Visa Extension Stamping Do I Need to Fill Ds160 Again

Home » Visas » Usa » Renewal - Dropbox » Pace by Step H1B Dropbox Process: Eligibility, Documents, Change of Employer

When you apply for a United states Visa renewal and you run across certain criteria, y'all can become it stamped in your passport without attending an in-person visa interview. This kind of visa stamping process is called the 'Interview Waiver' option and is popularly chosen the 'U.s.a. Visa Dropbox Stamping'.  The same interview waiver selection applies to H1B Visa renewal as well.

In this article, we will cover step past step procedure for H1B visa stamping using 'dropbox' or the 'interview waiver' option. It will encompass all criteria, booking appointments, documents checklist, how it works with employer change or H1B Visa Transfer situations, and status changes.

The first step to applying for H1B stamping using the interview waiver or dropbox selection is to ensure you meet all the general required criteria for a typical interview waiver or dropbox. Permit's look at the eligibility requirements offset in the context of an H1B visa.

H1B Visa Dropbox Eligibility Requirements

Below are the full general eligibility criteria for getting H1B Visa stamping using dropbox or the interview waiver selection. You lot need to run into all of the below requirements to be eligible for dropbox stamping.

• You should take H1B Visa Stamping done before and have US Visa foil in your passport of type H1B.  Dropbox or interview waiver is only possible for H1B Visa Renewal.
• Your H1B Visa was stamped in your passport later on Jan one, 2008
• Your H1B visa postage stamp in passport should not have annotations similar "Clearance Received" or "Section Authorization"
• You H1B visa stamping in passport should exist issued after your 14^thursday birthday
• Your H1B visa stamp in passport was non lost, stolen or cancelled.
• In that location were no United states visa refusals in whatsoever other visa class, since your recent H1B visa issuance.
• Your H1B Visa should be valid or expired inside concluding 12 months.  There are some exceptions to 12 months like now during electric current pandemic, where the dropbox eligibility was extended to 48 months from expiry. Usa Dept of state has not given a deadline when this 48 month from expiry rule will terminate.
• In the past, there was a requirement that the applicant'southward previous H1B stamping should be from the same country. Just, the same country requirement was removed during 2021 due to pandemic situation as consulates not fully operational. Cheque Question 7 below that has updated screenshot of the question.

Too, if y'all are over eighty years of age and applying for an H1B Visa renewal, then y'all need to simply run into one condition, which is your most recent US Visa application was not refused.

Dropbox Option for certain First Time H1B Visa Applicants

As Us Consulates are operating in a very limited fashion globally due to the COVID pandemic, starting from Jan 1st, 2022 until December 31st, 2022, the US Department of State has given Dropbox Stamping option for certain start fourth dimension H1B Visa Applicants, if they see all the beneath eligibility criteria. You demand to encounter all the below 7 requirements to exist eligible for H1B Dropbox as a first time H1B bidder:

1. USCIS Approval Detect : You need to take H1B Visa petition canonical by Us Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS). Basically, this is something that your employer would apply with USCIS for working in US before you become for stamping and it is mandatory for stamping.
2. Residence State : You need to be applying for H1B Visa Stamping in your country of Nationality or Residence. For instance, if yous are Indian citizen, yous can merely apply in India or alernatively, if you are India citizen but live in Germany due to piece of work with proper work visa, and then you tin utilise in Germany as it is your place of residence.
3. Previous Approved any The states Visa : You need to take any type of United states of america Visa issued (approved) in the past by a United states of america Consulate or Embassy. It does not accept to be an H1B Visa Stamp. For instance, if you have previously issued B1/B2 or F1 Visa in your passport, then yous are eligible.
4. No US Visa Refusal : You should take never been refused a Usa Visa at Visa Stamping. If you had an authoritative processing refusal similar 221g, then it should take been overcome or waived. You should have non any potential ineligibility aspects on your application (this is not clearly defined by them on what they hateful)
5. Clearance Received or Section Authroization: Any of your previous US Visa stamps in passport should not have annotations similar "Clearance Received" or "Department Authorization".
6. U.s.a. Visa lost or stolen : Your almost recent Us Visa in passport was not lost, stolen or cancelled.
7. Issued after Jan 1, 2008 : Your most contempo United states of america Visa was issued after January 1st, 2008

Likewise, many are dislocated, about if they need a new H1B Visa stamp after changing employer, let's look at the details now.

