More appointments are likely to become available in the ensuing weeks and especially in August-September 2022 and onwards,” explains immigration lawyer Poorvi Chothani. Before travelling to India, they should, in fact, check for appointments frequently so that they can book one when dates do become available. “Even for drop-box applications, in case of visa interview waivers, H-1B visa holders who travel to India, need appointments to drop off the paperwork. Kumar doesn’t know when she will finally be able to meet her parents again. Getting an interview date for him is proving even more tough and there are no dates available yet on the online booking system. Her situation is further complicated because her son, who is on H4 dependent visa, is now above 14 years old and is not eligible for a visa interview waiver. There are no dates available for the next few months and so she cannot plan the trip. Kumar hasn’t visited her parents in Bengaluru since the pandemic and is now trying hard to get a drop box appointment since she needs to get a visa stamp before she goes back to the US after her visit. She works in an IT firm in Texas and has been on an H-1B visa for eight years. Shalini Kumar (name changed) is an example. Besides the issue of unavailability of dates for visa interviews or even for submitting documents in cases where interviews are being waived off, there is a risk of administrative delays or security checks that could delay the processing time of H-1B visas further. There are long delays in getting dates at the US embassy and consulates, even if many of them are eligible for interview waivers. Thousands of Indians in the US who are on H-1B visas are facing challenges in planning international travel, including visiting family in India, because they need a valid visa stamp on their passports before they travel back to the US.
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