H1B : Any consulate???

[lalitha_mkr]

Hello Sir,

Am working in US holding a valid H1B from US and now have come to India after booking an appointment with TTS in January. After coming here when I checked, TTS says my appointment has been cancelled and I dont know how.
Now, I have booked an appointment via VFS in Chennai as I reside here. When I checked the site it says,
'Indian citizens resident in the USA and applying for a new visa to replace an expiring visa can request an appointment at any of the four visa sections'.

1. Do I come under this criteria? Earlier, I had H4 and it is valid till 2007 and now I need to get my H1B stamped. Can I go to any other consulate for appointment?

2. If I can go to Delhi/Calcutta/Bombay consulates, how do I book an appointment?
Is my visa fee receipt from Chennai HDFC valid and can I make an appointment one more time?

Pls clarify. Thanks.

[hemant2778]

Hi
My wife's case is similar to your case
Pls provide all the necessary info abt all the documents which are required for H4 TO H1B.
THANKS A LOT.

[Veena_swsh]

Hi,
If you can prove that you are a returning worker with payslips, W2s, valid I 797and a letter from the employer supporting it, then you will qualify for emergency appointment.

[anilkumar246]

Hi Lalitha,

I was in a similar case. At least in your case, you had an appointment with TTS and you traveled to India as per that. But in my case, I didn't have any appointment with either TTS or VFS. I came to India on Oct 18th, 05 for my Visa stamping (I am also a US returning H1B Worker) and next day I walked into Chennai VFS for emergency appointment (By default, returning H1B worker does fall under emergency category, and you can book the appointment under that. But make sure you planning to return to US ASAP and this is what you have to say to VFS).

At VFS, they had that said I can go to any US consulate or Embassy for visa stamping, as same rule applies (returning H1B Worker). I took the appointment at New Delhi US Embassy (Though I fall under Chennai Consular District) because of the earliest date available there and got my visa stamping successful.

The first question Visa office will ask you is "are you returning H1B worker" and you have to say "Yes". That's it and interview will continue further.

Make sure to carry all documents, particularly, all your W-2 forms, Client Letter saying that you have been working with them (some kind of proof), Employer offer letter, minimum of 6-8 paystubs etc.

Note: - Whatever I have explained above is from my point of context and experience I had faced. Please make sure that again with VFS about the questions you have.

Thanks,
AKS.

[b2seeker]

HI lalitha,

in your orig post you had mentioned that when you checked just before the appointment, you saw that it was in cancelled status. right? can you tell me if you ever tried to reschedule your appointment and then did not successfully reschedule it and just exited in between? I am asking coz i am trying to reschedule my appointment and when i exit in between, it says that 'your application is saved. you can retrieve it in next 30 days and finish the rescheduling process after which it will be deleted.' i m scared because i think they mean that you have to compulsory reschedule it or it will be lost forever. i just want to know if this has happened to you too. your response will be very much imp because it will give me a rough idea about what will happen after 30 days. thanks in advance.

b2seeker