H1 Visa Stamping - Emergency Slot

M

manojtjain

Registered Users (C)
Hi! All,
I am working in USA right now on F1 (OPT). My employer has already filed for H1, and I am expecting approval sometime in October.
Here is my problem. I have to visit India in January, and so, need an appointment date to get H1 stamped on my passport. However, VFS does not allow scheduling of appointment unless I have the approval notice. The other option suggested by US Consulate at Mumbai was to apply through emergency slots for returning employees.
Does anyone know details about emergency slots? Is there a wait period for emergency slots too or we can get the date immediately? I am talking about situation in January, as at that time lot of people from here are visiting to India.
Any suggestions / experiences / information will be really helpful, and appreciated.
Thanx,
Manoj.
 
Visa Appointment

Hi! All,
I am working in USA right now on F1 (OPT). My employer has already filed for H1, and I am expecting approval sometime in October.
Here is my problem. I have to visit India in January, and so, need an appointment date to get H1 stamped on my passport. However, VFS does not allow scheduling of appointment unless I have the approval notice. The other option suggested by US Consulate at Mumbai was to apply through emergency slots for returning employees.
Does anyone know details about emergency slots? Is there a wait period for emergency slots too or we can get the date immediately? I am talking about situation in January, as at that time lot of people from here are visiting to India.
Any suggestions / experiences / information will be really helpful, and appreciated.
Thanx,

Hi Manoj,

You will have to go through the vfs website and seek you emergency appointment. You have to keep checking for dates and updates. As of now even emergency dates are falling in the month of December. The situation by the time you book your appointment might change

If you are expecting the approval notice in October the best bet is to wait till that time and then only book an appointment. The reson the site will ask for the validity date of the approval notice and the EAC #

Good luck

Subramanya
 
Thank you for the reply.
I do have the receipt from USCIS, and so I have the EAC#. What is the validity date? Is it the date till which my H1 visa is approved?
Thanks,
Manoj.
 
Visa appoinment

Thank you for the reply.
I do have the receipt from USCIS, and so I have the EAC#. What is the validity date? Is it the date till which my H1 visa is approved?
Thanks,

Hi Manoj,

Yes, the date till the H1 approval notice (I-797) is valid
If you have the EAC # you can start booking now. Tentatively add a last date for your H1 and later that can be modified to key in the exact date on receipt of approval notice. Sorry I did not mention it to you earlier

Subramanya
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you very much Subramanya. In fact, I forgot to mention earlier that I had received EAC# already, that was oversight on my part. I got a same response on another forum here at Immigration.com. So I guess, I can book an appointment right now, and put a tentative date. And then, before I go for the interview, when I send over my documents, I will make sure I have the approval notice by then.
Thanks a lot,
Manoj.
 
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