H1B Dropbox Eligibility for Modify of Employer

Many H1B applicants, who have done a change of employer or transferred to a new employer assume that they are not eligible for dropbox submission. They are misguided by the fact that their previous H1B visa foil glued in their passport has their previous employer'due south proper noun and they may not be eligible for dropbox.

To give you lot more context, when your H1B Visa was issued by the Us Consulate, the H1B Visa foil that was glued in your passport would have H1B Sponsoring Visitor name and the petition number details on it under the notation section, as you can run across in below screenshot. Having the previous company name is the crusade of the defoliation. Many assume that they may not be eligible for H1B Visa using the dropbox choice.

H1B Visa Sample with Sponsor Name

The reality is that the employer name on US Visa is only an note added for reference of the CBP officeholder. Information technology has cypher to exercise with dropbox stamping eligibility. As long as y'all satisfy all the general eligibility criteria for H1B Visa Dropbox, every bit listed in the higher up section, you are eligible for H1B visa stamping using the dropbox option.

Also, to confirm the to a higher place, when you fill out the visa details and answer the questionnaire on US Visa CGI Federal Website, you volition not be asked for your previous employer information or what your visa stamp annotation says. All they ask for are questions about your visa expiration engagement and general criteria. That'due south some other confirmation that you are eligible for dropbox stamping, even if you accept washed a modify of employer using an H1B transfer.  Also, to add, nosotros have many users on our blog and social media channels, who have got stamping washed after the H1B transfer. And so, it is confirmed based on experiences likewise.

Now that you understand the full general requirements for H1B stamping using dropbox, let'southward look at the step-past-step process.

Step by Pace Guide to Apply for H1B Visa Dropbox Engagement

The process to apply for H1B Visa stamping using the dropbox or interview waiver option is not very different from the general visa renewal for other types of visas. It is by and large the documents yous submit and your eligibility criteria that matter.

For background, you tin can read How to apply for a Us Visa for general guidance on the United states of america Visa stamping procedure. Let's look at each of the steps now.

Footstep 1 – Complete Not-immigrant US Visa Awarding (DS-160) Form online

You need to consummate Online Non-Immigrant US Visa Application and complete all the details related to your current H1B sponsor and previous employment data.  You will be asked to select a location for the visa stamping or interview when you first the DS-160 grade. Select the all-time city that yous can think of where you would become for stamping. See the below screenshot.

The city yous select here does not really affair. Information technology can be different from the city where y'all actually become for stamping or submitting documents.

DS-160 form on CEAC Website Screenshot

DS-160 form is a very lengthy form and asks for a lot of information. It can take fourth dimension to complete this form.  Also,  when you submit the DS-160 form, you will become a confirmation number. The DS-160 confirmation number is also the same as the Application ID. Y'all volition enter the DS-160 confirmation number or Application ID in the next step during the date booking for dropbox stamping.

Step 2 – Create Profile on CGI Federal Website

Later on you complete the DS-160 form, yous need to create a new user profile on CGI Federal Website and consummate bones information virtually yous.

Ane thing to note during creating a contour is that you need to select the land where you plan to get your H1B visa renewal. Alternatively, if you go to www.USTravelDocs.com website related to the country, where you program to become stamping, they will accept relevant parameters at the end of the URL that set the state and language automatically. For instance, the URLs would await like beneath for India & Frg.

• Bharat : https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Republic of india
• Germany:  https://cgifederal.secure.strength.com/?language=English&country=Germany

Step 3 – Complete Visa Type, Personal details, H1B Petition Details, Dependents info

On CGI Federal Website, in one case yous add your basic information, you will need to select "New Appointment / Schedule Appointment" from the menu on the left-mitt side. You will be asked a ready of questions in a guided wizard format, you need to complete them by selecting the relevant ones as applicative for an H1B visa. The guided sorcerer looks similar in the beneath section screenshots.

