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Step by Step H1B Dropbox Process: Eligibility, Documents, Change of Employer

When you apply for a US Visa renewal and you meet certain criteria, you can get it stamped in your passport without attending an in-person visa interview. This kind of visa stamping process is called an ‘Interview Waiver’ option and is popularly called the ‘Dropbox Stamping’.  The same interview waiver option is available for H1B Visa renewal as well.

Update: The US Department of State made changes to the Dropbox Visa Appointment Eligibility Criteria without any official press release from Feb 10th, 2025. Read Changes to Dropbox Stamping Eligibility Criteria. The article below has been updated to reflect the changes and has all updated screenshots.

In this article, we will cover the step-by-step process for H1B visa stamping using ‘dropbox’ or the ‘interview waiver’ option. We will cover all areas like H1B visa dropbox eligibility requirements, booking appointments, documents checklist, how it works with employer change or H1B Visa Transfer situations, and status changes. Also, it will include changes to the Dropbox requirements in recent times after Trump Administraiton took office in 2025.

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

H1B Visa Dropbox Eligibility Requirements

Starting from February 10th, 2025, the Trump Administration removed some of the provisions such as “48 months from expiry” and “different visa category renewals based on previous US Visa”. The Dropbox eligibility requirements below are updated to reflect the new changes. You can read more at: drobpox eligibility requirements: same category, 12 months.

Below are the general eligibility criteria for getting an H1B Visa stamping using dropbox or the interview waiver option. You must meet all the requirements below to be eligible for dropbox stamping:

  • You should have 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 most recent H1B visa stamping in your passport should be issued on or after your 14th birthday
  • Your H1B visa stamp in your passport was not lost, stolen, cancelled, or has CWOP written on the visa.
  • There are not US visa refusals in any visa type after the most recent US Visa issuance.

Also, if you are over 80 years of age and applying for an H1B Visa renewal, then you need to only meet one condition, which is your most recent US Visa application was not refused.

Before we get into other aspects of H1B Dropbox, let’s look at the Dropbox eligibility when you change employers. Many are confused, if they need a new H1B Visa stamp after changing employers.

H1B Dropbox Eligibility for Change 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’s name and they may not be eligible for dropbox.

To give you more context, when your H1B Visa was issued by the US Consulate, the H1B Visa foil that was glued in your passport would have the H1B Sponsoring Company name and the petition number details on it under the annotation section, as you can see in below screenshot. Having the previous company name is the cause of the confusion. Many assume that they may not be eligible for H1B Visa using the dropbox option.

H1B Visa Sample with Sponsor Name
H1B Visa Sample with Sponsor Name

The reality is that the employer name on the US Visa is only an annotation added for reference of the CBP officer. It has nothing to do with Dropbox stamping eligibility. As long as you satisfy all the general eligibility criteria for H1B Visa Dropbox, as listed in the above section, you are eligible for H1B visa stamping using the Dropbox option.  

Also, to confirm the above, when you fill out the visa details and answer the questionnaire on the USVisaScheduling or CGI Federal Websites, you will not be asked for your previous employer information or what your visa stamp annotation says.

All they ask for are questions about your current H1B visa expiration date and general criteria. That’s another confirmation that you are eligible for dropbox stamping, even if you have a change of employer using an H1B transfer.  Also, over the years, we have many users on our blog and social media channels who got stamping done after the H1B transfer without any issues. So, it is confirmed based on users’ experiences as well.  

Now that you understand the general requirements for H1B stamping using dropbox, let’s look at the step-by-step process.  


Step by Step Guide to Apply for H1B Visa Dropbox Appointment

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 mostly the documents you submit and your eligibility criteria that matter.

For background, you can read How to Apply for a US Visa for general guidance on the US Visa stamping process. Let’s look at each of the steps now.

Step 1 – Complete Non-immigrant US Visa Application (DS-160) Form online

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

The city you select here does not really matter. It can be different from the city where you actually go for stamping or submitting documents.

DS-160 form on CEAC Website Screenshot
DS-160 form on CEAC Website Screenshot

The DS-160 form is very lengthy and asks for a lot of information. It can take time to complete this form.  Also,  when you submit the DS-160 form, you will get a confirmation number. The DS-160 confirmation number is also the same as the Application ID. You will enter the DS-160 confirmation number or Application ID in the next step during the appointment booking for Dropbox stamping.  

Step 2 – Create a Profile on US Visa Appointment Booking Website

After you complete the DS-160 form, you need to create a new user profile on US Visa appointment booking website. Depending on the country managed, this website is different and managed by CGI Federal. Below is how it looks:

You need to complete basic information about yourself. Depending on the country you are planning to applying for Dropbox stamping it will look different.

Below is the screenshot of completing applicant’s personal details on USVisaScheduling.com, which is for Dropbox stamping in India.

Complete Applicant Details - USVisaScheduling.com Website

If you are using portal.ustraveldocs.com and getting stamping in another country, it will look different from above.

As there are two to three US Visa Appointment booking systems that are used now globally, in the below sections, we will clearly put a heading and tell what wesbite the screenshot is for to avoid any confusion. Based on popularity and usage, this article will focus on USVisaScheduling.com as the main website for reference screenshots.

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

Depending on the country you plan to get stamping from, the steps may look different as the websites are different. Below are the steps for India, when you are using the USVisaScheduling.com website.

Steps on USVisaScheduling.com Website for Stamping in India

On USVisaScheduling.com, you need to click on the Start Application to fill out a new application for H1B Dropbox. Below is a screenshot of how it looks.

Start Application on USVisaScheduling.com
Start Application on USVisaScheduling.com

You need to select the below Visa Options. Each of the fields would be a drop-down, select the below accordingly for H1B Dropbox

  • Country: This will be prepopulated to India and you cannot change this.
  • Visa Type: Non-immigrant
  • Embassy/Consulate/OFC: Select the US consulate or Embassy that is applicable to your location of stay in India. In India, the H1B processing is centralized in Chennai and Hyderabad, so you must select one of these.
  • Post Visa Category: As it is for H1B Dropbox, you would select the visa category as ‘Employment-based visas’.
  • Visa Priority: This will be prepopulated to English and you cannot change this.

