how to book h1b visa appointment

• An interview appointment is required for those planning to obtain an H1B visa to USA.
• You can take a visa interview appointment online at US Visa appointment system.
• Do not wait until the last minute to book your interview — you may not get your preferred date and time.
• Before setting up appointment, determine which US consulate you need to apply to.
• See the list of US Consulates in India.
• Check earliest available interview date.
• Check the visa wait times at a specific US consulate.

How long does it take to get a visa appointment?

Visa Processing Time. Although visa processing time is typically three working days, processing time for specific cases may vary due to individual circumstances and other special requirements. Current Appointment Wait Time in Abuja Current Appointment Wait Time in Lagos Current Appointment Availability Schedule an Appointment

Can I go for a visa interview with approved H1B?

You can schedule your visa interview with your receipt number, beginning with EAC or WAC, on your H-1B petition receipt. During a visa appointment, you will be fingerprinted, photographed, and interviewed about your visa application and your prospective stay in the United States.

Can a prospective employer file for H1B visa?

You cannot file your own H1 visa petition. Only your prospective employer who has given you a job offer may file your H1B petition on your behalf. If your case is approved, your employer will receive Form I-797 Notice of Action and forward it to you.

Does having a B1 visa affect chance of getting H1B?

Yes you can apply for H1b but no need to cancel your B1/B2. It does n't matter whether you hold B1 /B2 visa or not. It is not at all related. H1b visa process is completely different. I too have my B1 and travelled several times using that and still applied for H1. So don't cancel anything just go ahead and apply for H1 buddy.

How do I book an H1B appointment?

Use Online Appointment System at the ustraveldocs website to set up an appointment with the US embassy or consulate where you will be applying for your H1 visa.Setting up a Visa Appointment. ... Documents Required to Schedule Visitor Visa Interview Appointment. ... Emergency Appointments. ... Move Visa Appointment to a Later Date.More items...

Are H1B visa appointments open in India?

They have opened first-time B1/B2 slots with interviews starting from Sep 2022, they continue to open slots until late 2024. H/L visa slots are booked for several months, they have opened slots for late 2022 and 2023 for booking. The slots in late 2022 and 2023 are not placeholder slots.

How do I apply for H1B visa interview?

Get a digital photograph. Each individual H1B visa application requires a digital photograph. ... Complete H1B visa application form DS160. ... Pay the H1B visa application fee. ... Take appointment for visa interview. ... US Visa Fingerprinting at Visa Application Center (VAC) ... Go for visa interview at designated US consulate.

How do I book US visa appointment slots?

Click on “Schedule Appointment”. Select the Visa Type, and hit “Continue”. Select your state of residence, and hit “Continue”. Select the Language of Interview, and hit “Continue”.

What is the best time to book US visa appointment?

We strongly recommend that applicants begin the application process approximately three months before the scheduled travel date, as appointments are usually filled 1-2 months in advance. Besides, visa applications are now subject to a higher degree of scrutiny than in the past.

How can I check US visa availability slots?

Check US Visa Slots. This checkvisaslots.com's extension will provide access to check & share the US visa slots availability. Summary: checkvisaslots.com is a collaborative screenshot sharing platform to check the US visa slots availability at US Consulates/Embassy in India.

Is H1B interview easy?

The H1B Visa Interview can be an overwhelming, but with the right preparation, you will set yourself up for success. Making sure you have the correct documents and are ready to answer the toughest questions the Consular Officer can throw at you will go a long way in ensuring a positive outcome after the interview.

Is H1B visa hard to get?

How Difficult Is It To Get an H1B Visa? H1B visa requirements can be difficult to meet because you must first be hired by a U.S. employer who is willing to sponsor you. Competition for jobs in the United States is fierce, and demand for visas to enter the US grows daily.

How long H1B visa takes?

3 months to 1 yearHow long does H1B regular processing take? H1B regular application processing time is 3 months to 1 year for approvals. It keeps changing based on current affairs and circumstances. During COVID-19 closures, USCIS did approve many regular H1B applications within 2 weeks.

Are visa slots open for fall 2022?

Earlier in May, the Embassy opened its first batch of interview slots for dates in June and the first half of July 2022, as the Times of India reported.

How can I get H1B visa from India?

H1B visas can only be applied through an employer, meaning you cannot apply for a H1B visa from India by yourself....Applying for an H1B VisaApplicant Finds an H1B Sponsor. ... Employer Submits Labor Conditions Approval (LCA) ... Employer Submits Form I-129.More items...

Can H1B travel to USA now?

Yes. You may travel to the United States without any further visa processing. Please note that you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination. Refer to the CDC website for a listing of accepted COVID_19 vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html.

Are US visa appointments open in India?

The U.S. Mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022. Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled.

Are US visa slots open in India?

The US had opened the first tranche of interview slots, for dates in June and the first half of July 2022 in May. Due to COVID, last year, the US Embassy in Delhi and the consulates in India had opened student visa interviews on June 14.