1. Select Nonimmigrant Visa

Outset, y'all need to select the visa type either Nonimmigrant or Immigrant. H1B Visa is a Nonimmigrant Visa, you need select that in Step 1 and click on go along. Run into the below screenshot on how information technology looks.

CGI Federal – Step 1 – Select Nonimmigrant Visa for booking H1B Visa Dropbox

2. Select the country and state of residence

Y'all will go an choice to select the country or country of your residence. You need to select the right country or state and country combination as per your residence and click on continue. This volition be listed as Stride two in the magician. Meet the beneath screenshot on how it looks

Select State and Country of Residence

three. Select Language of the Visa interview, Visa Category, Visa Grade

Adjacent, you need to select the language of the interview that you plan to do if you have to go for an interview. In general, dropbox does not require an interview, but in case, they want to interview you lot, you demand to select that and click on go on. Yous would see this listed as Step iii in the wizard as in the beneath screenshot.

Select Language of Interview

Next, you volition be asked to select the Visa Category, which is relevant for H1B Visa. Yous need to select the option "Employment-based visas" pick and click on continue. Information technology will be listed equally Step 3 and looks like in the below screenshot.

Select Visa Category – Employment-Based Visas for H1B

Next, you need to select the Visa Class, which is H1B Visa. You need to select the choice that says " H-1B – Temporary worker in specialty occupation " and then click on continue at the bottom. It looks like in the below screenshot.

Select Visa Class as H1B Visa

You volition get a risk to review and ostend the details yous have entered until now as a summary. Verify the details and click on continue. It volition exist listed equally Stride vi and looks like in the below screenshot.

Review Visa Type and Other Details for H1B

4. Enter Your Personal info, Passport details, contact info, mailing accost, Petitioner info

After that you will need to complete personal data like passport, address info, contact info, mailing address, DS-160 info, etc. Also, under the "Petitioner" section, you demand to enter the USCIS approved H1B visa petition details including the H1B Case Receipt Number on the same page. Information technology looks like in the below screenshot.

Personal Info, Petitioner Info, DS-160, Mailing Address

five. Add together Dependents, Kid Details

One time you go past this screen, you will go a take a chance to add your dependents. This option to add your dependents as applicative, if y'all are taking your H4 Dependents (spouse and children) for visa stamping forth with you. You lot will need to click on the option that says " Add by Name" and information technology looks like in the below screenshot.

Add dependent for H1B interview

If yous click on the Add together by Name pick in the to a higher place screenshot, so yous will get an option to add together the spouse or child-related DS-160 and all their personal details hither. It looks like in the below screenshot.

Add together Dependents Info – H1B Dropbox Form CGI Federal Website

Step 4 – H1B Dropbox Eligibility Check Magician

In the side by side step, you volition be asked a few questions related to H1B Visa Stamping status to bank check, if you are eligible for dropbox or not. Yous need to answer them correctly based on your situation.  Beneath are each of the questions and answers that near of the H1B Visa renewal applicants answer.

Starting from Jan 1st, 2022, with the new Dropbox Eligibility choice for sure outset-time H1B Holders, you will see a generic question request well-nigh whatever U.s.a. Visa, instead of H1B Visa. This new option is valid until the stop of 2022 ( Dec 31st, 2022)

Question 1: "Exercise you have a previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued?".

Response: If you had whatever US Visa issued in the past, you would answer 'Aye'. This includes H1B Visa likewise. See the below screenshot on how it looks on CGI Federal website.

Do you have previous Us visa issued in whatever form

In the by, you would get the question that is tailored to H1B asking nearly previous H1B visa as in the below screenshot and question ane, but at present information technology does appear now with the new option of Dropbox for sure first time H1B applicants with any U.s. Visa issued in the past. Below is what everyone used to become. for now, the below Question 1 is non relevant until end of 2022.

Question i: "Practice you have a previous H-1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee)?".

Practice you accept previous H1B Visa – Dropbox Question

The below question 2 has likewise inverse with the new interview waiver choice for certain new H1B visa interview applicants. The question does non bespeak H1B visa in the question as well.

Question ii : "Was your prior visa annotated 'Clearance Received' or 'Department Authorization'?".

