Emergency Travel and H1B Stamping

[TEKNMEK]

Hi
My status has changed recently from H4 to H1. I haven't got my H1 visa stamped in passport. I need to travel to India due to family emergency.
1. Can I get an emergency appointment?
2. Would I have any problem related to transit visa if travelling via Amsterdam or Frankfurt?
3. How long does it take to recieve the passport after stamping?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
TEKNMEK

[Alien]

Is Canada an option? Its a safe bet to get it stamped in Canada.You will get your passport back the same day or the next. You shouldnt have any problem related to transit visa as long as you stay inside the airport.Check with the respective consulates.

[neelu]

Hi
My status has changed recently from H4 to H1. I haven't got my H1 visa stamped in passport. I need to travel to India due to family emergency.
1. Can I get an emergency appointment?
2. Would I have any problem related to transit visa if travelling via Amsterdam or Frankfurt?
3. How long does it take to recieve the passport after stamping?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
TEKNMEK

1. You should be able to get an emergency appointment. Check out the following links:
http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/appointments2.html
https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx

2. My mother recently flew via Frankfurt. She did not require a transit VISA.

3. If you get VISA stamped in India, it usually is given to you the same evening (at least in Chennai).

Hope this helps. Wish you good Luck!

[InTheMoment]

Hi
My status has changed recently from H4 to H1. I haven't got my H1 visa stamped in passport. I need to travel to India due to family emergency.
1. Can I get an emergency appointment?

---> Yes that is possible, check instructions for the consulate you plan to apply in.

2. Would I have any problem related to transit visa if travelling via Amsterdam or Frankfurt?

---->

Netherlands -- Please investigate here:

http://www.netherlands-embassy.org/article.asp?articleref=AR00000393EN

Germany -- do not need transit visa, read exception 4 clearly.

http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/consular_services/visa/countrylist.html#except4

3. How long does it take to recieve the passport after stamping?

----> Depends on the mission/post, but by courier within 2 days
else the same day.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
TEKNMEK

[Alien]

Your emergency is in India not in the US,so am not sure how you can provide the consulate in India a valid reason to travel back asap. If you have a valid reason to return to the US asap then make sure you have the supporting docs.

[TEKNMEK]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. Unfortunately canada is not a option. I have sent an email to Chennai consulate for emergency appointment request. Have to wait and see how it goes. Will update you all with any information I find out.

Thanks

[rajuram]

You can get an emergency appointment if you are returning H1b worker.

[satyasaich]

First of all, you can go any consulate in india, which ever gives you earliest date.
Nowadays, one can get a visa appointment within 10days. But have you asked someone in india to pay Rs.4600 in HDFC bank towards visa appointment? You have to send the first 2 pages of your passport (scan & email or fax) so that someone can carry that to HDFC to fill the application. It takes 2 days to get activated in the system. THEN ONLY, you can go online and provide all the details, look for dates available. Once you select the option of "citizen of india, but working in US" it opens up option to chose from any of the 4 consulates.
Most important thing is YOU MUST carry the original HDFC bank receipt (yellow colour) alongwith your appointment letter (downloaded) and passport.
Make sure that YOU WILL take the print out of the application (2 sides of the same page). Yes even in delhi also, you can take your passport personally on the next day at VFS office (somewhere in delhi). but to do so, you MUST present the pink copy of the HDFC receipt

Good Luck
Thanks everybody for your suggestions. Unfortunately canada is not a option. I have sent an email to Chennai consulate for emergency appointment request. Have to wait and see how it goes. Will update you all with any information I find out.

Thanks

[TEKNMEK]

I sent an email to chennai consulate requesting emergency appointment and they gave me the earliest available date. I had to provide my passport number and return travel date.
Went to HDFC bank and got the DD for visa fees and VFS fees and went to consulate at the specified time. Visa interview went fine and the officer said I could collect my passport at the VFS counter if I need it immediately.

I went to the chennai VFS counter for 2 days in a row to collect my passport and they said they did not recieve it yet. The third day I called and was told that passport can be picked up. But when my uncle went to pick it up they said it was not there.

I called the courier company Bluedart and gave them my passport number and they said it is in transit and I recieved it.
So the visa interview went fine but there were some unexpected delays in recieving the passport. Finally I got it on the day of my travel and came back to US finally.

Just wanted to update all about my experience and thank you for all your help.

[legalguy]

How important is it to have a letter from the client for h4 to h1. Though the person has the paystubs till date.

TIA

[TEKNMEK]

How important is it to have a letter from the client for h4 to h1. Though the person has the paystubs till date.

TIA

It is advisable to have the letter just incase if the officer asks for it. Although in my case, the officer did not ask for the letter.

[jonty_11]

Exception 4 - have a question around this statement: For German transit VISA

- are holding a valid visa or other residence permit for the USA (this includes advance paroles, but not approval notices), Canada or Switzerland and travel to the country which issued that visa or residence permit

do not need transit VISA.

Does that mean if you are travelling from India to US (with valid US Visitor VISA) u need a transit VISA.
Above exception seem to appy only if u are travelling to country that issued u the VISA (india), but in this case we are travelling from that Country to US.

[jonty_11]

Exception 4 - have a question around this statement: For German transit VISA

- are holding a valid visa or other residence permit for the USA (this includes advance paroles, but not approval notices), Canada or Switzerland and travel to the country which issued that visa or residence permit

do not need transit VISA.

Does that mean if you are travelling from India to US (with valid US Visitor VISA) u need a transit VISA.
Above exception seem to appy only if u are travelling to country that issued u the VISA (india), but in this case we are travelling from that Country to US.
never mind - Exception #3 covers it..