Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. You can submit your visa-related documents at Visa Application Center(VAC) and your US visa may be issued without an interview. 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. If your expedited appointment request is approved, you will be notified with instructions via email. Regarding below question : Can someone else submit my visa application documents at the dropbox location? So, do not be confused with the text with OFC on the top. The website says that slots after oct 2022 are placeholders for emergencies. Below is the document that was released by US Consulates when they introduced Dropbox Stamping with Appointments. I have to get my spouses H4 visa stamped for the first time, when I booked appointment, it only let me book OFC/drop box, not sure if she is eligible for the first time? As already it was very tough to get the dates and I dont want to lose this opportunity. Copy of the H4 Visa Stamp on the passport. Do I have to carry spouses original h1b or just the photocopies are fine. Now i am applying for H1B. Below are the typical general requirements to be eligible for Dropbox Stamping for anyone above 80 years and below 14 years. Hello, I made a mistake while answering the questionnaire while booking visa appointment slots. ABhikalp, Yes. The Department of State has also authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for travelers applying for F, H-1, H-3, H-4, non-blanket L, M, O, P, Q, and academic J visas who were previously issued any type of visa, if they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality or residence. Sohini, Usually, that should be fine as long as you have a copy of the approval notice I797A. If you are looking for H1B Visa specific dropbox process, you can check out Step by Step Guide for H1B Visa Dropbox Appointment Booking India. Find the closest American Space in India where you can connect with the U.S. Or the slots opens for each month? Applicants for Delhi Consulate: Drop off at New Delhi, Chandigarh, or Jalandhar centersApplicants for Mumbai Consulate: Drop off at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, or Pune centers. Please advise. How the availability works? Listen H4 Dropbox eligibility for kids under 14 year age. Do dropbox qualify for the same or are placeholders only for in person appointments? I am on same situation. planning for India visit May/June next year, just exploring options for stamping. Check US Visa Dropbox: Can drop off documents at any VAC location. Thank you, Ravi. If the system says you need both and gives both appointments, you need to attend in-person appointment. The most recent visa should have been issued in your same country (home country). 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? A, Yes, you can. So, you should submit your documents before June 23rd, 2023. I would like to know if the above docs are good enough or do i need to submit w-2 ,paystub ,green card , bank statement documents as well ( i am the representative ( son ) )? Below is the screenshot of the news update and you can check official news Link on travel.state.gov, August 25th, 2020 : US Department of State gave original guidance today indicating the flexibility in the dropbox eligibity. 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. Is this kind of delay common nowadays ? Give it a try after few days. Satya. How is it helping you? H4 EAD (I-765) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC, VSC. How you proceed ? Yes, you can ask someone else like your friend, spouse, or travel agent to submit your visa application documents on your behalf. You can read full summary at US Dept of State Extends interview waiver, 48-month Rule. Please help if anyone cam across similar situation. Emergency Appointments? Register for Account to book appointment : After that you need to register an account to book an appointment at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=India Can i still go ahead with my appointment as scheduled? During scheduling appt I see the following question: Have you ever been refused a B1/B2 visa before? It never prompts me to book the actual visa interview slot. Their previous 10yr B1/B2 visa got expired in April 2016? H4 Visa Stamp Copy from passport ( expiring soon), Copy of my spouses H1B Visa stamp ( expired ). can somebody please answer this questions. Hi, Ive a dropbox appointment in Chennai. For general dropbox eligibility, your US visa had to be valid or expired on or after November 1st, 2021. Am i eligible for dropbox as i have previously held h1b and it expired within 48 months? Now, from September 1. I am not sure what is going to happen. I applied for Dropbox considering my older visa. Schedule an appointment to submit your documents Step 2. So next year I had to apply for new H1b and then on I had no stamping issue. Its more than 10 days after submission how long should I wait to receive the passport back. Inside he took token. I am not sure if my previous visa denial will prevent me from being eligible for drop box. You have basically 4 years from the date of expiry to apply for Visa Renewal using Dropbox now. 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. 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. We will cover that details in this article. I am seeing few available in Delhi after August. Primary applicant (H1B) holds a "F" VISA stamping in passport. Most of the applicants qualify for the dropbox option unless they have some restrictions or their stamped US Visa has annotations like "Clearance Received". > THIS WAS THE MAIN DOUBTFUL QUESTION FOR ME. There is no official confirmation on this but this is just a verbal update from the Customer Representatives on the line. 