I tried cgifederal website every other day, last 4 months, but could get Dropbox Appointment only in September 2023..!! Now I am looking to book a dropbox appointment in Apr 2023. 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. 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. Due to the lockdown, the U.S. embassy and most consulates in India are . I am on H1B and my wife is on H4 and we are eligible for drop box as we have done before. This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India. This is crazy, it's going to be 2 years and still so hard to get a visa appointment. I applied for Dropbox considering my older visa. I had originally booked drop box appointments for June 12, 2023 for my Mom & Dad (B1/B2 Visitor Visa) for Hyderabad location, and then later after a week I found that slots had opened up for February 2023, so I changed the date to Feb 12, 2023. Now that we know the background and eligibility, lets look at what has changed. Im in the same boat. Its more than 10 days after submission how long should I wait to receive the passport back. If applying for H, L, or R visa, it should be valid or expired within the last 12 months. 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). You cannot skip if you were asked to attend the visa interview. 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. Example: lets say your eligibility of 48 months from expiry is ending on June 30th, 2023, then you need to submit documents 7 days before June 30th. Is it for booking the appointment or attending the Dropbox? Can I visit another country like Indonesia/Malaysia US Embassy to get my Visa stamped. So this would mean I am not eligible For Dropbox since I got a H1b refusal more than 10 years ado? 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. Friend, relative, agent can drop. US embassy Visa interview appointment confirmation. Once it determines that you are eligible, it will stop showing you appointment dates and just give a dropbox submission letter and ask you to drop it at one of the locations. Hello experts, Can you please help me with below doubts. This new waiver for an in-person interview is applicable to anyone, who was previously issued any type of US Visa and applying for F, H1B, H4, H3, L1 ( non-blanket), L2, M, O, P, Q, and academic J visas. i am in the same category my Visa expired 8 years back ..whether you have any update? Read Guide to US Visa Interview Waiver for certain H1B, L1, H4, others. Photo 2 copy 3. If you have not yet received an approval or denial, your request is still under consideration. I had a visa denial on B1/B2 visa long time ago. Please note applicants must only schedule their in-person or interview waiver appointment within the 365-day period. US Dept of State Extends interview waiver, 48-month Rule. Find out the quality of the air we breathe! See the timeline section below for official links, screenshots of news. Now I have applied for F1 visa. 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 There is no dropbox appointment available for H4 visa stamping in India. 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. kevin, you can use a representative to drop the passport and supporting details. If you applying for EAD, that would be with USCIS and they just need copies. 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. Hi Kumar For first timer H1B visa stamping in india with Dropbox facility and interview waiver? Do dropbox qualify for the same or are placeholders only for in person appointments? US Visa Appointment Availability Tracker. Applicants for Kolkata Consulate: Drop off at Kolkata CenterThe above suggestion is a recommendation, but it is totally up to you to pick the consulate and drop off location. It still means dropbox appointment booking, if you were given the dropbox confirmation screen. We are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known. Meantime we are renewing our Visas here and my question is do i need to go VISA stamping before retruns to US or can i do it in my next trip? New, Renewal? Any help will be highly appreciated. When can you Apply for H1B Visa Stamping after Petition Approval? If you are applying for an F visa, you should be at the same school for which your previous visa was issued. There were no US visa refusals in any other visa class, since your recent visa issuance. I have a H4 Visa issued in Nov 2018 and it expired on Aug 2020. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Project Releases a Book in Itanagar, India-Wide Visa Section Closures (PDF 64KB), Handy Info: 3 Steps to Applying for a U.S. Visa (PDF 1 MB), National Interest Exception Frequently Asked Questions, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). What is the reality of US Visa Stamping Appointments? Can I you use electronic receipt (email) which has all the information present on I797A. Hi, I have a question on visa stamping. 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 out by by 12:35. It has the screenshot that does not talk about country, we have users who were able to get stamping done as well. Primary applicant (H1B) holds a "F" VISA stamping in passport. Is it possible to reschedule only the VAC appointment to get one closer to my interview appointment. We got VISA dropbox slot in Mumbai. There is no deadline on when the 48 months rule for an interview waiver will end. Vish A, There is no 48 month limit for H1B cases, so you are fine. India Mexico Canada Browse by Country Worldwide Wait Times Dashboard. It took almost 10-15 mins for him to submit. The only exception is if you want to apply for an Emergency Appointment. Can I still go to Hyderabad for my Biometric? Am i eligible for dropbox as i have previously held h1b and it expired within 48 months? If not, email the consualte as well. 5. Nusrat, The 48-month rule has been extended indefinitely. I would be curious to know the answer too. My employer applied H-1B visa cap exempt from India and it is valid till Mar 2025. There is no requirement the interview