I am a PhD student in computer engineering since Fall 2009. My F1 visa was going to expire in June 2014 and my I20 was till Dec 2015.
I was going to india for 5 weeks in Dec 2013 - Jan 2014 so I thought it is a good time to extend/renew my F1 visa even though I could have returned on my existing visa.
I qualified for dropbox since I was renewing visa in same category and same institution.
I went to submit documents through dropbox in Mumbai on 19 dec 2013. When you select the dropbox option online they ask you to carry all the necessary documents to support your case and I did but the guy at the dropbox counter only accepted original passport, original latest I20, 1 photo, 1 copy of DS160 receipt and 1 copy of dropbox confirmation letter. When I requested him to accept all the documents he said he has been instructed to accept only these documents.
There is no need to take any appointment to submit documents through dropbox and it only took me 15 minutes.
There are two different links to track status of visa and passport. Following are the status messages I saw on both websites.
Visa tracking (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?)
19 dec: invalid
20 dec: ready
23 dec: Administrative Processing (This does not mean 221g. Even approved visas have to go through administrative processing)
passport tracking (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-passporttrack.asp)
19 dec: no status
20 dec: passport is still with post
24 dec: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery
26 dec: Your passport is ready for pickup
The passport is no longer couriered to the home address. I had selected the Pune centre for passport pick up as it is closer to my home town.
I collected my passport on 27 dec. My current visa had a stamp "Cancelled Without Prejudice" and there was no new visa.
Instead there was white 221g letter. The 221g letter has a checklist and you are supposed to do whatever has been checked.
In my case NOTHING was checked! Even the person at the pune passport collection counter had not seen such a case before. The guy was very helpful. He made a lot of calls and after 2 hrs of waiting I was informed that I need to go to mumbai consulate for visa interview.
For 221g cases you are not required to make a new online appointment for visa interview.
We can go directly to the consulate between 10:30 - 11 am on any working day.
I went for the interview on 30 Dec.
The officer asked me following questions
1> where are you doing your PhD?
2> what is your area of research?
3> Few follow up questions on my research
4> What are your plans after graduation?
5> Are you funded?
Finally he said "Your Visa is Approved"
Again I tracked status of visa and passport online
Visa tracking
30 dec: Administrative Processing
31 dec: Issued
Passport Tracking
30 dec: Passport has been picked up (old message still not updated)
31 dec: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery
2 Jan: Your passport is ready for pickup
Picked up my passport on 3 Jan. It had a new 5 year visa stamped on it!
I was going to india for 5 weeks in Dec 2013 - Jan 2014 so I thought it is a good time to extend/renew my F1 visa even though I could have returned on my existing visa.
I qualified for dropbox since I was renewing visa in same category and same institution.
I went to submit documents through dropbox in Mumbai on 19 dec 2013. When you select the dropbox option online they ask you to carry all the necessary documents to support your case and I did but the guy at the dropbox counter only accepted original passport, original latest I20, 1 photo, 1 copy of DS160 receipt and 1 copy of dropbox confirmation letter. When I requested him to accept all the documents he said he has been instructed to accept only these documents.
There is no need to take any appointment to submit documents through dropbox and it only took me 15 minutes.
There are two different links to track status of visa and passport. Following are the status messages I saw on both websites.
Visa tracking (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?)
19 dec: invalid
20 dec: ready
23 dec: Administrative Processing (This does not mean 221g. Even approved visas have to go through administrative processing)
passport tracking (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-passporttrack.asp)
19 dec: no status
20 dec: passport is still with post
24 dec: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery
26 dec: Your passport is ready for pickup
The passport is no longer couriered to the home address. I had selected the Pune centre for passport pick up as it is closer to my home town.
I collected my passport on 27 dec. My current visa had a stamp "Cancelled Without Prejudice" and there was no new visa.
Instead there was white 221g letter. The 221g letter has a checklist and you are supposed to do whatever has been checked.
In my case NOTHING was checked! Even the person at the pune passport collection counter had not seen such a case before. The guy was very helpful. He made a lot of calls and after 2 hrs of waiting I was informed that I need to go to mumbai consulate for visa interview.
For 221g cases you are not required to make a new online appointment for visa interview.
We can go directly to the consulate between 10:30 - 11 am on any working day.
I went for the interview on 30 Dec.
The officer asked me following questions
1> where are you doing your PhD?
2> what is your area of research?
3> Few follow up questions on my research
4> What are your plans after graduation?
5> Are you funded?
Finally he said "Your Visa is Approved"
Again I tracked status of visa and passport online
Visa tracking
30 dec: Administrative Processing
31 dec: Issued
Passport Tracking
30 dec: Passport has been picked up (old message still not updated)
31 dec: Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being processed for delivery
2 Jan: Your passport is ready for pickup
Picked up my passport on 3 Jan. It had a new 5 year visa stamped on it!
Comment