michaelmath

Hi Folks,

This board has always answered my questions and I hope that I will get
some good advice this time too. I came to USA on F-1 visa in August
2002 and in december -2004, my status was changed to H-1B. This year I
am planning to go to India. I am planning to go in December and I have
already booked my tickets. Of course, when I go to India, I have to get
the H-1B visa stamped. From last couple months, I have been trying to
get an appointment in all the 4 Indian consulates but I never see any
dates for December. Till about two days ago, I didn't see any dates for
November either. Now I am able to see three or four available dates in
November but those are too early. What are my options here?

1. Should I keep checking the month of december in the hope of getting
an appointment date?
2. Can I go to Mexico or Canada? Which is a better/safer option?

Some additional info: My H-1B is expiring in December 2007 (end of next
year) and my employers are obviously going to renew it. for another
three years (I am in the second year of my H-1B currently). Hopefully,
that won't be needed because my wife will be a citizen in a the next
couple months and she has already filed a petition for me.

Extra question (would appreciate if someone can answer that too): How
long is it currently taking to process N-400 applications? We are in
Chicago. Wefiled application in the end of June and in the second week
of July, my wife's fingerprints were taken. The USCIS website says that
it is processing N-400 applications that came in around January 22 (for
Chicago area only). This date hasn't changed from quite some time now.

Another Extra Question: I recently got promoted at my work. Does my
employer have to file a new H-1B for me? The promotion came with a
change of title and salary but my field is still the same (IT), just
more responsibilities.