See the screenshot below on how the actual visa options screen looks on USVisaScheduling.com for H1B Dropbox stamping.

Visa Options - USVisaScheduling.com for H1B Dropbox
Visa Options – USVisaScheduling.com for H1B Dropbox

You need to select the visa tag as H-1B and then click on the “Continue” button. See the screenshot below for how it looks

Select Visa Tag as H-1B and hit Continue on USVisaScheduling.com
Select Visa Tag as H-1B and hit Continue on USVisaScheduling.com

You need to enter the additional details of DS-160 and Petition Information on the next screen. You will need to enter the below

  • DS-160 Confirmation Number: This is the confirmation number after you complete the DS-160 form online. It is also called the Application ID.
  • Petitioner Name: This is the H1B Sponsor name as it appears on the H1B Approval Notice
  • Petition Receipt Number or Petition Request Number: This is the H1B Receipt Number as it appears on the H1B Approval Notice.
  • Petition Start Date: This is the “Valid from Date” on the H1B approval notice. Do not worry about the time. It can be anything on the same date. The date is the important thing to note.
  • Petition Expiration Date: This is the “Valid to Date” on the H1B approval notice.

It looks like this in the screenshot below on the USVisaScheduling.com website. You can read more at Petitioner Name – How to fill US Visa Appointment.

DS-160 and Petitioner Info for H1B Dropbox on USVisaScheduling.com
DS-160 and Petitioner Info for H1B Dropbox on USVisaScheduling.com

After this step, you will be taken to answer the H1B Dropbox questionnaire. To clarify, this flow is different from the flow that used to be on the previous portal.USTraveldocs website. You can go to Step 4 below to continue the guide for USVisaScheduling.com

The US Department of State has almost phased out Portal.USTravelDocs.com in many countries, except a few. To keep the article more relevant, we have removed all references to the Portal.USTravelDocs.com website. The process is the same; the screens will look different.

Step 4 – H1B Dropbox Eligibility Check Wizard

In the next step, you will be asked a few questions related to your H1B Visa Stamping status to check, if you are eligible for dropbox or not. You need to answer them correctly based on your situation.  

The H1B Dropbox eligibility check wizard questions are technically the same for stamping within India or outside of India. Just the way they are presented in the system are different as they are two different websites.

Below are each of the questions and answers that most of the H1B Visa renewal applicants answer:

Question 1: “Are you a citizen of XXX or Lawful Resident of XXX ?” 

Response: This question is to validate whether you are eligible to submit H1B Dropbox. You must be a citizen of the country and a lawful resident of the country. You must answer “yes” only if you are a citizen of that country or a lawful resident. If not, you do not qualify for H1B Dropbox.

For India, the question would be “Are you a citizen of India/Bhutan or Lawful Resident of India/Bhutan ? If you are in a different country, the country “India/Bhutan” in the above question will be set to that particular country.

See the screenshot below of this question on how it looks on the USVisaScheduling.com website for booking H1B Dropbox appointments in India.

Are you a citizen or lawful resident of India or Bhutan question for H1B dropbox
Are you a citizen or lawful resident of India or Bhutan question for H1B dropbox

Question 2:Do you have a previous H-1B Visa (temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) issued on or after your 14th birthday ?” 

Response: If you had your previous H1B Visa issued in the past after you turned 14 years old, you would answer ‘Yes.’ If not, you should answer “No”

See the screenshot below of this question on how it looks on the USVisaScheduling.com website for booking H1B Dropbox appointments in India. Once you select the option, click on the ‘Next’ button.

Do you have your previous H1B Visa issued after your 14th birthday - Dropbox questionnaire
Do you have your previous H1B Visa issued after your 14th birthday – Dropbox questionnaire

In the past, you used to get the question that was generic, saying any visa, but this changed starting from February 2025 since the Trump administration reinstated the same category visa renewals only and removed other provisions.

Also, in the past, there was a question on ‘Clearance Received’ or ‘Department Authorization’. Starting from April 2023, the US Department of State removed that question. Even if your visa has an annotation that says ‘Clearance received’ or ‘Department Authorization’, you would still be eligible for H1B Dropbox. If you do not know what this means, you may read What is ‘Clearance Received’ or ‘Department Authorization’ annotation?

Question 3: “Is your prior H-1B visa(temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) still valid?

Response: Answer “Yes” if your current issued H1B visa is still valid. Check the validity of the visa to see the dates. If your visa has expired, then select “No”. You will get a subsequent question asking the duration of when it expired.

See the screenshot below on how it looks on USVisaScheduling.com for appointment booking in India.

Is your prior H1B Visa still valid - Dropbox Questionnaire
Is your prior H1B Visa still valid – Dropbox Questionnaire

You will only get the below question 3(A) if you answer “No” to the above question 3.

Question 3(A): “Did your previous H-1B visa(temporary occupation, temporary worker or trainee) expire within the last 12 months?

Response: Answer “Yes”, only if your current H1B Visa in passport expired within the last 12 months. This used to be “in the last 48 months”, but changed starting from early February 2025 after the Trump Administration removed the previous provisions. Also, you must factor in 7 calendar days for the submission before the full 12 months for submission. If your H1B visa expired more than 12 months ago, then select “No,” and you will not be eligible for Dropbox stamping.

See the screenshot below on how it looks on USVisaScheduling.com for appointment booking in India.

Did your previous H1B Visa expire in the last 12 months - Dropbox Questionnaire
Did your previous H1B Visa expire in the last 12 months – Dropbox Questionnaire

Question 4: “Was your most recent U.S. visa(in the same class for which you are applying) lost, stolen, cancelled, revoked, or marked CWOP?

