my renewal was filed under L1B individual. If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application. There is no rule in place that tells you cannot renew beforehand. Am i eligible for dropbox as i have previously held h1b and it expired within 48 months? Most of them they process are dropbox appointments, emergency appointments, and only limited in-person appointments. Emergency Appointments? Do we need to update our new Home Address anywhere in relation to Dropbox Appointment schedule ? H4 Visa Stamp Copy from passport ( expiring soon), Copy of my spouses H1B Visa stamp ( expired ). Hello, I have a question regrading the dropbox eligibility for H4 visa 2022. Cancelling of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. Ketki, You would very likely be eligible, if you meet all other criteria. So, choose this carefully, if you prefer a choice. ABhikalp, Yes. 1. Any help will be highly appreciated. Also, do not be confused if you see VAC instead of IW in the dropdown on the same screen. Official News release screenshot from December 2022, News release screenshot from December 2021, In the past, the requirement was Your previous visa was in the same class and valid or expired within the last 12 months. Pl help. A list of drop-off locationsis available on our website. Were you able to get H4 by dropbox (first time stamping)? Listen H4 Dropbox eligibility for kids under 14 year age. Since Sep 2019, US Consulates in India introduced appointments for US Visa stampings using the Interview Waiver option, popularly called Dropbox. Adjudicating consular officers may request an in-person interview if additional information is required from applicants. SK, No, you need to be in India, if you are an applicant. How did you check status of dropbox facility? @shareandsmile #h1bvisalife #telegramsupport #dropboxHow did I plan my travel? Print your appointment letter and follow the instructions in it. and we got 3 years on H1B, I went to H4 Dropbox to get new H4 Stamp until end A, Yes, you can. US Visa Appointment At Kolkata Consulate - Emergency Appointments Available. Do I qualify for the recent interview waiver program? 2) Where will my photo and fingerprints be taken, if required ? But my US H4 visa was once stolen in the past. While scheduling the appointment, I answered a few questions before the payment page, and it says Im eligible for a dropbox appointment. Children under 14 years of age are eligible for dropbox. US embassy Visa interview appointment confirmation. Step 4: Confirm Dropbox location Once you qualify, you get to pick the country and city where you will drop off your documents. You can connect with others in the US Visa Stamping Telegram Group and get help from the community or be part of the US Visa Stamping Experiences Group (only repository of experiences, no messaging option). Knowingly you should not falsify information. Does it mean anytime before the last visa issuance ? (Not the most recent aka current H4 visa). So Im not eligible for Dropbox rt? Thank you very much for good video, very informative. Interview waiver appointment do I have to drop my documents in person or can my son drop it off at the appointment time. If you want to be safe, submit it a couple more days before. Check, On December 23rd, 2022, the US Dept of State again confirmed the continuation of the 48-month dropbox interview waiver rule. 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 ? Because I am not renewing my visa, instead changing status from L2 to H4. Your visa application (MRV) fee payment receipt. You may also read US Visa Stamping Dropbox Appointment mandatory, if eligible. Hi Sangita, i am in the same situatiohn and had my dropbox yesterday. During the first allocation, i was with a different employer. Is my understanding correct? agkakade March 11, 2022, 4:57am #1. How to Apply for H4 EAD? They changed the system this week for a few things, so could be hiccups too. I have previously B1/B2 visa stamped on my passport. Also, if it is other classes of visa renewal, it is still the same 12 months requirements (should be valid or expired in the last 12 months). Check with consulate as well in that country to be sure. Now, with this 48-month eligibility change, you can apply for Dropbox Visa stamping, if your visa has expired on or after November 1st, 2018. kevin, you can use a representative to drop the passport and supporting details. Hello, I got my biometric appointment in Mumbai, India for November22. On March 11th, 2021, the US Department of State released a press note indicating the expansion of dropbox visa stamping eligibility from 24 months from visa expiry to 48 months from expiry until Dec 31, 2021. All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Curious to know what happened to your case? Congratulations! Business traveler, we will establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate business travel and expedite cases of particular concern to American business. US Visa Appointment Wait Times. 