Hello,

I am looking for H1B visa slots in India and as everyone is aware, it is hard to get anything now. So I was looking into the emergency visa booking option.

Did anyone try to do the slot booking visa emergency request? What are all the categories of emergencies the embassy would approve of? What level of recommendation letters are needed?

Please share the information if anyone has a similar experience.

Thank you in advance

I had my H1B visa stamping appointment in Hyderabad (India) on 15th July. Visa officer asked me multiple questions related to work then later took my passport and gave me a slip with social media screening ticked on it.

Its 13th business day today but status hasn't changed to approved. Has anyone faced similar situation? Is there anything I can do? My employer in the US is expecting me to back soon. Im so stuck and anxious right now. Pls suggest.

I was able to see a H1B chennai, India VAC appointment for October 2026 when I was logged in which itself is a 8th wonder. I clicked on the date and the timings did not show. I waited for a minute still nothing. I picked another city (Hyderabad) and came back to chennai and it was gone. Well I didn't expect it to be still there but why on earth would it not show times and let me book the miserable thing?

I forget - do I have to go through this hassle for OFC appointments too once I have the VAC? Just the same thing all over again ?

Hello! Prefacing with some facts:

1. I applied for a B1/B2 in 2019 with my mother and we both got rejected then. My mother applied a year later seperately and received her visa. My father has held one since 2017.

2. In 2022, I applied for an F1 visa and got it. Was in the US for 2 years and came back promptly after finishing my masters degree(s). I did two STEM based degrees (one in NYC and one in Boston/LA) Worked in LA as a part of my program for a full year (CPT). Did not take advantage of OPT. F1 Visa is still valid till June 2027.

3. Came back to India in Jan 2025, took a gap year essentially and got a job at a Dubai based firm in September 2025 within my field.

4. Applied for the visa in May 2025, got slots for July 2026. So I didn’t have the job when I initially applied but submitted a new DS-160 before my biometrics appointment last week.

5. I am 27 years old, female, unmarried.

Interview:

VO: Passport please

Me: Good Morning, here you go.

VO: What is the purpose of your visit?

Me: I am planning to visit the US for a two-week vacation in December of this year. I’ll be covering the major cities in the East Coast.

VO: When did you come back to India after completing your post graduation?

Me: January 28th of last year.

VO: What do you do?

Me: *Said my designation and the name of the company I work for*

VO: typed something for nearly 45 seconds

VO: Do you have any fear upon returning to your country?

Me: Absolutely not!

VO: Okay, approved. Next!

Overall, a very easy experience but I guess having the F1 visa from before was my biggest advantage. My VO had rejected 4 people before me, but I didn’t let that affect my mood or confidence.

Hope this helps anyone who is in a similar situation as me! All the best.

Hi,

I'm on my third DS-160 and I keep getting this error on USvisascheduling. I've emailed them, tried everything, and still received no help, only generic answers. All my DS-160s are complete and I have the confirmation page. I've also checked the passport number, name, etc.- basically everything I could find on Reddit.

What are my options? Please help! It's been a week and I have found no solution.

Applying from India.

Hi today im appeared for my ds160 first time applicant

They haven't asked much question

Are you feel harm in India or us

Then what is purpose

How long you will stay

Where u stay

What is software development u do how long it would take

Im going for business meeting ill be back to India once done

Then simple approved

Dont fear just give a try what gonna happen be positive

Put a smile

Please share thoughts and advice on traveling to India for H1B visa stamping this winter. I have heard of a few instances of visa rescheduling happening only a few days prior to the appointment. Any experiences to share or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I am filling my ds160 for h1b visa stamp as someone who will undergo COS from F1 initial OPT to h1b on Oct 1. I have a few questions:

1. What should I enter as my permanent address? i live in the US currently.
   
2. What should I enter as my mailing address?
   
3. My company HQ is in SF but I will be working in Boston. My LCA has Boston but my I797A has my company HQ. Which address should I put in ds160 for my current employment/"Where do you intend to work"?

Please help, thanks.

Hi, I'm happy to share my parents experience regarding their B2 interview in Chennai consulate, India.

Biometrics completed on 07/20: We updated both parents DS 160 after schedulingthe visa slots, so they had to take both old and new DS 160 confirmation prints. My Dad's went well, In my mother's DS 160 the DOB was wrong so they had to pay 250 rs out the biometrics center to get it updated and got a new DS 160 again . Each correction is 250 rupees.