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. According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine (fromhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html). Can I book a drop box slot for July before my extension is applied and approved? Now, it is time to renew for the third time. But, for renewing your existing US Visa, if you meet certain criteria, then you do not have to appear for an in-person interview. 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 have a drop box appointment for myself and my daughter(H1+H4) next week. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Step 4: Confirm Dropbox location Once you qualify, you get to pick the country and city where you will drop off your documents. USA H4 Visa. Looks like same visa class within 48 months of the prior visas expiration has been extended indefinitely so we are eligible for Drop box ? Documents for H4 Visa Stamping Interview, DropBox. What is the Dec 31st deadline for? All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date. This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India. Alekhya, Well, this one is not interchangeable, You should only go to Mumbai. Interview waiver letter printed during appointment booking. Has anyone gone through the process of dropbox submission through someone else? If you are going to be called for interview for whatever reason, then it will be chennai. Print and save two copies of your DS-160 confirmation page. In the past, you could only submit your visa stamping documents at the specified dropbox location. The confirmation looks like in below screenshot. In this article, we will look at the US Visa dropbox or Interview Waiver process in India, what it means to anyone going for US Visa stamping, and FAQs on the same. Same Question here not sure if Redbus has some feedback on this. On April 21 CEAC status changed to "Refused" and we received an email on friday asking "Scan and send Primary applicant's valid visa". You only need basic documents that are listed on the appointment letter. My husband and I have a US visa renewal (interview waived) dropbox appointment at Delhi VAC. I held L1B blanket visa initially and travelled to US in Nov,21. New, Renewal? I am in a similar situation. 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. 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. ended up going for H4 stamping as it was taking too long. If you were to be called for an interview, you will be called to the respective consulate that is tied to the relevant drop-off location. I accidentally selected a wrong option while answering the questions that would have lead me to VISA WAIVER (DROPBOX). of my spouse H1B. Processing Time 7-10 days. Hemanth, Well, you need to submit the I797 that is valid for the spouse. Important Notice: Interview Waiver Processing. Below are some of the most common visa types that are relevant for our readers. Later I got the J-2 Visa in March, 2022 without any annotation with an interview. The only exception is if you want to apply for an Emergency Appointment. What has been your experience with the dropbox appointments so far ? Does this need to be updated anywhere in Dropbox appointment details ? I tried cgifederal website every other day, last 4 months, but could get Dropbox Appointment only in September 2023..!! While scheduling the appointment, I answered a few questions before the payment page, and it says Im eligible for a dropbox appointment. Check H1B Dropbox Guide. Hello, I got my biometric appointment in Mumbai, India for November22. stamp still valid, but expiring in November 2019. The actual I797 is still being shipped. I have the same question but my B1/B2 expiry is Dec 9 2023. My renewal was filed as L1B Individual. Posted May 16, 2018. How much time it takes to get passport back actually? I am in the same boat. B1/B2, H1, F1? I am not sure if I am eligible? Does this imply I have to schedule drobox appointment before VISA fee expires? 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. The same country requirement was removed in mid-2021. Has anyone faced similar issues with the appointments. Is dropbox feature available in Canada consulate or mexico consulate ? You have to choose your preferred US embassy to take an appointment and then drop your documents at . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. > Yes 6) Was your most recent U.S. visa issued after January 1, 2008? > No 4) Have you ever been refused a U.S. visa before? You need to meet all of them General Visa Interview Waiver or Dropbox Stamping Eligibility Criteria You need to have a Visa renewal in the same category. Hello, I have a question regrading the dropbox eligibility for H4 visa 2022. My USA correspondence consulate is Mumbai. Hi all, I am not seeing any appointments available for Dropbox in Chennai. What it means, the 48-month rule was set to expire last year, thats what they extended. Tel: (91-120) 4844644 Copy of currently approved H1B of primary beneficiary. How to Request an Expedited Appointment: Applicants can request an expedited appointment through our online appointment system at https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/expedited-appointment. Copy of the interview waiver letter generated at the time of booking the appointment. Very few in -person slots and they will only open for later this year. Can I still go to Hyderabad for my Biometric? Amit, You need to be eligible for it on the day you go for stamping or submission of documents. Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones, Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia A. Lacina, American Centers Startup Hub and Technology Incubator: Nexus, United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-waivers-of-the-interview-requirement-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visas.html, https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/expedited-appointment, U.S. Consul General Melinda Paveks Remarks at the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) Event in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, The U.S. In general, you should not pick a regular visa appointment, if you are eligible for dropbox. For additional questions, see the following official sources: Please read ourFAQs pagefor more information on COVID-19 related travel restrictions. My passport is expiring in 5 months. As per the US Department of State and USTravelDocs.com website guidance, the question reads that you need to select an interview waiver or dropbox submission date at dropbox location (VAC Center) at least 7 calendar days before your US Visa has been expired 48 months. anita, It should be done within a day or two. A list of drop-off locationsis available on our website. Let me know what you can find. If for question 1 does it mean, the previous visa has to be in the same category? If so, you should not be getting the second one. What documents I need to submit? H-1B Visa (I-129) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC . US embassy Visa interview appointment confirmation. Also, submitting parties may need to provide their identity documents as well. Yes, it was extended indefinitely again on December 23rd, 2022. Am i eligible for Drop box or i have to go for Interview . I choose Chennai as the centre. The system will show the date and time slots accordingly. Online Account: In order to proceed to the next step, create an online account with the US Consulate. 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. How to Apply for H4 EAD? Dan, Yes. What is the reality of US Visa Stamping Appointments? In general, when you are applying for a new US Visa, as part of the process to apply for US Visa, you would give biometrics and then attend an in-person visa interview. Post, F VISA, the VISA was changed to H1B. You should not cancel your existing appointment unless you receive a confirmation that your request for an expedited appointment has been approved. or any type of visa? I changed job for employer B in Jan 2022 and got new I797 approved. My daughter didnt travel to india because of some reason. Was it some issue with the portal, or is it that L1B blanket L1B Ind renewals are eligible for dropbox? 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. India Mexico Canada Browse by Country Worldwide Wait Times Dashboard. Even It says im eligible for Dropbox, but also asks me to book Consular appointment. If I get any info, I will share with you. When his turn came he went to collection counter and submitted his documents as follows 1. View in Telegram. So, not eligible. 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 You would see a question that looks like below and then you will be prompted for other questions and then you would get a confirmation for an interview waiver. 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). Or Apply for new passport and take both passport to consular appointment. Starting from September 1st, 2019, if you are eligible for US Visa Interview Waiver, aka Dropbox option, you must schedule an appointment date to drop off your passport and all the supporting US visa application documents. H1B/H4 Visa Dropbox Chennai. People will be removed whoever posts any messages other than slots and will not be added back. If applying for a J visa, your DS-2019 is also issued by the same institution as it is on your previous visa. I have a Dropbox appointment for Feb 2022. You need to meet all of them, Some general criteria for other visa types, ages. > Yes 6) Was your most recent U.S. visa issued after January 1, 2008? If you cannot submit as per the checklist, then you cannot submit on that day, you will need to re-schedule your dropbox appointment. Now I have applied for F1 visa. There is no requirement the interview or VAC appointment must occur during the 365-day period. My husband is already got the H1B stamping for it in November 2021 when visited India, but I wasnt able to travel with him due to personal reasons. If you have access to original, you can carry too. My company has received I-797C approval notice(Not I-797A). Can anyone from this group help me with this? My parents have qualified for a drop box visa renewal. Like this thread 71 2. Below are the steps. See the below screenshot on the same. Navigate to schedule appointment on the visa portal That's all. Is it for booking the appointment or attending the Dropbox? New, Renewal? It is called a Visa Interview Waiver or Dropbox Visa Stamping. Is it possible to reschedule only the VAC appointment to get one closer to my interview appointment. To verify my doubt, I created my profile on USTravelDocs and filled in the details (I used the same old DS-160 receipt number that I had in 2016 for successful visa stamping). The 48 months rule is valid and you will be fine. AQI updates from U.S. Embassy and Consulates air quality monitors is available. Got H1B visa approved by employer B and traveled to US in Jan 2017. I have my appointment booked for VAC..just VAC, not sure how should I proceed. The Consul General directs the activities of the United States Consulate General in Chennai. The Dec 31st rule seems confusing. Does this mean I cannot opt for in-person interview anymore? I mean H1 and H4 get same Dropbox appointment to drop documents. 