BlueOysterCult
Registered Users (C)
Hi:
My brother-in-law entered US on an F1 visa, finished his studies, and is currently working in the US. He has an approved H1B petition but he still has the F1 visa in his passport. He is planning to visit India next month and needs to get an H1B visa stamped in his passport for the first time. Based on the consular jurisdiction he has to go to the US consulate in Mumbai to get his visa. But the problem is there are no available interview appointments for his entire planned stay in India. On the other hand, Kolkata and Chennai have several open slots in the month of November.
Question: How strict is the consular jurisdiction requirement? Can he go to Kolkata or Chennai to get his first-time H1B visa stamp even though his consular jurisdiction is Mumbai? What other options does he have?
Thanks in advance.
My brother-in-law entered US on an F1 visa, finished his studies, and is currently working in the US. He has an approved H1B petition but he still has the F1 visa in his passport. He is planning to visit India next month and needs to get an H1B visa stamped in his passport for the first time. Based on the consular jurisdiction he has to go to the US consulate in Mumbai to get his visa. But the problem is there are no available interview appointments for his entire planned stay in India. On the other hand, Kolkata and Chennai have several open slots in the month of November.
Question: How strict is the consular jurisdiction requirement? Can he go to Kolkata or Chennai to get his first-time H1B visa stamp even though his consular jurisdiction is Mumbai? What other options does he have?
Thanks in advance.