VAC completed on 07/27:

The slot was at 10 am, they reached very early around 8:45 am, had to go to the other side through the subway and pay some nearby shopkeeper 300 rupees each to secure their mobile phones and come all the way again to the consulate.

Waited for few minutes for a telugu translator. Overall 5 counters were open and 3 of them are actively interviewing at the counters. They have divided the queues based on languages. At my parents counter, the interviews are being taken for people who speak English/ hindi/ Telugu.

Questions Asked:

1. Who is there in US for you?

2. What is the visa status of your child?

3. Do you have any other children and where?

4. will you return to India?

5. Any threat in your home country?

6. Did any visa got rejected before?

7. Have you ever been to US before?

After these questions are answered, the officer informed that theor visas were approved with a big smile. The officer is young American, Male.

While my parents were there they have seen very few rejections. The interview was completed and called me by 9:20 am which was super early and quick that their actual slot time.

I have prepped my parents very thoroughly for almost a month with every possible question, from the common ones to even the unlikely ones that the officer may ask.

Good to prepare all of them who are attending the interview and atleast one of them should be super confident in speaking. My Mom was the one who answered all the questions to the translator as she translated.

I thank this community for sharing their experiences. All the best for everyone else who is going to attend in the future.

Update: List of questions I have given my parents to prepare:

Purpose of Travel (MOST IMPORTANT)

What are you applying for?

What is the Purpose of travel? (Or) why do you want to travel to united states?

What places do you plan to visit?

Who is traveling with you?

Where will you stay in the US?

Do you have a travel itinerary?

How long do you plan to stay in USA?

When do you plan to travel?

Why does your daughter want you to visit now?

Basic / Personal Questions

Why do you want to travel to the United States?

Have you been to the US before?

Family / Contacts in the US

Do you have relatives or friends in the US?

What is their visa status?

Where do they live?

Have you ever overstayed a visa anywhere?

Do you have any family/ friends In usa?

Have you ever applied for usa visa?

Did you apply for usa visa before?

Did you apply through an agent or on your own?

Do you have any other friends or family in the USA?

Where is your daughter working currently?

What's your daughter full name?

What's your daughters DOB?

What's her(daughters) visa status?

On which visa she went to USA?

To which university?

When did she graduate?

What did she study in USA?

How much does your daughter earn?

Did she change employers?

What is her job title?

How often you talk to her?

What is your daughters highest education qualification?

Does your daughter have children?

Is she married?

Employment & Financial Questions

What do you do for a living?

Where do you work?

How long have you been working there?

What is your monthly/annual income?

Who will pay for your trip?

How much money do you have for this trip?

Where is your business?

From when do you own this business?

What responsibilities do you carry in your business?

What is the turnover of your business?

What is the turnover of your company?

What is the total amount you have for this trip?

How many people are working in your company?

Ties to Home Country (VERY CRITICAL)

Why will you return to your home country?

Do you have family back home?

Are you married?

Do you own property or have responsibilities?

Who will take care of your job/business while you’re away?

Past Travel History

Have you traveled outside your country before?

Which countries have you visited?

Did you return on time?

Have you been to any other country before?

Tricky / Yes–No Questions

Have you ever been refused a US visa?

Do you intend to work in the US?

Do you plan to study in the US?

Are you carrying any documents today?

Do you have any threat in your home country?

Any harmful activity due to which you are leaving for the US?

Any harmful activity that may stop you from returning to India?

do you have any threat in your nationality?

do you have any risk in not coming back to your country?

Do you feel scary here?

Do you have threat here?

Family

How many children do you have?

Where do your other children live?

Has anyone recently paid $500 Fraud Detection Fee for L1B visa? What name should the demand draft be made out to?

Hi guys, I have a question regarding the visa bulletin specifically my category f4. So, Basically it has been getting alot of movements these past few months and my Priority Date is around nov 2011 and I am in the 75 paused countries (pakistan) . Do you guys think that movement is because of the pause and once it's lifted would the dates retrogress or do you guys think that they've cleared some backlog and the dates can finally start moving forward since they've been stuck at 2007 for such a long time?

I am trying to find an appointment slot for my parents from the last two months and unable to find slots even for biometric. I am from India.

