140_takes_4ever
Registered Users (C)
If you haven't revalidated your H1 visa yet, you might want to do so ASAP. Looks like it is going to get tougher and tougher to get a visa.
Drop Box Visa System Phased Out At U.S. Consulates In India: Visa Interviews To Be Mandatory At All U.S. Consulates Worldwide By October
June 25, 2004 - The United States Embassy and the U.S. Consulate Generals in Chennai, Mumbai, and Calcutta have announced that they are ending the "drop box" facility for submitting applications for U.S. visas. The announcement, dated June 22, 2004, was posted on the website for the US Consulate in Mumbai, but contains information applicable to all US consulates in India (as of today the websites for New Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta still have posted their normal instructions for using the drop box). The posted announcement further explains that the discontinuation of drop box services "has already been implemented at 150 U.S. Consular sections around the world," and that "all United States visa issuing posts will be collecting fingerprint data by October 26, 2004." The discontinuations of the drop box service at U.S. consulates and the State Department's visa revalidation service (previously reported) are the result of new biometric information requirements adopted by Congress post 9/11. Due to the importance of this change, the announcement is reproduced in its entirety below.
http://www.usabal.com/news/2004/04Jun22.html
Drop Box Visa System Phased Out At U.S. Consulates In India: Visa Interviews To Be Mandatory At All U.S. Consulates Worldwide By October
June 25, 2004 - The United States Embassy and the U.S. Consulate Generals in Chennai, Mumbai, and Calcutta have announced that they are ending the "drop box" facility for submitting applications for U.S. visas. The announcement, dated June 22, 2004, was posted on the website for the US Consulate in Mumbai, but contains information applicable to all US consulates in India (as of today the websites for New Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta still have posted their normal instructions for using the drop box). The posted announcement further explains that the discontinuation of drop box services "has already been implemented at 150 U.S. Consular sections around the world," and that "all United States visa issuing posts will be collecting fingerprint data by October 26, 2004." The discontinuations of the drop box service at U.S. consulates and the State Department's visa revalidation service (previously reported) are the result of new biometric information requirements adopted by Congress post 9/11. Due to the importance of this change, the announcement is reproduced in its entirety below.
http://www.usabal.com/news/2004/04Jun22.html