Recent H1B Experience in Amsterdam? Same day turnaround?
May 9th 2003, 5:45 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Recent H1B Experience in Amsterdam? Same day turnaround?
Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone has *recently* gone to the US consultate in
Amsterdam to get their H1B stamp? If so, was it a same-day turnaround?
We have the H1B approval and are just trying to get the stamp but nothing
has gone smoothly. According to the consulate web site, you have 3 options
to get your stamp. 1. Drop box. 2. Mail and 3. Personal Appointment.
However, there is no drop box out front, just a big tank and men with
machine guns. So we mailed everything. It was returned immediately
indicating that everyone must come in person and that you must have an
appointment. So we called to make an appointment and there was a 10-day wait
for the next available appointment. My question is... now that we have the
appointment, is it reasonable to expect that we will get the stamp that same
day? I'm worried that they will say to schedule another appointment (perhaps
10 days later) to pick up the stamped passport...
I get the feeling that the "rules" are different at every consulate and are
changing frequently so only recent experience with the Amsterdam consultant
is probably relevant.
Thanks for any information.
Kevin
I'm wondering if anyone has *recently* gone to the US consultate in
Amsterdam to get their H1B stamp? If so, was it a same-day turnaround?
We have the H1B approval and are just trying to get the stamp but nothing
has gone smoothly. According to the consulate web site, you have 3 options
to get your stamp. 1. Drop box. 2. Mail and 3. Personal Appointment.
However, there is no drop box out front, just a big tank and men with
machine guns. So we mailed everything. It was returned immediately
indicating that everyone must come in person and that you must have an
appointment. So we called to make an appointment and there was a 10-day wait
for the next available appointment. My question is... now that we have the
appointment, is it reasonable to expect that we will get the stamp that same
day? I'm worried that they will say to schedule another appointment (perhaps
10 days later) to pick up the stamped passport...
I get the feeling that the "rules" are different at every consulate and are
changing frequently so only recent experience with the Amsterdam consultant
is probably relevant.
Thanks for any information.
Kevin
May 10th 2003, 1:59 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Recent H1B Experience in Amsterdam? Same day turnaround?
On Fri, 09 May 2003 17:45:18 +0000, Kevin Woodward wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has *recently* gone to the US consultate in
> Amsterdam to get their H1B stamp? If so, was it a same-day turnaround?
I don't have specific Amsterdam experience, but I believe that same-day
turnaround is a thing of the past in most consulates. Due to the latest
security measures, you will probably have to apply by mail or use the
dropbox, and can get in only with an appointment.
> We have the H1B approval and are just trying to get the stamp but
> nothing has gone smoothly. According to the consulate web site, you have
> 3 options to get your stamp. 1. Drop box. 2. Mail and 3. Personal
> Appointment. However, there is no drop box out front, just a big tank
> and men with machine guns.
Actually, the "drop box" sometimes IS the man with the machine gun ;-)
Seriously, in some consulates, you are supposed to hand the application to
the security guard. At the very least, he should know how the drop box
system works.
> So we mailed everything. It was returned immediately indicating that
> everyone must come in person and that you must have an appointment. So
> we called to make an appointment and there was a 10-day wait for the
> next available appointment. My question is... now that we have the
> appointment, is it reasonable to expect that we will get the stamp that
> same day? I'm worried that they will say to schedule another appointment
> (perhaps 10 days later) to pick up the stamped passport...
I think once you have the appointment, there is a good chance you will get
it the same day, or the next day.
> I get the feeling that the "rules" are different at every consulate and
> are changing frequently so only recent experience with the Amsterdam
> consultant is probably relevant.
You are right about that.
--
Remember, I am strictly a layperson without any legal training. I encourage
everybody to seek competent legal counsel rather than relying on usenet
newsgroups.
Please visit my new FAQ at http://www.kkeane.com with a list of interesting
immigration links.
My email address in usenet posts is now invalid for spam protection.
Please feel free to enjoy some of my photographs at my new Web site
http://www.ingopakleppa.com ! Comments are welcome.
> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has *recently* gone to the US consultate in
> Amsterdam to get their H1B stamp? If so, was it a same-day turnaround?
I don't have specific Amsterdam experience, but I believe that same-day
turnaround is a thing of the past in most consulates. Due to the latest
security measures, you will probably have to apply by mail or use the
dropbox, and can get in only with an appointment.
> We have the H1B approval and are just trying to get the stamp but
> nothing has gone smoothly. According to the consulate web site, you have
> 3 options to get your stamp. 1. Drop box. 2. Mail and 3. Personal
> Appointment. However, there is no drop box out front, just a big tank
> and men with machine guns.
Actually, the "drop box" sometimes IS the man with the machine gun ;-)
Seriously, in some consulates, you are supposed to hand the application to
the security guard. At the very least, he should know how the drop box
system works.
> So we mailed everything. It was returned immediately indicating that
> everyone must come in person and that you must have an appointment. So
> we called to make an appointment and there was a 10-day wait for the
> next available appointment. My question is... now that we have the
> appointment, is it reasonable to expect that we will get the stamp that
> same day? I'm worried that they will say to schedule another appointment
> (perhaps 10 days later) to pick up the stamped passport...
I think once you have the appointment, there is a good chance you will get
it the same day, or the next day.
> I get the feeling that the "rules" are different at every consulate and
> are changing frequently so only recent experience with the Amsterdam
> consultant is probably relevant.
You are right about that.
--
Remember, I am strictly a layperson without any legal training. I encourage
everybody to seek competent legal counsel rather than relying on usenet
newsgroups.
Please visit my new FAQ at http://www.kkeane.com with a list of interesting
immigration links.
My email address in usenet posts is now invalid for spam protection.
Please feel free to enjoy some of my photographs at my new Web site
http://www.ingopakleppa.com ! Comments are welcome.
Sep 15th 2003, 12:05 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 10
Re: Recent H1B Experience in Amsterdam? Same day turnaround?
This answer comes way too late for you, but it may be interesting for others: in Amsterdam you need to take a (self-)addressed, registered, and stamped envelope along with your passport and other documentation when you go for the interview, and they promise to mail it back to you within 48 hours.
Make sure to interpret "mail it back" as the consulate sending you the passport, not you receiving it (just in case you get too enthusiastic and book your flight right after the interview), which is typically one day after they send it.
Make sure to interpret "mail it back" as the consulate sending you the passport, not you receiving it (just in case you get too enthusiastic and book your flight right after the interview), which is typically one day after they send it.