Response: Check your previous issued United states Visa annotations section. This includes H1B Visa besides. If you practice not have any annotations in the visa postage stamp such as 'Clearance Received' or 'Department Authorization', yous would respond 'No'. See the below screenshot. To know more on this read What is 'Clearance Received' or 'Department Authorization' annotation?

Was your prior visa annotated clearance received or department authorization

In the by, the above question used to have the question specific to H1B every bit in the beneath screenshot and question. It is not relevant until the end of 2022.

Question 2 : "Was your prior H1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) annotated 'Clearance Received' or 'Department Say-so'?".

Was Your prior H1B Visa annotated Clearance Received or Department Authorization

Also, the next question has slightly been modified to fit in the new interview waiver choice for certain new H1B visa applicants.

Question 3 : "Was your most contempo U.S. visa lost or stolen or cancelled?"

Response: If you did not lose your previous US visa from by, you would answer 'No'. This also applies to your previous H1B Visa. Encounter the beneath screenshot.

Was your previous U.s.a. visa lost stolen or cancelled

In the by, it used to say "in the same grade for which you are applying". Now with the new pick for interview waiver, the beneath question is not relevant until the end of 2022.

Question three : "Was your most recent visa (in the same class for which y'all are applying) lost or stolen or cancelled?".

Was your almost recent visa lost or stolen – question in CGI Federal website

The next question has also changed to reflect the new H1B dropbox option for sure new applicants.

Question iv : "Have yous ever been refused a U.S. visa before?".

Response : If you did not get any US visa stamping(including H1B Visa) refused at a consulate before, y'all would answer 'No'. This question is related to the United states Visa issued at a The states consulate or Embassy and not USCIS petition approval. See the below screenshot.

Accept you ever been refused a US visa

Below is the previous question that had H1B in the question. The below is not applicative until end of 2022.

Question 4 : "Have you ever been refused a H-1B (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) visa before?".

Have you e'er been refused a H1B Visa before CGI Federal Visa question

The beneath 2 questions exercise not appear now after the new interview waiver option for certain new H1B Visa applicants. The below questions are non relevant until finish of 2022.

Question : "Is your previous H-1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) even so valid?".

Response : Y'all should answer 'Yep' only if your visa is nevertheless valid. In general, most of the cases, for many this would exist "No" Meet below screenshot.

If you lot answered No to the in a higher place question 5, you would get the below question vi. If you answered "yes", you will be skipped directly to next question 7 below.

Is your previous H1B Visa yet valid – CGI Federal Visa appointment Booking question

Question : "Did your previous H-1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) expire within the last 48 months? Note: Please be sure to select an interview waiver submission date at least 7 agenda days before your visa has been expired 48 months."

Response : You would reply 'Yes' in most of the cases for dropbox eligibility unless your visa has expired before 48 months. See below screenshot.

Did your previous H1B Visa expire inside the last 48 months question on CGI Federal website

Question 5 : "Was your most contempo U.S. visa issued after January 1, 2008? ".

Response:  For this, about of them would answer 'Yes', unless your visa was issued earlier Jan ane^st, 2008. This includes whatsoever of your contempo visas, including H1B Visa. See the below screenshot. Important to notation is that the previous visa could have been issued in whatever other country, does not have to be in the same country that you are attending your dropbox engagement.

Update : In the past, the question used to say Was your most contempo H-1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) issued in <country proper noun> after January 1, 2008? The <country name> would be the actual proper name of the country where you were applying for visa from. For example, Republic of india, if you are applying from any consulate in India. But, this has changed in mid 2021. At present, there is no country restriction as such.

Was your most contempo Usa Visa issued after Jan 1st 2008

In the past, this question used to have H1B visa in the question. Now, with the new dropbox selection for sure new H1B applicants, it does not have that. The below is non relevant until cease of 2022.

Question : "Was your most recent H-1B visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) issued after January 1, 2008? ".

Was your almost recent H1B Visa issued after Jan one, 2008

Confirmation on H1B Dropbox Eligibility

If you have answered the sorcerer questions as mentioned above and you are eligible, yous will go a confirmation saying that you are eligible for Interview Wavier or Dropbox.