Response: Check if your most recently issued H1B Visa meets all the below conditions:

  • It was not lost or stolen (meaning, you did not lose your passport with your H1B Visa in it)
  • It was not canceled or revoked (it could be for any reason like DUI, or by CBP, etc. )
  • It should not be marked as CWOP (Cancelled without Prejudice). For more, read What is CWOP, how it looks? why it is stamped? meaning?

If your answer is ‘Yes’ to all the above 3 points, then you would answer ‘No’ to this question. This question applies to your most recent H1B Visa.

See the screenshot below on how it looks on USVisaScheduling.com for appointment booking inside India. Click on the button that reads ‘Next’ after selecting the correct option.

Was your most recent US Visa in the same class you are applying lost stolen or marked CWOP - Dropbox Question
Was your most recent US Visa in the same class you are applying lost stolen or marked CWOP – Dropbox Question

Question 5: “Have you ever been refused any type of U.S. visa?”.

Response: If you were never refused a US visa (including H1B Visa) at a consulate during visa stamping before, you would answer ‘No’. If you had any previous refusals of any type of US visa, then you would answer “Yes”. Answering “Yes” does not necessarily make you ineligible for Dropbox, you will be asked another question.

‘This question is related to a US Visa that was issued at a US consulate or Embassy. This is not related to USCIS petition approval or denial.

The screenshot below shows how it looks on the USVisaScheduling.com website for India appointments. Click on the button ‘Next’ after selecting the correct option.

Have you ever been refused any type of US Visa - Dropbox Question
Have you ever been refused any type of US Visa – Dropbox Question

You will only get the below question 5(A) if you answer “Yes” to the above question 5.

Question 5(A): “Did your most recent application for a visa result in you being issued the visa? “ 

Response:  If your most recent US Visa was issued/approved after your previous US Visa refusal, then you would answer “Yes”, if not, you would answer “No”. If you answer “Yes” you would be qualified for Dropbox.

The screenshot below shows how the question looks on the USVisaScheduling.com website for India appointments. Click on the button ‘Next’ after selecting the correct option.

Did your most recent application for a visa result in you being issued the visa - Dropbox Questionnaire
Did your most recent application for a visa result in you being issued the visa – Dropbox Questionnaire

Confirmation on H1B Dropbox Eligibility, Option to pick Interview for Emergency

If you have answered the interview waiver wizard questions as mentioned above and you are eligible, you will get a confirmation saying that you are eligible for Interview Wavier or Dropbox with a message that reads as follows:

Congratulations! You qualify for the Interview Waiver. You will need to schedule an appointment to visit the Document Drop-Off locations to submit your documents but do not need to schedule a visa interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.…”

In the past, before February 2025, you used to have an option for an interview that you could select if there was an emergency; now, you cannot do it in this step. You can only select “Drop-off”

You need to click the “Drop-Off” button at the bottom of the message to proceed with your interview waiver/Dropbox visa application. Depending on the country, this may look different with country-specific information about fees for document delivery.

Below is the sample screenshot of the confirmation message for appointments in India done using USVisaScheduling.com. It does not show any US Consulate/Embassy-related information.

Congratulations you qualify for the interview waiver confirmation screen - dropbox questions end screen
Congratulations you qualify for the interview waiver confirmation screen – dropbox questions end screen

The below steps for adding dependents are only applicable for Dropbox appointment booking in USVisaScheduling.com website. It does not apply to anyone submitting Dropbox using the other appointment booking websites.

Adding Dependents in the new USVisaScheduling.com Website for Appointments in India

For H1B Visa Dropbox appointment booking in the new USVisaScheduling.com website, the adding of dependents comes at the end after the Dropbox confirmation message. You can add dependents by following the below steps.

If you want to add any dependents, click on the ‘+’ button, as shown in the below screenshot.

Managing Dependents on USVisaScheduling.com website
Managing Dependents on USVisaScheduling.com website

You will need to complete the below information when you select to add a dependent

  • Contact Information (name, email, language)
  • Applicant details ( relationship, country of birth, etc.)
  • Contact information (phone number)
  • Mailing Address
  • Passport Details

Below is how the screenshots of the same look like on USVisaScheduling.com

H1B Dependent Information Submission Screens on USVisaScheduling.com
H1B Dependent Information Submission Screens on USVisaScheduling.com

Also, you will be asked to complete the below information in subsequent screens about the dependent

  • Visa Options (Country, type of visa, consulate location, visa category)
  • Visa Class Tag ( H-4)
  • DS-160 Info
  • Petition Information (same as what was entered for H1B Holder)
  • Document Delivery Information(pickup location, address)
H1B Dependent - Visa Class Tag - Petitioner Info - Other Submission Screens on USVisaScheduling.com
H1B Dependent – Visa Class Tag – Petitioner Info – Other Submission Screens on USVisaScheduling.com

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

You will get an option to specify the “Document Delivery” Option if you would pick up or choose the premium delivery option. Depending on your choice, pick the relevant option, and fill in the relevant details, click on the button that reads ‘next’.

The screenshot below shows how it looks on USVisaScheduling.com for booking an appointment in India.

Choose Document Delivery Option on USVisaScheduling.com
Choose Document Delivery Option on USVisaScheduling.com

Next, you will get Payment Options. Below is how it looks across two different sites.

Payment Options on USVisaScheduling.com

You will get an option to choose your payment options with the below payment types

  • Citibank Cash
  • VFS Credit/Debit Cards
  • VFS UPI
  • Druk Bank Cash
  • VFS EFT

You can choose any of these options and make the payment. If you choose an option, you will get a confirmation for the same and be asked to make payment. Depending on the number of people, like dependents, you will get the fee bundled and shown as one payment.

