H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
Dec 4th 2002, 2:05 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
Hi All,
I sent my passport for H1B visa stamping to US Department of
State/Visa in St. Louis MO on Nov 01, 2002 (Received by them on Nov
04, 2002). I want to know how long is the stamping process taking now
days. Can anyone who recently got their visa stamping done tell me
their experience.
Thanks,
--Vishal
I sent my passport for H1B visa stamping to US Department of
State/Visa in St. Louis MO on Nov 01, 2002 (Received by them on Nov
04, 2002). I want to know how long is the stamping process taking now
days. Can anyone who recently got their visa stamping done tell me
their experience.
Thanks,
--Vishal
Dec 4th 2002, 6:58 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 54
If you have sent prepaid Fedex envelope it takes 3-4 weeks time, one of my friend recieved in 3 weeks.
Dec 4th 2002, 2:33 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 565
one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
Dec 5th 2002, 3:30 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
and usually one gets it before that.
> one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
and usually one gets it before that.
Dec 5th 2002, 6:17 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
A short while ago Sylvia helped me out with the same question and sent
me this link:
http://travel.state.gov/hlop.html Look under subsection (1).
If you don't already have a visa stamp of the same classification as
H1B in your passport, the St Louis office will not stamp an H1B. To do
this you have to travel outside the US and apply at a consulate abroad.
Funny thig is, my lawyer has *no clue* that this rule exists.
-quark
"Vishal Vishnoi" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ivonne wrote in message
news:...
> > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> and usually one gets it before that.
me this link:
http://travel.state.gov/hlop.html Look under subsection (1).
If you don't already have a visa stamp of the same classification as
H1B in your passport, the St Louis office will not stamp an H1B. To do
this you have to travel outside the US and apply at a consulate abroad.
Funny thig is, my lawyer has *no clue* that this rule exists.
-quark
"Vishal Vishnoi" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ivonne wrote in message
news:...
> > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> and usually one gets it before that.
Dec 5th 2002, 1:37 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
"Quark" wrote in message news:...
> A short while ago Sylvia helped me out with the same question and sent
> me this link:
> http://travel.state.gov/hlop.html Look under subsection (1).
>
> If you don't already have a visa stamp of the same classification as
> H1B in your passport, the St Louis office will not stamp an H1B. To do
> this you have to travel outside the US and apply at a consulate abroad.
God!!, sometimes these lawyers are so dumb. In my case, my visas
transfer is over and I do have a previous H1B visa on my passport. So
thankfully I am hoiping the stamping should be done in 6 weeks.
>
> Funny thig is, my lawyer has *no clue* that this rule exists.
>
> -quark
>
>
> "Vishal Vishnoi" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Ivonne wrote in message
> news:...
> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> >
> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> > and usually one gets it before that.
> A short while ago Sylvia helped me out with the same question and sent
> me this link:
> http://travel.state.gov/hlop.html Look under subsection (1).
>
> If you don't already have a visa stamp of the same classification as
> H1B in your passport, the St Louis office will not stamp an H1B. To do
> this you have to travel outside the US and apply at a consulate abroad.
God!!, sometimes these lawyers are so dumb. In my case, my visas
transfer is over and I do have a previous H1B visa on my passport. So
thankfully I am hoiping the stamping should be done in 6 weeks.
>
> Funny thig is, my lawyer has *no clue* that this rule exists.
>
> -quark
>
>
> "Vishal Vishnoi" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Ivonne wrote in message
> news:...
> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> >
> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> > and usually one gets it before that.
Dec 5th 2002, 3:09 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 565
Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
and usually one gets it before that.
I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping. What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still travel on your expired visa?
> one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It took about
> twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the evidence, just
> visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
and usually one gets it before that.
I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping. What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still travel on your expired visa?
Dec 6th 2002, 5:18 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 16:09:50 +0000, Ivonne wrote:
>
> Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
> > took about
> > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
> > evidence, just
> > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
>
> was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> and usually one gets it before that.
>
The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
weeks or so.
>
> I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
> expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
> What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
> travel on your expired visa?
Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
>
> Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
> > took about
> > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
> > evidence, just
> > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
>
> was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> and usually one gets it before that.
>
The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
weeks or so.
>
> I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
> expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
> What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
> travel on your expired visa?
Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
Dec 6th 2002, 2:54 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
Is there a phone # that I can call to get the status of my visa
revalidation. I have my tickets booked for overseas travel by Dec
23rd.
"Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
> On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 16:09:50 +0000, Ivonne wrote:
>
> >
> > Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
> > > took about
> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
> > > evidence, just
> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> >
> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> > and usually one gets it before that.
> >
>
> The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
> The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
> myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
> had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
> weeks or so.
>
> >
> > I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
> > expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
> > What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
> > travel on your expired visa?
>
> Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
> and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
> the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
>
> There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
> on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
> cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
> for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
revalidation. I have my tickets booked for overseas travel by Dec
23rd.
"Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
> On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 16:09:50 +0000, Ivonne wrote:
>
> >
> > Ivonne wrote in message news:...
> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
> > > took about
> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
> > > evidence, just
> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
> >
> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
> > and usually one gets it before that.
> >
>
> The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
> The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
> myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
> had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
> weeks or so.
>
> >
> > I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
> > expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
> > What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
> > travel on your expired visa?