Are visa slots open for fall 2022?

Earlier in May, the Embassy opened its first batch of interview slots for dates in June and the first half of July 2022, as the Times of India reported.

Are dropbox appointments available in India now?

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.

How to use this step-by-step guide?

There are two websites for scheduling US visa appointments. Which website to use depends on the country where you plan to schedule your visa appointment

PART 1: Schedule US visa appointment in Asia, Central America, parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East

Determine the country where you plan to schedule your US visa appointment. If the country is in the below list, continue with instructions here from PART 1. If not GO TO PART 2.

PART 2: Schedule US visa appointment in North and South America, parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East

Determine the country where you plan to schedule your US visa appointment. If the country is in the below list, continue with instructions here in PART 2. If not, GO BACK TO PART 1.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If need to travel to the US urgently, you may qualify for an expedited US visa appointment. Keep in mind that you must have a strong reason and must be able to provide documentary evidence to prove it.

CONCLUSION

That’s it, folks! Follow this step-by-step guide to schedule US visa appointment. If you have any questions or stuck at any step, feel free to comment here or email me.

When did H1B visas get stamped?

Your H1B Visa was stamped in your passport after Jan 1, 2008

How to print H1B Dropbox confirmation letter?

After you book the dates, you will be navigated further to print the H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter. It will usually be 6 pages. The first page would have your details, Appointment details, Document delivery or pickup info, fee information and DS-160 details. Second page would have the details of the Dropbox Location and instructions. See below screenshots. The list of documents to be carried will be given in rest of the pages by Visa type. Look for the one relevant for H and L Applicants. You can check more at Sample US Visa Dropbox Confirmation Letter India

What happens if my visa is not approved?

If your visa was not approved by Consulate for some reason with the Dropbox Option, then you will be notified that your visa was not approved. The visa status on CEAC website will continue show status as “Administrative Processing” or “Refused”.

What does schedule ofc appointment mean?

Even though the text says “ Schedule OFC Appointment”, what they mean is the appointment for Dropbox to drop off your documents. One way to easily distinguish is you would see letters “IW” at the end of the city name in the dropdown above dates, which means “Interview Waiver”. See below screenshot

What does VAC stand for in a biometric appointment?

If the screen is for Biometrics appointment, you would see the letters “VAC” at the end of the city name, which stand for “Visa Application Center”. See below screenshot to understand the difference.

How to use existing receipts for MRV?

You can say use existing receipts, then it takes you to the screen to book appointment

How to add appointment on CGI?

On CGI Federal Website, once you add your basic information, you will need to select “New Appointment / Schedule Appointment” from the menu in left hand side. You will be asked a set of questions in a guided wizard format, you need to complete them by selecting the relevant ones for H1B visa, it will look like below

Where to schedule H1B visa interview?

Scheduling the interview may be conducted at the closest U.S. consulate or embassy. The H-1B visa stamping process should be implemented in the following order:

How to secure a visa payment?

To secure payment approval, create a user profile with the U.S. Visa Service website. Select ‘Schedule Appointment.’ A payment confirmation page should appear. This page will allow the applicant to select the best-fitted payment information for the individual. The payment is only valid for a year, so it is important to schedule the appointment within that time.

What is a POE visa?

When you get to the port of entry (POE), you will have to undergo security clearance before you can be allowed to enter the country. Your visa stamp is one of the requirements to prove that you have valid authorization to travel to the United States.

Does the USCIS suspend visa stamping?

It also does not guarantee that your visa will be approved in the H-1B visa stamping process. There are times, however, when the USCIS will suspend premium processing to give preference to long-neglected petitions. This is true for all H-1B petitions during the 2017-2018 season.

How to apply for a nonimmigrant visa?

To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available: 1 A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions. If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application; 2 Your visa application (MRV) fee payment receipt; 3 Your DS-160 confirmation page; 4 Your e-mail address; and 5 If applicable, required documents based on visa class (such as a petition approval for petition-based visas; more information about visa types and information about each can be found here ).

How long does a passport last for a nonimmigrant visa?

To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available: A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions.

How to apply for a nonimmigrant visa?

To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available: 1 A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application. 2 Your visa application fee payment receipt from Ecobank 3 Your DS-160 confirmation page 4 Your e-mail address 5 If applicable, required documents based on visa class (such as a petition approval for petition-based visas; more information about visa types and information about each can be found here ).

How long does a passport last for a nonimmigrant visa?

To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available: A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).

How many times can you reschedule an appointment?

Applicants are limited to the number of times they can reschedule their appointments. If more than six times you reschedule your appointment or fail to attend your appointment, you will be required to pay another visa application fee. Please plan accordingly.

How to correct DS160 number?

To correct the number, please log in to your profile, and select “Update profile” or contact the call center for assistance.

How long does a passport last for a nonimmigrant visa?

To schedule a nonimmigrant visa appointment, you must have the following information and documents available: A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).