See the screenshot below on how it looks for payment options on the USVisaScheduling.com

Payment Options on USVisaScheduling.com
Payment Options on USVisaScheduling.com

If you choose to claim receipts and click on claim receipts, you will get an option to enter the receipt numbers. This is valid for anyone who made payment before Jul 28th, 2023. Below is the screenshot on how it looks

Claim Receipts for Payment Options
Claim Receipts for Payment Options

Step 6: Book an Appointment to Drop-off Documents  

In this next step, you will book the date and time slot to drop off your documents.

Schedule OFC Appointment Screen

OFC stands for Offsite Facilitation Center in the US Visa Appointments context.

This screen is one of the most confusing parts for many. The reason is it says “Schedule OFC Appointment” or “Applicant Schedule OFC Appointment”. Many think it is for giving your Biometrics (fingerprints, photo).  In general, Dropbox stamping does not need Biometrics. So, the appointment you will book on this screen is for dropping off your H1B Dropbox Stamping Document and not for giving Biometrics.  

Note: Before November 28th, 2021, for dropbox or interview waiver appointments, it used to show “IW” at the end 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. So do not be confused. You can check complete details about this change at US Visa Dropbox / Renewal – VAC vs. IW Confusion, New Change

If you are looking at booking an appointment in India on USVisaScheduling.com, you will get an option that says “OFC Post” and, below that, an option to “Select Date”. You can choose the Consulate where you would ultimately want your documents to be sent for stamping under the OFC Post.

You can choose an available date and time by clicking on a box on the calendar that shows with ‘Green Borders’. The ones in red borders are not available. You will also see the slots available by time below once you select the date. You can choose the correct time slot as well here.

Below is the screenshot of the Dropbox location, Date, and time selection on the USVisaScheduling.com website for India’s US Consulate appointments.

Appointment Booking Screen for H1B Dropbox on USVisaScheduling.com
Appointment Booking Screen for H1B Dropbox on USVisaScheduling.com

Step 7: Print H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter  

Once you book the dates, you will get confirmation of the same and it will show all the relevant information about your appointment. You would need to ensure all the details are correct. This looks slightly different based on the website you are booking on.

How to Print US Visa Appointment Confirmation letter on USVisaScheduling.com

If you are using USVisaScheduling.com for appointment booking in India, you will get a confirmation screen that looks like in the screenshot below. You may or may not see a proper print button this page.

You can use Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac to print out the confirmation letter. If for whatever reason you missed to print, you can print the same at the URL https://www.usvisascheduling.com/en-US/DropboxConfirmation/ . Verify the Visa Category and ‘Visa Priority’ to ensure, it is ‘Interview Waiver”, which means dropbox.

H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation on USVisaScheduling.com
H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation on USVisaScheduling.com

After you book the dates, you will be navigated further to print the H1B Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter. It will usually be six pages. The first page would have your details, Appointment details, Document delivery or pickup info, fee information, and DS-160 details.  

The second page would have the details of the Dropbox Location and instructions. The list of documents to be carried will be given on the rest of the pages by Visa type. Look for the one relevant for H and L Applicants. You can check more at Sample US Visa Dropbox Confirmation Letter

H1B Dropbox Document Checklist

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

  • Dropbox Appointment Confirmation Letter
  • DS-160 CEAC Confirmation Page
  • Passport Photo as per US Visa Photo specifications
  • All Original Passports with a previous US Visa ( if you have one, just carry that)
  • Your previous US Visa that is valid or expired (it would be in your passport)
  • Photocopy of your I-797 Approval Notice (Current & Previous)
  • Employment Verification or Confirmation Letter (original or copy)
  • (Optional) H1B LCA Copy (this was asked during dropbox for a few users in Mumbai)
  • (if applicable) End Client Letter. If you work as a consultant for a client, carry the client letter.
  • (Optional) Additional I-797 approval notices, if you had any in the middle for transfers. They may or may not take them. You can request and submit to be safe.
  • You can check H1B Visa Stamping Document Checklist for full details

Never submit any original documents during Dropbox except your passport. If you give the I-797 approval notice original, you may not get it back. So be careful

You can carry either color printout or a black-and-white printout of your appointment letter/ confirmation page. Also for all supporting documents, carry originals and copies of the same. The originals can be verified as needed by them when they take copies.

Documents Checklist for H1B Dropbox from Appointment Letter

As per the US Visa Dropbox Appointment Letter, below is the screenshot of the list of documents that you need to carry for document submission. There are two sets of documents they suggest. The first one is the list of common documents and the second is the documents that are specific to H1B visa applicants.

List of Common Documents for H1B Dropbox Applicant

List of Common Documents for H1B Dropbox Submission
List of Common Documents for H1B Dropbox Submission

List of Documents specific to H1B Visa for Dropbox applicant

H1B Dropbox Documents Checklist from Appointment Confirmation Letter
H1B Dropbox Documents Checklist from Appointment Confirmation Letter

H1B Dropbox Document Submission Process

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

  1. You need to go to the relevant address of the documents drop-off location that is on the Dropbox Confirmation Letter.
  2. You need to go only during the appointment date and allowed times to the dropbox location in the appointment confirmation letter.  This can vary by location, check the letter.
  3. They will verify all the documents and then take the listed documents in the above checklist. 
  4. In India, they have changed the dropbox submission process allowing any of the consulates or VAC locations to accept the dropbox submission. Check Can Drop off US Visa Dropbox Documents at any Location now for full info.
  5. There is no requirement for the actual applicant to submit the documents. The documents can be submitted by a representative on the appointment date and time. The representative needs to carry a photo id to submit documents. The appointment letter would have all the details related to the representative submission process.
  6. Additional instructions like parking and other location-specific info would be listed on the confirmation letter.
  7. Due to the pandemic, there may be additional checks in place and health checks, so be prepared.

You may add your H1B Dropbox details anonymously at US Visa Dropbox Stamping Tracker to get details on current processing time trends and for community benefit.

Let’s now look at the next steps after the submission of documents.

