5imon

Hi

This website has been a fantastic tool for me and I've learned a lot in preparation for my approaching move. Thanks!

I was due to start work in the Bay Area on 1 October under a H1-B (filed in May!) and i'm expecting to receive my approval imminently having now been upgraded to premium processing. Visa interviews currently have a wait time of 22 days in London, 11 in Belfast but only 3 in Paris.

Has anyone had experience of having the interview in Paris? I've not found anything that should prevent me for doing it there except that they courier the passport to you and therefore I'd be unable to travel back to the UK unless they could return it to me in Paris. If not, a trip to Belfast looks like my best option...

Many thanks

Noorah101

If you are currently residing in Paris, then yes, you can have the H1B in Paris. Otherwise, 3rd party consulates are not obligated to process a visa for someone not resident in that country...they can, but they don't have to.

Don't you have to specify which consulate you'll be using when the petition is filed?

Rene

5imon

Thanks Rene

I did specify London on the initial application and I am still in the UK. The US immigration attorney advised me yesterday that Paris would be an option but this seems questionable....

I never thought it would take so long when it was all filed in May!

Noorah101

Since you specified London, your case will be sent there for an interview. If you want to interview in Paris instead, you'll have to contact someone and let them know there's been a change of venue, and to forward your case to Paris instead of London. And, as I said, Paris has the right to say no, since you're not resident there. I'd just leave it alone...it could take longer to transfer the case than it does to just get the London interview.

Rene

Hillsforest.

When I called for London a couple of weeks or so back I got offered one in a few days, it was too soon for me though, the one I actually took was only a couple of weeks after the call (interview today actually)