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. > No 3) Was your most recent U.S. visa lost or stolen or cancelled? 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. Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to India. However I do have a copy of the i-797a from my attorneys office. Naresh, If it blanket, usually not eligible for it. 5. You should not cancel your existing appointment unless you receive a confirmation that your request for an expedited appointment has been approved. Copy of previous H1-B approvals, if any. DS-160 confirmation page. Hi kumar, I initially had h4 visa stamping. Please let me know the process how to pay again? My appointment was for 14:45 but was allowed to submit at 12:20. Below are the steps. Official Press release on Travel.State.Gov, official news alert from US Department of State, US Visa Stamping Dropbox Appointment mandatory, if eligible, GUIDE to H1B Visa 2023 Lottery, Registration, Predictions, News, FAQs. Got VAC appointment at Chennai but the consular appointment at Hyderabad with 10 days gap between. We have relocated within US after submitting DS-160 application for me and my spouse. Manish, Check with USTraveldocs they will help. The applicant does not have to go to dropbox submission, you can send your friend. You can check it out at Sample US Visa Dropbox Appointment letter. There is no end date to this rule at this time. Through the U.S. Primary applicant (H1B) holds a "F" VISA stamping in passport. What should I do now ? I have been approved for multiple US visas in the past. Hi Kumar For first timer H1B visa stamping in india with Dropbox facility and interview waiver? 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). Please reply.. There are no restrictions as such. He submitted his documents on 20th December and received his passport on 30th December . Hi, my b1/b2 visa had expired in nov 2018, making my 48 month window as nov 2022. However, I539 approval for my wife and kids pending for employer B. I scheduled group dropbox appointment for all of us. Now that we know the background and eligibility, lets look at what has changed. You have to choose your preferred US embassy to take an appointment and then drop your documents at . I held L1B blanket visa initially and travelled to US in Nov,21. US Visa Dropbox Eligibility 48 months Extended Indefinitley, Background: US Visa Stamping In-Person Interview vs. Dropbox, Dropbox Stamping Requirement Extended to 48 months from Expiry. If you are going to be called for interview for whatever reason, then it will be chennai. Now, i am applying again in h1b category. Becuase when I tried to book now, it showed no appointments available. 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? 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 . I just renewed my h1b with my current employer. I even contacted VFS Support, but they were not helpful, and they were pushing it on me mentioning I had made that change. ended up going for H4 stamping as it was taking too long. I am also same situation .. Can any help here and any update. I currently have a J-2 visa and I am planning to do the re-stamping. I have a drop box appointment for myself and my daughter(H1+H4) next week. Due to the lockdown, the U.S. embassy and most consulates in India are . Im in the same boat. There is no requirement the interview or VAC appointment must occur during the 365-day period. With No More Premium Processing Available For H4 EAD, Here's How You Can Expedite Your EAD . https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/expansion-of-interview-waiver-eligibility.html is error 404 as of today 23 Dec, 2021. Can someone confirm the documents to be submitted is there anything besides all passports, DS160 confirmation, appointment confirmation page and 1 photo ? 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. So next year I had to apply for new H1b and then on I had no stamping issue. How many slots are given each month? If that is the case, you shouldnt have any issues with dropbox eligibility. My drop box appointment is on May 2022. You qualify for the Interview Waiver . Try to fill in the questionnaire, it will suggest. Will i b called for PA ? The state.gov announcement says You should not have any visa refusals but you mentioned You shouldnt have any denials/refusals since your last H1B visa approval Can you explain what is the exact meaning of this eligibility? Only appointment scheduling can be done, when you are in the US. Navigate to schedule appointment on the visa portal That's all. Any additional documents such as authorization letter etc? I have taken an appointment for OFC document submission under interview waiver eligibility for B1/B2 renewal at Chennai VAC.