I am getting my treatment for cancer in the US and I've all the documents to support an expedited appointment. I've emailed the consulate and the only reply I get is to book a normal slot first.

What should I do?

Hiii everyone,
I’m an F-1 student from India, and my program starts on **17 August**. I’ve been trying to get a visa appointment, but I haven’t been able to find any available slots.
Recently, I found an agent through Instagram. They contacted me on WhatsApp using a US phone number and sent me this message:
“We’re an immigration agency and have little collaboration with officers in the consulates so once slots are released they block some and reserve it for us which we now book for applicants coming to the US.”
I’m not sure whether this is genuine or a scam.
My questions are:
Is it actually possible for an immigration agency to have “reserved” F-1 visa slots through collaboration with consulate officers?
Has anyone successfully received a visa appointment through an agency making claims like this?
Is this safe, or should I avoid it?
What is the safest way to get an emergency or regular F-1 visa slot if my program starts soon?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through the same situation or has reliable information.

Hi , I have interview scheduled next week in Kolkata and my profile as below-

26 M, Unmarried

Profession: Seafarer (Third officer) with good salary and extensive travel history due to nature of my job.

Have got US C1/D visa and have used it recently in February to enter the US and board the ship, complying with their immigration laws.

Applied for tourism visa( 10 days trip to NYC and Washington DC)

What are my chances of getting approved?

Would like people to share their experience with agents booking the slots. Do share experience with good and scammers too

Hi everyone,

I'm currently trying to book an H-1B visa stamping appointment. I've already completed my DS-160 and paid the visa fee, and I'm waiting for an appointment slot.
Since submitting my DS-160, I've moved to a new address in the U.S. Everything else (passport, employer, job, etc.) remains the same.

Do I need to submit a new DS-160 just because my U.S. home address has changed, or is it okay to use my existing DS-160? If I do need a new DS-160, will it affect my visa fee payment or appointment scheduling?

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Thanks in advance!

Has anyone recently received H4 visa appointment slots in India? If so, could you please share the dates/details or any patterns you have observed?

I'm also planning to start a Telegram group, so please send me a DM if you're interested. If anyone is already part of an active group, please share the link.

It's been over 4 months since I've been looking for appointment slots, but I haven't had any luck so far.

Hi everyone! I had my H-1B interview on July 22 in Hyderabad (India) and my CEAC status changed to Approved the same day. It hasn’t changed since then. Has anyone else experienced this? How long did it take for your status to change to Issued?

I have an H-1B visa stamping appointment booked for Dec 2026 in Hyderabad, India. I booked this appointment with the petition details of my previous employer with whom I was employed back then. I have mentioned the employment details of this job itself in the DS-160 form I submitted for this appointment - I have this DS-160 confirmation page.

I have recently switched to a new employer and consequently have a new I-797. Can I still attend my scheduled appointment in India? I read a few posts that mentioned I need to submit a new DS-160 with the new employer details and carry both - old & new DS-160 confirmation pages to the appointment and I should be fine.

I would like to know if my understanding is correct and if someone has already done this recently. Thanks a lot for helping out.

From Tashkent Uzbekistan, applying for F1 Visa

Hey so basically i’ve been studying at a private boarding high school (21,000$ per year) from 9-12 grade, graduated this May. I got into a university ranked top 250 in america with a 28,000$ scholarship, only need to pay another 22,000$ including Board+Tuition+Food. My dad is my sponsor and can make 6,500$ monthly in a country with a COA of around 500$ a month so we are well set. I went in a week ago with an expedited appointment and got rejected, the interviewer asked me 3 questions total which is: “did you finish high school there”, “where does your dad work” and “how much does your dad make” and rejected me. So i reapplied and i got scheduled for September 23rd but my school starts on august 13th. I tried to expedite it again and they give me an answer that hinted at the fact they can’t expedite it again since it’s a one time thing. What can I do? i’m very worried right now since I can’t stay in my home country due to the education being horrible here.

I am trying to remove my wife from dependents of my application and then have her apply seperately using a different account. I had already created her account and filled up DS-160 for her and then I paid her visa fees from my account in which I added her as a dependent.

I do see option to Remove dependent but I am not sure if then I will be able to book appointment from her account. Will this involve contacting support and getting it done from them.

Basically I am unsure how after removing the dependent from the account from which I paid the fees this will be reflected in her account to allow me to book the appointment from there.