US Visa Status on CEAC Website after Documents Submission

After you submit the documents, you can check your US Visa Status Online on the Consular Electronic Application Center(CEAC) website.  Below is the typical sequence for the change of various statuses.

  1. No Status’: This status does not appear for everyone, it can appear for a few. If this appears for you, do not worry, within a day or two, it would change to one of the below status
  2. ‘Application Received’ Status: You would see the “Application Received” status on the same day or by the next day after submitting documents.
  3. ‘Administrative Processing’ or ‘Refused’ Status: You may see the status change from ‘Application Received’ to “Administrative Processing” or “Refused” status. Do not 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 middle during visa processing time. You may see these statuses for 3 to 4 days. Some users said they have seen this for a week or 10 days. So, do not panic. Read Why CEAC website shows Refused Status for US Visa?
  4. “Approved” Status: You will see the status change to “Approved” if your US visa was approved by US Consulate.
  5. “Issued” Status: You will see the status change to “Issued” if your US visa was printed and glued in your passport by US Consulate.
  6. After your passport is in ‘Issued’ status, you can track your passport status on USVisaScheduling.com Website. It will show the status of your passport is ready for pickup, and also once you collected your passport.  You can collect your passport or it will be delivered to your address if you have picked that option. Read How to track Passport after US Visa Stamping, various Statuses meaning

Below is a sample screenshot of how the “Issued” status looks on the CEAC website for your reference.

CEAC Website Status Issued for H1B Visa with Dropbox
CEAC Website Status Issued for H1B Visa with Dropbox

H1B Dropbox Stamping Not Approved Situation

If your H1B visa was not approved by the US Consulate for some reason with the dropbox option, then you will be notified that your visa was not approved. The visa status on the CEAC website will continue to show status as “Administrative Processing” or “Refused”.

When you go to collect your documents and passport, they will return everything and also issue a 221(g) Administrative Processing slip that gives instructions on the next steps. Sometimes, the Consulate would ask you to appear in person on any day by visiting the consulate at a certain time and sometimes, they may tell you wait as it needs more processing.

Below is a sample screenshot of 221g issued for someone in Mumbai, India in January 2023, where they tell the applicant that their application requires additional processing and the consulate will contact them via email.

US Visa Interview Required -221g after Dropbox Submission not successful
US Visa Interview Required -221g after Dropbox Submission not successful

Below is a sample 221g issued by the Consulate for dropbox stamping that was not successful in August 2022 from New Delhi. In this case, it clearly tells that the applicant has to attend the interview. You also do not need to make any appointments. All you need to do is take your passport and go to the Embassy on any day before 10 AM.

221g Slip after Document Submission to Attend Interview 2022
221g Slip after Document Submission to Attend Interview 2022

Below is sample 221g given at the Consulate for H1B Dropbox before the pandemic, asking to attend the consulate for an interview on any day.

221g Green Slip given for H1B Visa Dropbox
221g Green Slip given for H1B Visa Dropbox

Conclusion

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

What has been your experience with H1B Dropbox stamping? Share your thoughts and inputs in comments section below.

   

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397 Comments

  1. Hey! My expired H1B stamp is in my old expired passport. I recently received my new passport in NY. Am I eligible for drop-off?

    Reply
  2. Hi forum, I have an interview waiver (dropbox) appointment confirmation for my H1B renewal. Appointment Confirmation lists Chennai India as the embassy, which is correct. However, my submitted DS-160 was initially created for Vancouver, Canada. Is it still OK to come to the appointment in India with the DS-160 listing location as Vancouver?

    If not, am I supposed to create a new DS-160 form, and Update my Profile page on the CGI website with a new DS-160?

    Please advise.

    Reply
  3. My wife and I are H1b visa, and eligible for drop box appointment. Is it possible to schedule the appointment together since it is two separate H1 and not dependent?

    Reply
  4. Hi Kumar,

    If say the primary applicant is eligible for a drop-box option (as he has any US visa stamped earlier), and if he is planning to take his family (spouse and two kids) how should one proceed scheduling an appointment with the consulate? Is there an option to schedule group appointment for him and his dependents?

    Please suggest, the best possible option to get the primary as well as dependents Visa interview scheduled…

    Thanks,
    Sajid

    Reply
  5. I’ve booked my appointment last year for August 2023. However, I’ve changed employer from A to B and got new I797.
    I do see an option in profile page to update DS160 confirmation number, so I can create a new one with current details, but I do not see an option to update petitioner name, start date, expiry date and receipt number which is usually filled out in Step 5 when booking an appointment.
    How to update these things or just creating new DS160 and updating details of DS160 in profile page is good enough.

    Reply
  6. Hello, Back in 2020, I was eligible for a Dropbox appointment, I submitted my documents through Dropbox and then I got 221g asking for an in-person interview. Later, I scheduled an in-person interview and my 221g was cleared, I got my VISA approved, Issued, and stamped on my passport.

    My question is – am I eligible for dropbox now? What should I answer to the question” Has your VISA ever been refused”? Eventhough, I got 221g, I was able to overcome the 221g and get a VISA stamped (Issue). Am I eligible for dropbox?

    Please advise.

    Reply
  7. I will be traveling to India in June for H1B visa stamping and my H1B visa appointment date is 24 July 2023 (interview waived). When I filled out DS-160, my approved i797 was till Sep 2023 but later my company filed H1B amendment, and now I have approval i797 till 06 Jan 2024.

    Is that Ok to use the latest approved i797 with less than 6 months of validity while H1b Visa stamping?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Manish,
      You should use the one that is valid right now with all the correct details. You can fill a new DS-160 as needed and update the same info on USTravelDocs as well.

      Reply
  8. Hi,
    Me and wife had H1+H4 dropbox on Feb 8th for the Hyderabad consulate. we dropped the docs in the Bangalore VFS center. The status for my wife’s application (H4) is issued and the passport tracking says Origination scan. But the status of my H1 shows “REFUSED”. Is it possible that H1 is really refused and H4 is issued? If it is really refused how will I be communicated? I had opted for the premium delivery of Passports, so will I be getting the 221(g) in courier or email?
    Did anyone face similar situation?
    Appreciate any help here.

