Visa appointment

A

akil

Registered Users (C)
I am trying to schedule an appointment with US Consulate Chennai. There is a question:



Are you applying for the same class of visa which is currently valid or has expired within the past 12 months?*



When I clicked the Visa Renewal Criteria link which is next to this question I found the following info:





Visa renewal appointments are available to visa applicants who:

Have the same class of U.S. visa which is still valid or that has expired less than 12 months from the scheduled date of interview.

Wish to apply for the same visa class (e.g. had an H1 work visa, now applying again for an H1 work visa)

Are Indian nationals (hold Indian passports)

Are resident in the New Delhi, Chennai, or Mumbai consular districts (this category is not available to Kolkata based applicants).



The following applicants do NOT qualify for appointments in the visa renewal category:

Applicants who have never had a US visa.

Applicants who have a U.S. visa that expired more than 12 months ago.

Applicants applying for a different visa class (e.g. had a F1 student visa, now applying for a H1 work visa).

Non Indian passport holders

Applicants applying at the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata.

First time H4 or L2 applicants over 18 years of age. (If you have recently married an H1b or L1 visa holder but have never had a visa interview for an H4 visa or L2 visa, you may not schedule in the renewal category.)

Applicants applying for more than one visa at the same time (e.g. F and B1/B2).

Applicants applying for entertainment/performance visas(P3 category).

Applicants applying for unskilled worker visas (H2b category).

Applicants who have lost their previous passports that had the valid / expired US visa.



All visa renewal applicants should bring the following documents to the Embassy/Consulate Consular Section on the day of their appointment:

Current, valid passport

Passports containing previously issued U.S. visas

As applicable, I-797 (H and L), I-20 (F & M students), DS-2019 (J visa applicants)









I am Indian passport holder and entered US with H1B Visa and still in H1B for the 8 th year. My I797 Approval notice is valid until Sep 2009. H1B Visa stamped my passport expired on Aug 2006.



Under the Visa renewal qualifying categroy it is said that



Wish to apply for the same visa class (e.g. had an H1 work visa, now applying again for an H1 work visa)



Under Visa renewal Not qualifying category it is said that:



Applicants who have a U.S. visa that expired more than 12 months ago





What should be the answer to this question?

Are you applying for the same class of visa which is currently valid or has expired within the past 12 months?*



Yes or NO?





I think the answer should be YES. But little bit confused.

Any help is appreciated?

Thanks

Akil
 
Even if the visa stamp on your passport expired more than a year back, you are still covered under the visa renewal criteria. I revalidated the visa last year with the same criteria and answered 'yes' to your question.
 
Stamping in Chennai

I am planning to go to Chennai in the first week of July. I just got my H1 7th year extension. Interview dates in July are not yet posted. How long does it take to get a renewal appointment? How soon do you get the passport and documents after the interview? Thanks.
 
They are releasing the interview dates every friday morning for one week. Keep checking on Friday mornings.
Akil
 
Akil,
When you go through the check earliest interview availablity dates, they have 2 weeks marked green. Does that mean interviews are available only for those 2 weeks in the actual booking dates and not in the third week? Thanks.
 
No, the remaining weeks are not released for visa appointments. At the moment appointments are available for the first 2 weeks.
 
Hello manwithnoname,

Stamping on my visa is expiring on 17-jun-2007. I intend to go for Visa Stamping on or after jun-30-2008 in New Delhi. I am into 5th year on H1B.

As per your reply to following question, you said 'YES'

Are you applying for the same class of visa which is currently valid or has expired within the past 12 months?*


Was your scenario similar to mine i.e Stamping on passport was older than 1 year. I am asking this to be absolutely sure because of the following warning when you select 'YES'

"If the Consul Officer determines that you misrepresented the facts, such facts will be noted on your case file and may adversely influence the outcome of your visa application. Furthermore, the Consular officer will postpone your interview 90 days from the date you appeared for interview."


I would appreciate if some one in the similar situation responds, because I need to take the appointment this Friday.


Thanks,
 
You extended your visa after the expiry of your previous H-1B (June 17, 2007). So the answer is yes. Last year, I was exactly in the same situation during visa stamping in India.
 
7th year extension

Do I need to take the original I-140 approval letter and original H-1 extension approval letter to the interview?
 
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