"Congratulations! Y'all qualify for the Interview Waiver. Yous will need to schedule an appointment to visit the Document Drop-Off locations to submit your documents simply do not need to schedule a visa interview at the U.South. Diplomatic mission/Consulate.…"

Depending on the country y'all are submitting the documents, you will run into the cities and consulates' information related to the same. It looks like in the below screenshot. Below is for Bharat, so you see Indian cities in in that location. As well, there are some other footnotes that say other services in the country like certificate selection up / submission info and other details. Read these carefully.

Congratulations y'all qualify for Interview waiver – H1B Visa dropbox confirmation

Yous need to click the " Go along " button at the bottom of the message to proceed with your application.

Step 5 : Certificate Delivery Location, MRV Fee Payment Receipt Number

You will get an selection to specify the Certificate Delivery Option if you would pick up or choose the premium delivery option. Depending on your choice, pick the relevant option and click on continue. It looks like in the below screenshot.

Specify Certificate Delivery, Pickup info

Next, you lot will get an option to confirm that your visa fees is non-refundable, you need to click on the confirm pick as shown in the below screenshot.

Of import annotation on Visa Fee

Depending on the country, yous volition go the visa fee payment options. It looks like below. If you lot click on each of them, it will show the details on how to make payment. Yous can make Visa fee payment using that option.

Visa Fee Payment Options India IMPS, Banks,Others

Below are the payment options for Dropbox Stamping in Bharat. For Dropbox stamping in Republic of india, y'all can either use NEFT or IMPS pick as listed on the website. If y'all pay fee at a banking concern over the counter at CitiBank, Axis Bank or DRUK PNB Depository financial institution, and then you will enter the receipt number in the box.

• MRV Fee Online Payment : Depending on the CountryYou cannot pay using your overseas accounts. You need an Republic of india Rupee account for this.
• MRV Fee Pay at Bank – Cash Payment Advice Slip : You will need to impress a cash payment communication slip and that need to be used at the Axis or Citi bank every bit it has a CGI reference number.  It takes about a 24-hour interval subsequently the fee was paid in banking concern for it to get activated.

Afterward you brand the payment and the receipt is activate, you need to enter the Automobile Readable Visa(MRV) Fee payment receipt number. The amount shown will vary past country in local currency. It looks similar in below screenshot for India.

US Visa Appointment Fee Payment Option for Dropbox Stamping CGI Federal Website

Footstep 6 : Volume Appointment for Documents Drib-Off

Using MRV Fee Payment Receipt: Later on you pay the fee and the MRV fee receipt is activated, when you try to navigate to the visa tab on domicile, you lot will get a popup on the payment screens saying a receipt matches and would y'all similar to utilize that. It looks similar in the below screenshot. You tin can click on employ existing receipts, then it takes you lot to the screen to book appointment. If not, you can enter the receipt number in the receipt number box and click continue, so information technology volition show the below pop-up.

Use Existing Receipts for Visa Interview appointment

Schedule OFC Appointment Screen

This screen is 1 of the most confusing parts for many. The reason is information technology says "Schedule OFC Engagement" and many retrieve it is for giving your Biometrics (fingerprints, photo).  In full general, Dropbox stamping does non need Biometrics. So, the appointment you book on this screen is for dropping off your H1B Dropbox Stamping Document and not Biometrics.

Update: Before November 28th, 2021, for dropbox or interview waiver appointments, it used to bear witness "IW" at the terminate of the consulate name in the dropdown, where you select the interview location. This changed to VAC for dropbox/interview waiver appointments after Nov 28th, 2021. Then do not be confused. You can check consummate details about this change at United states Visa Dropbox / Renewal – VAC vs. IW Defoliation, New Alter

OFC means Offsite Facilitation Center.

Even though the text says "Schedule OFC Date", what they mean is the appointment for Dropbox to drop off your documents. It looks like in the below screenshot.