or VAC appointment must occur during the 365-day period. Yes, it is mandatory. Your parents may not be eligible as it is over 48 months. Also, submitting parties may need to provide their identity documents as well. Yes, you can schedule the appointment from the US or anywhere in the world, before you arrive in India. i read that same visa class within 48 months of the prior visas expiration has been extended indefinitely ? We will remember that, to you, a visa interview may be a new or intimidating experience and that you may be nervous. Thanks. I am not eligible for the H1-B dropbox based on the questionnaire. You can continue with Dropbox by selecting the Drop-off button. vin, 1. Niraj, The fee validity is extended until Sep 2023, so you should be fine. I am also same situation .. Can any help here and any update. Hey! The applicant does not have to go to dropbox submission, you can send your friend. Does this mean I have a drop box appointment? Please advise. I have been issued a F1 previously however, I got rejected for B1/B2 and never received a visa in that category. Can someone tell me if it would be problem when I go for the appointment. 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. If you have GC, send that too to prove your status. As I read somewhere . It is been 9 working days and no update. As we enquired on previous day at center they told no need to come on scheduled time. My H1B visa stamped in Mexico expired in Nov 2020.under current 48 month rule I am eligible for Dropbox but I am not finding any slots at all.If I get slot in January 2022 will I be still eligible ?as per current criteria I am eligible only for dropbox.If 48 month extension rule expired on Dec 31 I will not be eligible for Dropbox.I am not sure how it works. They are processing some in-person appointments only. Please advise. Step 4: Confirm Dropbox location Once you qualify, you get to pick the country and city where you will drop off your documents. In Appointment booking, for the question Was your prior visa annotated Clearance Received or Department Authorization. Processing Time 7-10 days. Naresh, Depends on the company status with blanket or not. 1) Do you have previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued? sangita, Yes, you can, if the system prompts for the same. 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. Print your appointment letter and follow the instructions in it. 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. Karthi, It is hard to say, most of the times, you may not be. Step-by-Step Instructions: Install the chrome extension Give your Access Code (received in the signup) in the extension Log in to CGI portal from the browser you installed the extension. 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. 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. Read the special 60th anniversary edition of SPAN here! Try to fill in the questionnaire, it will suggest. Also, submitting parties may need to provide their identity documents as well. My USA correspondence consulate is Mumbai. I had my H4 visa US Visa Stamping in India Dropbox Appointment, OFC, FAQs, US Visa Stamping with Renewal, aka Dropbox Appointments, Process for General Dropbox appointment Booking India. 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 travelled once to US on H4 Visa. Certain international travelers may be eligible to travel to the United States without a visa if they meet the requirements for visa-free travel. Business traveler, we will establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate business travel and expedite cases of particular concern to American business. This change corresponds to recent shifts in the market exchange rate for Indian rupees to U.S. dollars. Can you let me know how long it took for you and if visa approved? As well my birth place is Hyderabad previously it was only A.P. 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. No, you must appear for the interview. > No 4) Have you ever been refused a U.S. visa before? Yes, you can ask someone else like your friend, spouse, or travel agent to submit your visa application documents on your behalf. Charg dAffaires, a.i. Watch this thread Start a new thread Add a post . Is it possible to change it to Dropbox without cancelling my date? US Visa Appointment Availability Tracker. Hi all, I am not seeing any appointments available for Dropbox in Chennai. Mid Year, 2021 : The requirement to have the previous visa stamping in the same country was removed. India Mexico Canada Browse by Country. The appointment does not have to be within a year, but you need to book at least a date within 12 months. Applicants applying through the interview waiver process should allow up to three weeks from the time a passport has been accepted at the Visa Application Center until the passport is delivered or they are notified that the passport is ready for pickup. Your DS-160 confirmation page. Medical and humanitarian emergency traveler, we will expedite processing for those dealing with life threatening emergencies. US Visa . Do we need to carry NIE form for drobox for H4 Visa stamping. Hi, can someone please help me out here (H4 dependent). New passport and his old passport having his first F1visa 6. Was it some issue with the portal, or is it that L1B blanket L1B Ind renewals are eligible for dropbox? I got new I-797 through new employer post stamped H1B visa expired. Shilpa, The prior visa refers to the immediate visa that was issued. Becuase when I tried to book now, it showed no appointments available. Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times. Hello siva What is your status? Hi Please help me with the following situation. Few of the folks have informed that they have called the Customer Service and the Customer Service agents on the line informed that it is the booking date not the submission date that would be applicable. But, it is not all like before and many consulates are not yet fully open for regular operations. For general dropbox eligibility, your US visa had to be valid or expired on or after November 1st, 2021. What do you think of the change to 48 months? Do you need Biometrics (OFC) Appointment for Dropbox? In-Peron Interview Waived for certain F, H1B, H4, and Others, Latest News 48 month Dropbox Validity, Timeline. Find the closest American Space in India where you can connect with the U.S. Guru, Check the H1B Dropbox Step-by-Step Guide.. H1B Visa Dropbox eligibility if the visa expired more than 48 months ago. U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call +91-11-2419-8000, Outside of Office Hours, contact: +91-11-2419-8000. Interview waiver appointment do I have to drop my documents in person or can my son drop it off at the appointment time. You just need to answer the questions truthfully. I have gotten eligible for a drop box for first time H1B stamping. If applying for a J visa, your DS-2019 is also issued by the same institution as it is on your previous visa. 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. Let me explain my situation. B1/B2, H1, F1? Does this mean I cannot opt for in-person interview anymore? I am eligible for drop box. Looks like same visa class within 48 months of the prior visas expiration has been extended indefinitely so we are eligible for Drop box ? Biometrics? Now, i am applying again in h1b category. I am not sure what is going to happen. planning for India visit May/June next year, just exploring options for stamping. The USTravelDocs website questionnaire does not show the same country questions anymore. I have F1 visa refusal in 2012 after that my B1/B2 visa approved in 2018 .now I am going to apply for H1b visa .Am I eligible for dropbox. Could you help me understand the validity of my H-4 visa if my F1 visa gets rejected? Naresh, If it blanket, usually not eligible for it. Is this kind of delay common nowadays ? Hi Sangita, i am in the same situatiohn and had my dropbox yesterday. my kid is 3 years old and is on H4, Is kid eligible for drop box ? Most recent visa should have been issued in your same country (home country). Hello, I have a question regrading the dropbox eligibility for H4 visa 2022. Usually, you should apply at a location that manages your state info, which would be HYDERBAD in your case. Will i b called for PA ? But, in some cases, you maybe called after the dropbox depending on your case. Hey, my B1/ B2 visa expires on 10th March 2024,How early should I start my Dropbox., Visa renewal process to get it stamped. 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. 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. Applicants for Hyderabad Consulate: Drop off at Hyderabad Center. The interview waiver announcement mentions that you shouldnt have had any visa refusal. For additional questions, see the following official sources: Please read ourFAQs pagefor more information on COVID-19 related travel restrictions. You should not cancel your existing appointment unless you receive a confirmation that your request for an expedited appointment has been approved. 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. Dropbox OFC appointment dates . Prepare for your interview by being able to clearly and concisely describe your intentions. Step 3. Check the CGI Federal website and do the wizard, you would know. In general, you should not pick a regular visa appointment, if you are eligible for dropbox. You will not be able to receive your visa on the same day. USA H4 Visa. I and my family was refuse a tourist visa early this year though we have been to usa more than 4 times. Can someone confirm the documents to be submitted is there anything besides all passports, DS160 confirmation, appointment confirmation page and 1 photo ? It is not a required document. 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. It is H4 visa dropbox. Is some one face the same issue? Got H1B visa approved by employer B and traveled to US in Jan 2017. You can consider planning next year. Can I book a drop box slot for July before my extension is applied and approved? I traveled to US through employer B in Jan 2017 and the visa was valid until Nov 2019. Can you please help me to understand this as it is stopping me to go forward without knowing the actual intent of this question ? I am having F1 visa now my H1b papers are approved , i have to go to Consulate. Got VAC appointment at Chennai but the consular appointment at Hyderabad with 10 days gap between. Be forthcoming about your purpose and plans. Dan, Yes. I- 797 Current only 2. My initial visa was L1B visa, this is my 5th year in USA, last year my visa changed from L1B to L1A, L1B stamping that was initially given was over now (Dec 2020) will I be eligible for drop box or should I have to go for interview & stamping. You can submit your visa-related documents at Visa Application Center(VAC) and your US visa may be issued without an interview. They changed the system this week for a few things, so could be hiccups too. and H4 EAD with the new Biometrics process, was waiting for approval and finally Below are the questions asked and how I answered them. In general, there is no requirement for giving Biometrics at Offsite Facilitation Center(OFC) or Visa Application Center(VAC), when you book a US Visa stamping appointment using the Dropbox or Interview waiver option. Provide their identity documents as well my birth place is Hyderabad previously it was only.! L1B Ind renewals are eligible for the same country questions anymore Nov 2018 and expired! 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Scheduled time for the H1-B dropbox based on the questionnaire, it showed no appointments for... Is if you are applying for an Emergency appointment within 48 months at Center they told no to... Person appointments you and if visa approved by employer B and traveled to US through B! Not yet received an approval or denial, your US visa stamping and eligibility your. So could be hiccups too you are applying for a drop box as enquired!