In this article, we have discussed the following topics in detail:
Before understanding the details of H1B visa stamping, It helps to know and understand the case status on your H1B visa.
An H-1B visa is a non-immigrant, temporary visa for workers sponsored by employers in the United States. Therefore, an employer must offer a job and petition the US Department of Immigration for an H-1B visa on behalf of their foreign employees. Once approved, the employer gets the H1B work permit that allows the employee to work for them for a stipulated time. You get the H1 visa stamped on your passport after the H1B petition is approved and the subsequent visa interview is successful.
If you are an aspiring graduate from India, here's what you should do for the H1B stamping process:
Generally, once you have paid your H1B visa fee, you have to schedule two appointments, which are:
If you are an Indian citizen who has applied for an H1B visa, you need to appear in person for two appointments:
https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=India to schedule both appointments.
Here are the steps to scheduling your H1B visa stamping in India appointment dates.
Documents required for Visa Interview
It is mandatory to carry the original documents given in the list below. You may also have as many photocopies of these documents to use if the need arises.
Some documents may require English translation. You may send these documents to the National Visa Centre for translation. You will also require these documents for your visa interview. Please click here for the full list of documents you will require.
The Interview Process
The interviewer will be seated behind a glass window with a particular number during the interview process. The window has a microphone and a speaker attached to it. You can use these devices to converse with the interviewer. The window also has a slot to exchange important documents with the interviewer. During the H1B appointment, your consular officer will question you to determine your eligibility for the H1B visa. You should:
The main objective of this interview is to prove that all your documentation is true and that you are eligible for an H1B visa. Your officer will also take digital fingerprints as biometric evidence.
Despite the pressing need to attend the visa interview, there are times when applicants may not be able to attend the interview due to unavoidable circumstances. Do not panic if you find yourself in this situation. Fortunately, the system has an option to reschedule H1B visa appointment and postpone it to a different date and time. In India, the US Consulate is located in four major cities- Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The US Embassy is located in New Delhi. The CGI Federal website and USTravelDocs manage India's appointment booking system. Please note that you can reschedule your appointment only four times after the initial appointment is set up.
Now, what if you want to cancel your appointment? You are allowed to cancel your visa appointment. However, the rule is that you must cancel the interview two days prior to the scheduled appointment. If your interview appointment is scheduled at the US Consulate in Mumbai, you can cancel it four days prior to the given date.
The USCIS also grants emergency H1B stamping appointments on medical or humanitarian grounds. However, these emergency appointments will be granted only for real emergencies. Any misrepresentation of travel reasons will be duly noted in your case file. Such discrepancies will also adversely affect your visa interview.
The estimated wait time to receive your H1B stamping appointment can change every week. The wait time is based on staff availability and the workload. In India, it takes three days to seven days to fix a visa appointment.
Also Read : All You Need to Know About H1B Rejection and Denial
What if you are unable to attend your US H1B visa interview?
If you do not attend your visa interview on the scheduled date and time, you are classified as a "No-Show" applicant. Your fee receipt is also deactivated for the next ninety days. If you cannot make it to the interview, you must inform the Embassy or Consulate and list the causes for not attending the interview. Unfortunately, missing the interview will give the impression that you are not serious about your H1B visa. Hence, we strongly advise you to attend the interview under any circumstances.
In-person Interview Waiver: COVID Updates from the USCIS: Due to certain reasons, the US Department of State has decided to allow certain visa applicants to waive their in-person interview requirement until 31 December 2022. The waiver is available to students with M, F, and academic J visas. Workers with visas H-1, H-2, H-3, individual L visas, and people with cultural or extraordinary abilities (O, P, and Q visas) also come under the waiver list.
In order to qualify for the expanded interview waiver program, applicants must have:
Embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview, depending on the local circumstances.
This decision has been made with the concurrence of US Department of Homeland Security partners.
Be better informed with TechFetch H1B.
For details regarding H1B Visa appointment scheduling and canceling, visit TechFetch H1B. Here you will find a wealth of information to guide you through the entire process.
**Disclaimer: All information related to the H1B visa is subject to change. Please visit USCIS's official website for the latest information and updates.**
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