Dropbox Appointment Shows VAC instead of IW in Dropdown

Pace 7: Impress H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Alphabetic character

After you volume the dates, y'all will be navigated further to impress the H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter. It will usually exist half dozen pages. The first page would accept your details, Appointment details, Certificate delivery or pickup info, fee data and DS-160 details.  The second page would have the details of the Dropbox Location and instructions. Encounter below screenshots.  The list of documents to be carried will be given in rest of the pages past Visa type. Look for the 1 relevant for H and L Applicants. You can check more at Sample US Visa Dropbox Confirmation Letter India

H1B Dropbox Document Checklist

Below is the list of documents that need to exist submitted for H1B Dropbox Submission during the appointment :

• Dropbox Date Confirmation Letter
• DS-160 CEAC Confirmation Folio
• Passport Photo as per US Visa Photograph specifications
• All Original Passports with a previous US Visa ( if y'all have one, just behave that)
• Your previous US Visa that is valid or expired (it would be in passport)
• Photocopy of your I-797 Approval Notice (Current & Previous)
• Employment Verification or Confirmation Letter of the alphabet (origianal or re-create)
• (if applicative) Stop Client Letter. If yous work as consultant at client, bear client alphabetic character.
• (Optional) Additional I-797 approval notices, if you had any in the eye for transfers. They may or may not take them. Y'all can request and submit to be condom.
• You can check H1B Visa Stamping Certificate Checklist for total details

List of H1B Dropbox Documents Checklist from Confirmation Letter

H1B Dropbox Document Submission Process

The process to submit documents is pretty straightforward as listed below.

• You need to go to the relevant address of the documents drop-off location that is on the Dropbox Confirmation Letter.
• Yous need to go merely during the appointment date and allowed times to the dropbox location in engagement confirmation letter.  This can vary by location, check the letter.
• They volition verify all the documents and so accept the listed documents in above checklist.
• There is no requirement for the actual bidder to submit the documents. The documents can be submitted by a representative on the engagement date and time. The representative need to conduct photo id to submit documents. The date letter would have all the details related to the representative submission process.
• Additional instructions like parking, and other location specific info would be listed on the confirmation letter.
• Due to pandemic, in that location mayhap additional checks in place and health checks, so be prepared.

Usa Visa Status on CEAC Website after Documents Submission

After you submit the documents, you can bank check U.s.a. Visa Status Online on CEAC website.  Below is the typical sequence for change of statuses.

1. 'Application Received' Status : You would see the "Awarding Received" condition on the same day or by next 24-hour interval afterwards submitting documents.
2. 'Authoritative Processing' or 'Refused' Status: Y'all may see the status change from 'Awarding Received' to "Administrative Processing" or "Refused" status. Exercise non panic, if you see these statuses.  It does not necessarily mean your visa is refused or going through 221g. They are very common to appear in the heart during visa processing time. You lot may see these statuses for 3 to 4 days. For some users, they accept seen this for a calendar week or 10 days. So, do not panic. Read Why CEAC website shows Refused Condition for US Visa ?
3. "Issued" Status : You will see the condition change to "Issued", if your U.s.a. visa was canonical by US Consulate.
4. Afterwards your passport is in 'Issued' condition, you lot can track your passport status on CGI Federal Website. Information technology will show condition, if passport is ready for pickup and once you collected passport.  You can collect your passport or information technology will exist delivered to your address, if you have picked that option.

H1B Dropbox Stamping Not Approved Situation

If your visa was not approved past Consulate for some reason with the Dropbox Option, then you will be notified that your visa was non approved. The visa status on the CEAC website will continue to show condition equally "Administrative Processing" or "Refused".

When you lot go to collect your documents and passport, they will render everything and also result a 221(g) Administrative Processing slip that gives instructions on next steps. Usually, the Consulate would enquire you to appear in person on any solar day by visiting the consulate in a certain time. This tin can vary due to the COVID situation and they may enquire to visit after the regular operations are started for the consulate.

Below is a sample 221g issued by the Consulate for dropbox stamping that was not successful during the pandemic.

221g Slip for H1B Visa Dropbox after Documents Submission

Below is sample 221g given at Consulate for H1B Dropbox before pandemic asking to attend the consulate for interview on whatsoever twenty-four hour period.

221g Greenish Slip given for H1B Visa Dropbox

Conclusion

Overall, the procedure to renew H1B visa using interview waiver or dropbox option is very straightforward and should not have any complications. Sometimes, even if your application is all good, they may phone call you for random interview, so do not panic and handle information technology with confidence.

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Source: https://redbus2us.com/visas/usa/renewal/h1b-dropbox/

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