    Reply
    • Ajau,
      The online status can be very misleading at times. The passport status you see on the USTravelDocs website is only for tracking of the passport, it will not have any info on the actual status of your visa. All you can do is wait for the actual passport to come. Do not worry too much, there is nothing you can do.

      Reply
      • Thanks Kumar. My wife got her passport back with the H4 stamping. but my H1 application still shows Refused though. Cant understand how h4 stamping is done when h1 is refused. I havent got any communication from the emabssy/consulate.

        Reply
        • Ajay,
          I have seen this happen in the past. Do not worry, sometimes, it can take time. Just wait and follow up with embassy in a week or so.

          Reply
  9. Hi, I’ve dropped off my documents on feb6th 2023 at hyderabad hitech city metro office and my visa and location both were same (HYD)..so after two days the status was changed to application received then its changed to approved.. since then i mean its been 8days and so on the status still shows approved only..i’m little worried is it completed approved or i’will be in process? just want to check has any one faced same kind of issue for changing the status from approved to issued?

    Appreciate your response!

    Reply
    • sai,
      It can take time. Please wait. It is very normal. Sometimes, it can take up to 3 weeks as well. It will change to issued. Do not panic.

      Reply
    • Hi Sai,
      My cousin as well dropped on the same date and his status was changed to approved on 15th of feb and it still stays approved. Did you get your passport already or in the same status?
      Please let us know.

      Reply
  10. Hi,

    I was on L1B Visa and changed my status to H1B couple of years ago. I do not have a stamped visa yet and I’m planning to schedule a stamping/drop-box appointment. As part of my application, I have a minor child (dependent) who is currently at H4 status without a stamped visa (last stamped visa was L2). While going through the waiver questionnaire, I see “Do you have a previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued on or after your 14th birthday?”. I wanted to understand if there are any considerations for minor dependents. Depending on answer to this, we might or might not qualify for drop-box. Any guidance/suggestions are appreciated.

    Reply
  11. Hi,

    I am trying to schedule an appointment for visa stamping in India. This is my first H1B Visa stamping. It says I am eligible for interview waiver but since its my first h1b visa stamping, i think i need to give the interview. Does first h1b visa stamping also qualifies for Interview Waiver.

    Please provide inputs. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Yes, it is possible till Dec 2023.

      My case was also same. I had L1 stamped after Jan 2008. So, I was eligible for dropbox. However, in my case I got 221g and asked me to come for an Interview. I appeared for interview at Chennai US Consulate and cleared. I got my visa stamped received the passport within two days after the interview.

      Reply
  12. Hi,

    Previous sponsored stamped H1B: Tech Mahindra: Stamping done in 2017 Feb
    Current Sponsored: A company: Case approved and planning for VISA stamping
    1. Ever travelled to US.
    2. At present, working in Singapore on Employment pass.

    Am I eligible for Dropbox in Singapore?
    What is the success rate of H1 stamping in Singapore?

    Worried if I take appointment in India and getting my passport in time without delay and not effecting my return travel to Singapore.

    Please someone suggest me!

    Reply
  13. Hi,
    While scheduling an appointment for 1st time H1B got drop box option as having earlier B1 visa stamped.
    I added spouse and kids as a dependent as well, they never have any US visa nor any rejection.
    Are dependent also eligible for drop box?

    Reply
    • No, if your dependents not got visa previously, then they must go with Interview because first time appear for Visa.
      However you can also choose the interview instead of Dropbox along with your dependents and can go together but its your choice.
      If you take a dropbox facility then after your visa stamping done then only you can book an appointment for your dependents as your stamped current Visa copy is required.

      Reply
      • i missed one thing, if you get dropbox then please create separate cgi profiles for principal applicant and dependents and then proceed it

        Reply
  14. Does anyone know if I can update the I-797 Approval Notice Number after scheduling a drop-box appointment? I have read that for interview appointments it can be done at the time of biometric appointment by submitting an updated/corrected DS-160 form. But how can it be done for a dropbox appointment. I want to pay the fees and schedule an appointment now but my H-1B renewal application is pending so I will have to update the DS-160 with the new receipt number when I receive the approval.

    Reply
  15. Hi kumar. I had my drop box appointment last week. Iam in h1b. Today the status changed from ‘Application received’ to ‘refused’.. is this a 221 g? Anything to panic?

    Reply
  16. Does anyone know what are the approximate dates available for dropbox? travel.state.gov site shows too much delay.
    For e.g. more than 300 days for interview waiver appointment in Chennai. Is that the same thing (my dropbox VAC would be Kochi)?

    If so, what’s the point of dropbox if the delay is almost as consulate interview and if not, how to check for approximate available dates.
    I am trying to figure out if I should book dropbox appointment on my own or proceed with employer booking interview appointment

    Reply
  17. I am on my 3rd year of my 1st H1B visa and my company will not be renewing until July 2023.
    I have not been able to leave the country due to not having a Visa sticker in my passport – I would not be able to get back into the USA if I left. The last visa I have in my passport is my student visa from college. I have all my H1B paperwork, but no visa in my passport for travel. Am I able to apply for the interview waiver even though I already have a H1B? This sounds like you can only apply if you’re applying first time or renewing…? I am only looking to get the visa sticker in my passport so I can travel back home to England and see family.

    Reply
  18. I wanted to apply for a drop-box appointment for myself and my wife. I paid the combined fees through NEFT in one transaction. However, I only see 1 receipt getting auto-populated in the MRV window and I see a pop-up asking me to pay another 190$. It’s been more than 24 hours since I made the payment. What is the process now?

    Reply
  19. I just renewed my h1b with my current employer. During the first allocation, i was with a different employer. Have not traveled since got the H1. Will I be still eligible for dropbox? And my spouse too, with H4?

