How can I apply for US visa from India?
- Your visa process starts when you receive Form I-20 from your college. ...
- After paying the SEVIS fee and getting a receipt, you can apply for a DS-160 Visa form. It is an online application form.
- Print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
- Pay the visa fee through NEFT or at authorized AXI
How to renew US visa via Dropbox?
US Visa Dropbox Renewal in 6 Working Days for Philippine Passport Holders
- I. Dropbox Eligibility. First & foremost is knowing whether or not you qualify for the Dropbox Eligibility. ...
- II. Document Preparation | DS-160. Step 1 – Pay the visa application fee. ...
- III. Consolidation of Requirements. ...
- IV. 2Go Dropbox. ...
- V. Results. ...
What is the meaning of a Dropbox visa?
US visa Interview waiver is the term used for the dropbox facility. This means that you can get a US visa stamp without any personal interview by a US visa officer. There is no box as such but you need to submit your documents to the VFS location assigned by the US embassy. The facility to submit documents without an interview is called ‘DropBox’.
How to check Dropbox eligibility?
Check US visa dropbox eligibility for stamping in USA embassy using app online in 10 seconds. Visa fees required. Form 221g Admin processing possible. US Department of State has allowed a 48 month period for dropbox eligibility instead of 12 months until Dec 31, 2022, due to the COVID-19 situation.
Is Dropbox facility still available for US visa in India?
In general, you need to apply for Biometrics & US Visa Interview appointments, if you need to get a US visa stamping on your passport. Since Sep 2019, US Consulates in India introduced appointments for US Visa stampings using the Interview Waiver option, popularly called Dropbox.
When Dropbox slots will open in India?
Dropbox Appointments (Interview Waiver) Updates They will open slots later in September 2022. Also, may open some slots now and then as capacity permits. For Dropbox appointments, you can choose the VAC center that you prefer, no need to travel to the exact one.
Is visitor visa Dropbox open in India?
Please read our FAQs page for more information on COVID-19 related travel restrictions. 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 Long Does US visa Dropbox take in India?
The facility to submit documents without an interview is called 'DropBox'. Dropbox Processing time varies from 1 day to 6 weeks. We strongly recommend keeping a buffer of at least 3 weeks after dropping your application as you can be called for an interview.
Are B1 B2 slots open in India?
They have opened many interview slots for F1 student visas and have started to open B1/B2 renewal interview slots. Those B1/B2 interviews would start in September 2022. They plan on issuing about 800,000 visas in India within the next 12 months. Applicants can now schedule appointments up to 18 months in advance.
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 B2 visa slots 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.
Is visitor visa Open for USA from India?
Yes. Travel to India for tourism and other short-term purposes resumed fully for individuals holding tourist or e-tourist visas. Valid visas, which were previously suspended due to COVID-19 precautions, have been fully reinstated and are valid for travel until their printed expiration dates.
Is US Embassy accepting dropbox?
Introducing the Cross Post Dropbox process: applicants with an interview waiver appointment can now choose to drop off their documents at any visa application center or document delivery location, regardless of where their dropbox appointment is scheduled.
Can visa be rejected in dropbox?
Many users reported that, if you have submitted your documents for US Visa stamping using the Dropbox option for renewals, then you may see “Administrative Processing” as the status on the CEAC website. Sometimes, due to the issue we described in the article above, you may also see the “Refused” status as well.
How can I check visa slots availability?
Give your Access Code (received in the signup) in the extension. Log in to CGI portal from the browser you installed the extension. Navigate to schedule appointment on the visa portal.
Can someone drop my documents at dropbox location?
Yes, US Visa applicants eligible for an interview waiver or Dropbox submission can drop off their documents at any of the 11 locations listed for Dropbox US Visa Stamping. Unlike in the past, there are no restrictions on the location of your VAC.
Are dropbox appointments available in India now?
H/L Dropbox Appointments : The dropbox slots are fully booked for several months for H/L Visa types ( H1B, H4, L1, L2). They plan to open slots now and then as time permits. B1/ B2 Slots : They have opened fresh B1/B2 slots until 2024 and continue to open slots.
Are f1 visa slots open in India for fall 2022?
NEW DELHI: The US Embassy in India has announced that visa interview slots for student visa categories of F, M and J have been opened for dates in June and the first half of July 2022.
Can I get dropbox appointment in India?
