Mumbai VFS appointment question - H1 stamping

[looivy]

Gurus,

I need your expert opinion.

While setting up an appointment through VFS for H1B stamping in Mumbai, I am asked the following question:

Are you applying for the same class of visa which is currently valid or has expired within the past 12 months?

Should I answer Yes or No? I guess the answer is Yes since I have a valid I797 H1 approval. But, I need expert opinions from you guys as well. Here is some background:

I have H1 visa stamp through my old employer "O" (with an expiry of March 2006). I changed employer "X" in Nov 2003. My H1B has also been renewed in Nov 2006 (with "X"). i.e. I have had two valid I797 H1 approval notice with "X" since Nov 2003 - one for change of employment through my current employer from Nov 2003 to Nov 2006 and then a renewal from Nov 2006 to Nov 2009 (this is currently valid). I have not been to India since July 2003.

Please advise what the answer to the questions above. Also, is this visa stamping considered a renewal since my old visa stamp is through my old employer?

Thanks.

[amitkhare77]

Are you applying for the same class of visa which is currently valid or has expired within the past 12 months?
answer - YES

[vjmjaan]

I just went to Mumbai for H1 stamping and my previous visa on the passport had expired in 2006. So even if you are going for H1 stamping but your visa on the passport has been expired for more than 12 months...then you have to answer NO for this question.