>
> Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
> and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
> the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
>
> There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
> on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
> cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
> for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
Dec 7th 2002, 7:39 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
A couple years ago, Department of State did have a phone number posted on
their revalidation Web page, but I called it and found it not to be very
helpful. I suspect that they have the same prioritization issues as INS
that they rather spend money on working on cases rather than improving
phone service.
On Fri, 06 Dec 2002 07:54:44 +0000, Vishal Vishnoi wrote:
> Is there a phone # that I can call to get the status of my visa
> revalidation. I have my tickets booked for overseas travel by Dec
> 23rd.
>
>
>
>
> "Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
>> On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 16:09:50 +0000, Ivonne wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Ivonne wrote in message news:...
>> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
>> > > took about
>> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
>> > > evidence, just
>> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
>> >
>> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
>> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
>> > and usually one gets it before that.
>> >
>>
>> The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
>> The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
>> myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
>> had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
>> weeks or so.
>>
>> >
>> > I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
>> > expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
>> > What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
>> > travel on your expired visa?
>>
>> Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
>> and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
>> the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
>>
>> There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
>> on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
>> cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
>> for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
their revalidation Web page, but I called it and found it not to be very
helpful. I suspect that they have the same prioritization issues as INS
that they rather spend money on working on cases rather than improving
phone service.
On Fri, 06 Dec 2002 07:54:44 +0000, Vishal Vishnoi wrote:
> Is there a phone # that I can call to get the status of my visa
> revalidation. I have my tickets booked for overseas travel by Dec
> 23rd.
>
>
>
>
> "Ingo Pakleppa" wrote in message news:...
>> On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 16:09:50 +0000, Ivonne wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Ivonne wrote in message news:...
>> > > one of my friends recently took this route - never again. It
>> > > took about
>> > > twelve weeks. The case was clear, no problems with the
>> > > evidence, just
>> > > visa renewal. She also missed a planned vacation due to this.
>> >
>> > was it visa stamping or renewal. Cause renewal is taking anywhere from
>> > 3-5 months, but I had heard that stamping usually takes 6-8 weeks max,
>> > and usually one gets it before that.
>> >
>>
>> The 3-5 months are for a renewal (or new) PETITION filed by the employer.
>> The other time is for the visa stamping, and seems to vary widely. I
>> myself experienced 10 weeks, but that was in 1998. I later heard that it
>> had increased to 12 weeks, and lately that it now was only about three
>> weeks or so.
>>
>> >
>> > I'm not really sure, what the difference is. She was here on H4, which
>> > expired, and she sent her passport to DOS. I think, it was stamping.
>> > What exactly means renewal? You don't get a new stamp and can still
>> > travel on your expired visa?
>>
>> Actually, when talking about the visa stamp, the term is "revalidation"
>> and really means that you get a new stamp of the same classification of
>> the previous visa, just with a new expiration date.
>>
>> There is no such thing as "you don't get a new stamp and can still travel
>> on your expired visa". Once the visa stamp expires, it is gone and you
>> cannot use it any more (with the exception of going to Canada or Mexico
>> for up to 30 days if you hold on to your I-94).
Dec 7th 2002, 11:43 pm
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 301
Can i assume here that 6 weeks is the time for H1B VISA revalidation.
Actually mine is expired this week.
I want to send it to St. Loius, MO next week.
A friend of mine has sent for his revalidation & its 7 weeks already & nothing in his mail so far. I wonder if it is a good idea to go for reavalidation in India as it has become a MAIL service(<2 weeks) unlike the old personal appearance! at the US Counsul.
Any advise here.
Thanks!
~Raghu
Actually mine is expired this week.
I want to send it to St. Loius, MO next week.
A friend of mine has sent for his revalidation & its 7 weeks already & nothing in his mail so far. I wonder if it is a good idea to go for reavalidation in India as it has become a MAIL service(<2 weeks) unlike the old personal appearance! at the US Counsul.
Any advise here.
Thanks!
~Raghu
Dec 8th 2002, 1:40 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B Vista Stamping/Revalidation time
On Sun, 08 Dec 2002 00:43:19 +0000, Raghu wrote:
>
> Can i assume here that 6 weeks is the time for H1B VISA revalidation.
> Actually mine is expired this week.
>
> I want to send it to St. Loius, MO next week.
>
> A friend of mine has sent for his revalidation & its 7 weeks already &
> nothing in his mail so far. I wonder if it is a good idea to go for
> reavalidation in India as it has become a MAIL service( the old personal appearance! at the US Counsul.
> Any advise here.
> Thanks!
> ~Raghu
The time seems to fluctuate, and can be anything from a few weeks to three
months or so. Right now, several people have reported that it was about
six to eight weeks, but it can easily be twelve or more.
If you are planning to travel in the near future, by all means use the
consulate in India. If you plan on staying put for the next three to four
months, use St. Louis for convenience.
>
> Can i assume here that 6 weeks is the time for H1B VISA revalidation.
> Actually mine is expired this week.
>
> I want to send it to St. Loius, MO next week.
>
> A friend of mine has sent for his revalidation & its 7 weeks already &
> nothing in his mail so far. I wonder if it is a good idea to go for
> reavalidation in India as it has become a MAIL service( the old personal appearance! at the US Counsul.
> Any advise here.
> Thanks!
> ~Raghu
The time seems to fluctuate, and can be anything from a few weeks to three
months or so. Right now, several people have reported that it was about
six to eight weeks, but it can easily be twelve or more.
If you are planning to travel in the near future, by all means use the
consulate in India. If you plan on staying put for the next three to four
months, use St. Louis for convenience.