    Reply
  20. i cant see the us visa appointment date until i pay the fee at the US VISA APPOINTMENT CGI FEDERAL website. Do you know the estimate next available dates for H1B visa stamping (drop box) if i want to schedule?

    Reply
  21. Hi I’m applying for a new h1b through interview waiver.I would like to get my spouse on h4.My spouse has had rejection in the past but no rejection since last visa.Will she be eligible for waiver ?can I book in same appointment ?

    Reply
  22. Hi All,
    I’ve booked my dropbox appointment for May 2023 with my existing passport details but my current passport is expiring in October 2023. I’m planning to renew my passport by Jan or Feb 2023, so do I need to cancel my existing appointment and redo the whole process with a new passport OR carrying the old + new passport at VAC should be fine?

    Please suggest on same!! TIA

    Reply
  23. hi,
    Looks like this article is not latest as per the the latest visa renewal guidelines https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/renew-visa

    For the H1B visa renewal does the 48 months eligibility still valid for an interview waiver?

    Thanks,
    Srimanth

    Reply
    • From the article you linked, it is clear that the H category visa is no longer bound by the 48 month rule. All H1 renewals are eligible for dropbox.

      Reply
      • Srimanth,
        The article is up to date.

        venky,
        You are right, if the applicant meets all the requirements, they are eligible for dropbox.

        Reply
        • I am in the same situation. My last H1B visa stamp expired more than 48 months ago. Am I still eligible for a dropbox appointment? While filling out the questionnaire while taking an appointment it drove me to take a dropbox appointment rather than an in-person appointment.

          I am going for a dropbox appointment in Feb 2023. Anyone in a similar situation successfully did visa stamping? Please confirm.

          Highly appreciate the help.

          Reply
  24. Hi All,
    I’ve booked my dropbox appointment for May 2023 with my existing passport details but my current passport is expiring in October 2023. I’m planning to renew my passport by Jan or Feb 2023, so do I need to cancel my existing appointment and redo the whole process with a new passport OR carrying the old + new passport at VAC should be fine?

    Please suggest on same!!

    Reply
    • When did you schedule your appointment?
      I am going to schedule mine and I wanted to get an estimate on the wait time for dropbox appoitments

      Reply
  25. Hi Sir
    I have a question regarding H1B stamping for Dropbox. My appointment is at Chennai consulate and in my ds160 I entered the location for submitting documents as Chennai. I wanted to know can I submit my documents Mumbai VAC or do I need to submit it in Chennai VAC only?
    Any help will be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  26. My document dropbox appointment is on 20th Oct 22. In the confirmation letter, only passport is mentioned as the required document to be taken for dropbox. Is there a need to take photos also or will it be taken on the spot at the dropbox center?

    Reply
    • Seshadri,
      See the full letter, it should have more info. Check the above article, it has the full list of documents as well. It is better to carry the required documents, than scramble for the same in last minute.

      Reply
  27. I need to update my DS160 number as I had to make some changes after the appointment is confirmed? Can I still do it as my previous DS160 is expired?

    Reply
  28. My last H1B visa expired in Jan 2018 (more than 48 months). Came back to India in June 2018. Last petition expired in Jan 2021.
    Currently I have an approved H1B petition and preparing to book appointment. Got married in 2019. My wife and son never had a US Visa before.
    Will i be eligible for Drop Box?
    How about my wife and son, will they be eligible for drop box?

    Reply
  29. What would be answer of below question?

    Do you have a previous U.S. visa in any visa class issued on or after your
    14th birthday? (Yes/no)

    My Kid is 5 years old, and he has visa stamped on his passport twice in the
    past. If I select no, it is asking to go for separate appointments for the kid

    Reply
    • I also have the same case I tried today but the same situation, not sure how to book an appointment with the kid. I have asked the helpdesk and waiting for the answer but if anyone has any clue please reply here.

      Reply
        • For kids below 14 years to be eligible for dropbox, both parents need to have Visa stamped in their passport.
          I am in the same situation. Do you guys know what is the tentative dates available for dropbox? I am wondering if doing our dropbox first and then scheduling kid’s dropbox will take too much time and instead should I do appointment for all 3 together even if the delay is > 300 days.

          Reply
  30. Hi Team,

    I had got the Dropbox Appointment for 1st September ‘2022 for the H1B Visa for myself and H4 Visa for my dependents for Spouse and Daughter at the Kolkata VAC. I am a resident of Mumbai and have submitted the Passports at the Mumbai VAC Consulate office on 1st September.

    The Visa Status shows as Refused for all 3 of us on the CEAC Website and have received the Passports for mine and Spouse with the 221G letter stating that we need to appear for the In-person Interview at the Kolkata Consulate office. But I have not received the Passport of our Daughter and not able to trace the same at the Bluedart Courier Website as well.

    Could some one please confirm that the Daughter Passport will be Hold at the Kolkata Consulate Office and will be sent back after the In-Person Interview scheduled on 19th September.

    Thanks & Regards,
    Pankaj Amesur

    Reply
  31. Hi I’m Keerthana
    My husband is eligible for Dropbox for H1B and me and my son both are added in my husband application we just want to confirm do we need both me and my son need to go in person interview or can we go for Dropbox along with my husband please give me suggestions on this

    Reply
    • Keerthana,
      You both have to be eligible for dropbox as well to go with him. If you are not eligible, then you call the customer service and split the profile to avoid issues.

      Reply
  32. Could someone please share the list of documents you sent for Dropbox renewal? I know these are commonly listed on this website but I’m looking for experience from folks who got it approved.
    Regards,

    Reply
  33. I am working in the US on approved H1B. I need my visa renewed and was planning to get my visa stamped during my upcoming trip to India in November. I am eligible for dropbox but I don’t see any OFC appointments in Mumbai or other consulates. Will the slots open up?