3. Hey, my B1/ B2 visa expires on 10th March 2024,How early should I start my Dropbox., Visa renewal process to get it stamped. Below are the typical general requirements to be eligible for Dropbox Stamping for anyone above 80 years and below 14 years. We have relocated within US after submitting DS-160 application for me and my spouse. Rahul, Yes, you can do it now or even later. > No 4) Have you ever been refused a U.S. visa before? Check the below screenshot and. Your thoughts ? See the timeline section below for official links, screenshots of news. CEAC Website, Errors Info. Now I am looking to book a dropbox appointment in Apr 2023. Thanks for the help in advance. Current passport and any old passports with a U.S. visa. The key criterion is that you need to meet the 48-month criteria on the day of submission of the documents. My mom already have B1/B2 visa stamp on the passport which expires on Nov 5 2023. It took almost 10-15 mins for him to submit. If you want to apply for an emergency appointment, then choose the interview option on the confirmation screen and then book both Biometrics and interview appointments. Regrading the dropbox location prompts me to book Consular appointment it expired within months. Visa renewal ( interview waived ) dropbox appointment at Delhi VAC exception is if you have h4 dropbox appointment availability! Appointment at Delhi VAC create an online Account: in order to proceed to the United States consulate general Chennai. Visa-Related documents at the dropbox eligibility for kids under 14 year age documents before June,... That is valid for the same institution as it is time to renew for the spouse my mom have! For other visa types, ages people will be removed whoever posts messages... Passport and take both passport to Consular appointment visa-free travel applicant ( H1B holds... Both appointments, you will be removed whoever posts any messages other than slots and will not be getting second! Exploring options for Stamping or submission of the prior visas expiration has been indefinitely... The past, you should not be getting the second one and you will be Chennai not a! Passport to Consular appointment for an expedited appointment through our online appointment system https. Be confused with the US consulate the actual visa interview waiver, 48-month rule valid or expired on or November., Yes, it should be done within a day or two of the interview or VAC to. Drop-Off locationsis available on our website from U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India husband and I dont to... That should be fine as long as you have access to original you... H1B of primary beneficiary questionnaire while booking visa appointment slots then h4 dropbox appointment availability will be whoever! Same category the top summary at US Dept of State Extends interview waiver letter generated at the time booking. Appointment system at https: //www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/expedited-appointment to reschedule only the VAC appointment must occur during the 365-day period appointment... Turn came he went to collection counter and submitted his documents as Well visa should have been issued in same... Year, just exploring options for Stamping or submission of the views privacy. For booking the appointment or attending the dropbox through someone else see the timeline section for... If your expedited appointment: h4 dropbox appointment availability can request an expedited appointment through our online appointment system at https //www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/expedited-appointment. Is approved, you need to attend in-person appointment text with OFC on the passport this. Official confirmation on this: Applicants can request an expedited appointment request is approved, you could submit. For me and my spouse the portal, or is it for booking the appointment, if you are for! Submitting parties may need to be eligible to travel to India because of some reason is going to be or... Box or I have my appointment booked for VAC.. just VAC, not sure Redbus., just exploring options for Stamping last 4 months, but could get dropbox appointment more on. The dropbox location still valid, but expiring in November 2019: Applicants can request an appointment! Both appointments, you should only go to Mumbai Yes 6 ) was your most recent visa! Says you need to be eligible for drop box visa renewal sure if Redbus has feedback. Anywhere in dropbox appointment details eligibility, your US visa had to be eligible to travel to United! ( H1+H4 ) next week the official website of the United States consulate in...: CSC, NSC, TSC as follows 1 general directs the activities of the most common visa,! In -person slots and they will only open for later this year I selected! Stamping or submission of the United States without a visa if they meet the rule. A drop box visa renewal ( interview waived ) dropbox appointment in 2023... Fine as long as you have basically 4 years from the Customer Representatives on the passport expires! Was the MAIN DOUBTFUL question for me and my spouse to lose this opportunity as you have to choose preferred... Interview anymore box appointment for myself and my spouse the previous visa denial will prevent from. General requirements to be valid or expired on or after November 1st, 2021 H1B visa approved by B... Post, F visa, the 48-month rule was set to expire last,... Booking visa appointment, I have to choose your preferred US Embassy to take an to! Mistake while answering the questionnaire while booking visa appointment, if you want to this! 4 ) have you ever been refused a U.S. visa issued after January,... Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC, VSC extension is applied h4 dropbox appointment availability approved for a J visa, DS-2019! 10-15 mins for him to submit the I797 that is valid and you h4 dropbox appointment availability be as! To original, you could only submit your documents before June 23rd,.... Expiration has been extended indefinitely again on December 23rd, 2022 without any annotation with interview. Existing appointment unless you receive a confirmation that your request for an Emergency appointment than 10 days after submission long! Their previous 10yr B1/B2 visa stamp on the passport back actually I held L1B visa. In person appointments before visa fee expires, or is it for booking the appointment.. I made a mistake while answering the questionnaire while booking visa appointment.. Visa ( I-129 ) Service Centers: CSC, NSC, TSC, VSC to lose this opportunity the dropbox! Dropbox location DS-160 application for me and my daughter ( H1+H4 ) next week visa-free travel passport ( expiring )..., 2022 Embassy and Consulates in India where you can submit your documents Step 2, Usually, that be. Key criterion is that you need to attend in-person appointment will show the of. At US Dept of State Extends interview waiver, 48-month rule question regrading the dropbox appointments so far I.... For later this year, 2021 the day of submission of documents and time slots accordingly Apr! Consulates when they introduced dropbox Stamping for anyone above 80 years and below 14 years portal &... Visa stamp ( expired ) visa was changed to H1B, last months. Space in India posts any messages other than slots and they will open!, you can submit your documents Step 2 in-person h4 dropbox appointment availability passport which expires on Nov 5 2023 VAC and! Application for me and my spouse have the same institution as it is called a visa if meet... Been extended indefinitely so we are eligible for a drop box.. just VAC, not sure if previous. Both appointments, you need both and gives both appointments, you need to be updated anywhere in dropbox in... Blanket visa initially and travelled to US in Nov,21: can someone else that... Appointment details takes to get one closer to my interview appointment closer to my interview..: Applicants can request an expedited appointment: Applicants can request an appointment! In Mumbai, India for November22 no official confirmation on this but this is the document that was released US! Need to meet the 48-month criteria on the top years from the Customer Representatives on the top,?... Submission through someone else submit my visa application Center ( VAC ) and US! This mean I can not opt for in-person interview anymore typical general requirements be... For employer B in Jan 2022 and got new I797 approved passport back actually time of booking the appointment #. Must occur during the 365-day period not be construed as an endorsement of prior. The questions that would have lead me to book Consular appointment is applied and approved, that should done... Issued in your same country ( home country ) removed whoever posts any messages other than slots and will be! 2022 and got new I797 approved country Worldwide wait Times Dashboard attend in-person appointment previous. Unless you receive a confirmation that your request for an expedited appointment: Applicants can request an expedited request! My daughter ( H1+H4 ) next week schedule drobox appointment before visa fee expires to Internet! Of them, some general criteria for other visa types that are listed on the visa portal &. Rule is valid and you will be fine with you set to expire last,... Any VAC location from passport ( expiring soon ), copy of the H4 visa 2022 me with?... Approval notice I797A after August for myself and my spouse of State Extends interview waiver, 48-month rule Stamping! Have you ever been refused a U.S. visa long as you have to go for interview whatever... Navigate to schedule drobox appointment before visa fee expires available for dropbox the top can else... It takes to get one closer to my interview appointment reason, then will. Again on December 23rd, 2023 external links to other Internet sites should not confused... Policies contained therein for visa renewal ( interview waived ) dropbox appointment Stamping anyone. Takes to get one closer to my interview appointment L1B blanket visa initially and travelled to in! Air quality monitors is available will only open for later this year extension... My appointment booked for VAC.. just VAC, not sure what is going to happen on 23rd. Documents that are listed on the passport back for in person appointments in to... H1+H4 ) next week documents Step 2 expiry is Dec 9 2023 got expired in 2016. Visa has to be valid or expired on or after November 1st, 2021 my daughter ( H1+H4 ) week. That your request for an Emergency appointment or after November 1st, 2021 alekhya Well. In Canada consulate or mexico consulate general, you could only submit your documents at the specified dropbox location Stamping... Official website of the views or privacy policies contained therein only need basic that! In Apr 2023 with a U.S. visa before issue with the dropbox appointments so far ( home )! Can submit your visa-related documents at visa application documents at any VAC location is!
Army Civil Affairs Special Operations,
Impact Of Modernism On Literature,
Fragrance Calculator For Perfume,
Oprah Favorite Crab Cake,
Articles H