Dropbox appointments are currently available through our website. At this time we do not have a date for resumption of routine visa appointments. We have resumed limited 221g processing. If you were previously asked to submit documents in support of your case, please follow the instructions you were given.
Are visiting visa slots open in India?
“The US mission to India is pleased to announce that we are resuming routine in-person tourist visa appointments in September 2022,” the official announcement on the US Embassy social media pages stated. “Previously scheduled placeholders have now been cancelled.
How long does it take to get a visa waiver?
The processing time varies from 1 day to 6 weeks and you may be called for a visa interview too.
What color is a 221g slip?
Some people do get an email for passport collection and when they collect the passport, they have been asked to visit the US embassy for fingerprinting using green color form 221g slip.
Where to drop off documents in India?
Mumbai – drop off at Mumbai, Pune or Ahmedabad processing centers. Chennai – drop off at Chennai, Bangalore, or Kochi. Hyderabad – Can only drop documents at Hyderabad. Kolkata – should drop off documents at Kolkata. There is no dropbox as such at the VFS centers.
Is there a dropbox in VFS?
There is no dropbox as such at the VFS centers. You will visit the center and wait for your turn with a token. Once your token number is called, you will see the person on the window and submit your documents.
Is VFS closed on Indian holidays?
VFS locations are closed on local Indian state holidays in addition to US holidays. Since statw holidays in India can vary a lot, please make sure that there is no holiday on the day you are planning to visit CGI location for dropping off your visa papers or form 221g documents. Source: USATravelDocs.
Does VFS take care of documents?
VFS will take care of documents once you submit them.
Can VFS center employees match 221G?
VFS center employees are not capable of judging your documents to match what has been requested in your form 221g. It is possible that you may have a huge bundle of hundreds of pages that may include your employer’s client contracts, client letters and other salary related documents.
How to tell if you are booking a Dropbox appointment?
Biometrics appointment is by checking what you see at the end of the Consulate or Embassy name in the dropdown next to “ Select interview location “ . If you see IW, which means Interview Waiver at the end of the Consulate name like “Kolkata IW” as in below screenshot, then you are booking a Dropbox Appointment.
What does VAC stand for in visa application?
But, if you see VAC at the end of the consulate name, then you are booking a biometrics appointment. VAC Stands for Visa Application Center and when you see that you are booking an appointment for giving Biometrics at the VAC office before your in-person visa interview. See below screenshot for your reference.
What does OFC stand for in visa?
Technically, OFC Stands for Offsite Facilitation Center and the Visa appointment system is asking you to book an appointment to drop off your US Visa documents at an Offsite Facilitation Center .
How long does it take to get a dropbox decision?
Now, from September 1 st, the dropbox applicant will get a decision on their case within 7 to 10 business days from the day they submitted their documents.
How long does it take to get a visa stamped?
You will very likely get a decision on your visa stamping within 7 to 10 business days from the day you dropped off your documents.
When does the US visa expire?
But, due to COVID-19, US Dept of State has increased the 12 months from expiry to 24 months from expiry. It is valid until March 31st, 2021. You can read more at US Visa Dropbox Changed to 24 Months – FAQs.
Does Dropbox require an appointment?
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. Below are the some of the most common visa types that are relevant for our readers.
Stranded In India
While pandemic travel bans were lifted by November 2022, many Indian nationals are still in a limbo. They are unable travel back to the US to their jobs and to their families separated in the US. H1-B, L1 and their dependent visas H4 and L2 visa appointments are hard to get. Visa renewals and Dropbox appointments were reduced to a bare minimum.
Dropbox Appointment
Certain non-immigrant visas like H1-B can be renewed after the first three years of being issued. For certain renewal applicants, the passport can be stamped without having to attend an in-person visa interview.
New Dropbox Visa Appointment Slots Available
The US State Department announcement read – “In the coming days, the US Embassy and Consulates in India will release more than 20,000 additional interview waiver (drop box) appointments for Spring 2022 to allow qualified applicants to make use of the new interview waiver authority.”
Perfect Solution? Maybe Not
The dropbox option allows for certain visa renewals to go through without an interview. This means, the applicant, if eligible may submit an application and all required documents into a “Dropbox” and expect the renewal to be approved and mailed to his residence.
Better Solution
An alternate option would be to offer visa processing avenues in the United States itself. This would eliminate the need for visa stampers to go abroad to get their visa renewed.