    I recently heard the news about mail in applications. In absence of available appointments can I mail in my H1B renewal application?

    Reply
  34. Hey,

    I got my H1b visa approved in USA in 2022. My F1 visa was rejected and aprroved in the next attempt.

    what should I select for ” Did your most recent application result in you being issued the visa?” This will be an yes right?

    Reply
  35. Hi, My son is eligible for drop box. As there are no drop box interviews available, can he choose to appear for interview instead, as there are appointments available. Will there be a problem with that?

    Reply
  36. Hi Kumar,
    My spouse was on H4 visa starting from 2017 and we did the visa extension in 2019. In 2021 Jan, her H4 visa got converted to H1B using Change of Status and she changed the employer in 2021 September.
    We have received visa dropbox appointment and we are confused about the documents needed for her H1B COS. Do we need to submit previously approved H4 approval letter (from 2019) for her? Or only H1B letters are necessary?
    Thanks

    Reply
  37. Will I be eligible if I meet all above mentioned criteria but applied under consular processing? I have an approval and since I meet the eligibility for drop box do I still need to go for an interview?

    Reply
  38. My previous h1b visa got expired in March 2018. I have changed employer and continued to work here in usa. Planning to visit India now. Am I eligible for interview waiver now ? Thanks

    Reply
  39. Hi,

    For dropbox documents, is it mandatory to submit Employment verification letter?

    Currently I am working for Company A in India and applied for transfer to same Company A in US location. They filed the H1B visa (cap – exempt) and it got approved. Now I have Employment verification letter from Company A (India location) and Offer letter from Company A (US location) . What should I submit in this case? Could you please help?

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Chand,
      First you need to be clear on what company you want to work with using the new visa that they will issue using dropbox. If you plan to work for the new company, get the joining letter and submit that. If you plan to continue with old company then submit the employment verification letter.

      Reply
  40. I am looking for a dropbox date on June/July 2023. Its for H1B Visa stamping in India. I am not seeing any slots mostly. I have seen only 2 week ends after that never seen any slots availability. Not even for other months also. Any idea how to make sure this ? Or any contact details to verify that I am in right page? Appreciate you for the valid help.

    Reply
  41. We are in USA now. We are traveling to India on 6-Aug-22 as I have a US visa drop box appointment on 10-Aug-22. I see my kids passport will expire on 20-Feb-23. That is just few days after 6 months of drop box appointment date. I can’t renew those passports in USA as only 5 business days left for my travel, but I can do in Tatkal renewal in India after I get visa stamping and before coming back to USA. Is it fine with USA consulate to allow visa stamping on a passport which is going to expire in 6 months 10 days?

    Reply
  42. Is Dropbox for first time H1B stamping from F1, still valid for 2023?
    At some sites it’s mentioned it’s till end of 2022 only but some sites say otherwise. Please can anyone confirm this?

    Reply
  43. Hi,

    I got my H1b visa approved in USA in 2022. My F1 visa was rejected once and aprroved in the second attempt.

    what should I select for ” Did your most recent application result in you being issued the visa?”

    Will I be eligible for dropbox

    Reply
  44. Hi,
    I am eligible for the interview waiver and have paid the MRV fee. The scheduling page is showing no appointments available for any of the VACs. Is that the case for everyone? Do you have a sense of when new appointments might become available?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi I’m Keerthana
      My husband is eligible for Dropbox for H1B and me and my son both are added in my husband application we just want to confirm do we need both me and my son need to go in person interview or can we go for Dropbox along with my husband please give me suggestions on this

      Reply
  45. So I booked my dropbox h1b appointment at oct 2022 at hyderabad so can I dropoff my documents at chennai? If so should I dropoff my documents at the same time as given in the appointment at chennai or should I dropoff a little earlier?

    Reply
  46. I was issued an F1 visa in the past with no issues. The F1 stamp in my passport expired in 2017. I continued to live in US on F1 visa till 2021 (did not go back for stamp renewal). In 2021 my status changed from F1 to H1B with COS application.
    1. What should my answer be to the question on cgi website: Do you have a previous US visa in any class issued? Yes or No
    2. Am I eligible for interview waiver as my expired F1 visa stamp is more than 5 years old.

    Thanks,
    Sweta

    Reply
  47. If my H1-B visa renewal start date is 29 October, can I take any appointment after July 29 which satisfies the rule that I can get my H1-B stamping done 90 days prior to my start date? Or do I have to take an appointment after 29 October?

    Reply
  48. This is Mihir having H1B Visa approved and working in USA now. I am the primary H1B applicant and married, having 2 Kids.

    My spouse and elder daughter is eligible for Drop Box as both got L1VISA approved earlier in 2014. Now my wife created her USTravelDoc account and Paid the DS-160 fees together ( spouse and 2 kids ).

    She has added 2 kids information in her profile and looking for VISA appointment. Currently my younger kid is 7 years old and never had any VISA earlier as she was not born at that time when L1 Visa was approved.

    The USTravelDoc account always ask question about applicant for appointment Criteria , and not about minor applicant Drop Box eligibility criteria. Can we go with Drop-Box slot for my wife and 2 Kids? Please suggest.

    Reply
    • Mihir,
      Usually for kids, both parents must have the stamping done and valid. Otherwise, they may question. Best is to split, get the parents appointments done and approved, then apply for kids.

      Reply
      • H1B dropbox query. Dropped off docs at Chennai VAC (for Delhi VAC) on Oct 26. My case was created on Oct 28. Turned to Refused status on Oct 31. Received passport & copies of H1B petition and employer offer letter (I submitted earlier) back along with a yellow slip requesting an additional document to be submitted at any of the closest VAC. I turned in the additional document along with the yellow slip & unstamped passport yesterday at Chennai VAC but didn’t include copies of H1B petition and offer letter that they returned. Will this be an issue? Since the case was created on Oct 28, do you think this information must have already been fed into the system? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

        Reply

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