Getting H1 and H4 stamped during the same visit to the country of origin

[peppytaurian]

Hi all,
I am new user here. Would be great if you can help me with some suggestions.

SITUATION:-

I am on H1-B since last October (a little over 4 months). I am from India and I am going to tie the nuptial knot this May.

I have to get the H1 visa stamped as well as get my fiancee on H4. So i need to plan accordingly. The wedding date is May 21st and I am going on a 4 week vacation.

I am a direct employee and fortunately in my case there is no discrepancy as far as the minimum wage and what I am drawing is concerned. So it is a pretty straightforward case.


This is what I plan to do :-

1) Take an online appointment for May 12th or 13th for my interview and take 27th / 28th for H4 interview.Send all my documents pertaining my H1 from here so that they are processed. before I go for the interview process. Land in India around May 10th. Get my H1 on 12th or 13th.

2) While I am still in US I can ask my fiancee to prepare documents for H4 so that the only thiing remaining in her application would be a copy of my H1. After getting my H1, send an application for H4 for my fiancee. Assuming this will happen around 14th / 15th the consulate will have ample time of 2 weeks to process the H4 papers for the interview date of 27th / 28th.

3) Get married in the civil court around 16th or 17th and take a marriage certificate Go to consulate with marriage certificate, some pictures and get H4.


Can I assume that getting H4 is rather a simpler process and the denial rate is not high ?
Does it sound like a plan ? Any suggestions would be useful.

I am not sure if I am posting this at the right place. In case you find this thread is out of place please let me know or forward it to the right place so that I am on the right track.
Thanks a bunch guys,

Peppytaurian

 

[jaxen2]

wish we can get somebody to process the documents in advance and get visas after providing the crucial documents during the interview.

When you make an appoinment you dont send any documents. you have to provide all the required documents at the time of appointment, not before. True for H1 as well as H4. So you cannot send the application for H4 before getting the marriage certificate.

I would suggest two things
1. Start your vacation near marriage date
2. Do h1 and H4 stamping together. No need to duplicate all the documents (H1 original, Letter from employer etc.)

Plan some tolerance for delay caused by additional documentation requirements, gettiing the marriage certificate etc.

www.ttsvisas.com has the whole list and way to make an appointment.

 

[alren]

I second that. Go for H1/H4 together. I don't know why one would want to deal with that mess twice.

 

[peppytaurian]

This is what my friend did.
He took an appointment date with the consulate online and then sent the copies of his documents to his home.
The consulate has a tie up with an express postal service whose employee comes and picks up the documents and delivers it to the consulate. The consulate, on receiving the documents sent an email to my friend confirming about the documents and his appointment date. All my friend did was fly home, go to the consulate for an interview with his original documents and got his H1 approved. They sent his passport with stamped Visa the next day to his house.