H1-B Dropbox Question

[isg2015]

Hi
I have a question regarding H1-B visa renewal. I am currently employed in the US for last several years and my last visa expired on 26th October 2014 (got the stamp when I visited India in 2012). Now I have an approved I-797 with me and need to visit India next month (October) for which I have to get the visa done again. As of now I can say that my last visa of the same category expired within 12 months. So when I tried to get an appointment scheduled the system automatically asks me to go for the drop box option which will be very good but I am a bit puzzled here as I am not entirely clear about how this 12 months period is calculated exactly? Is this from the day I pay the Visa fee? Or the day I complete DS-160 or the day I try to schedule the appointment or the day I am able to drop off the documents at the designated location?
The reason I am concerned is that if I go for the drop box option will this be only valid if I am able to submit the documents on or before 26th of October? I am from Kolkata and do not arrive until 18th of October. Due to Festivals during that time I am not sure if the drop box locations will remain open during that period to accept the documents i.e. before 26th.

Please help if you have any idea.
Thanks a lot
ISG

[Antony001]

send an email with your query to [[email protected]] they will revert back or alternatively you can call +91 120 4844644 or +91 40 46258222 number

I have a question for you.
I am also in the same boat as u, I have employer change and my current visa with previous employer expires in Sep 30,2015 and I have new I-797 Petition from new employer valid until 2018. Site says I am eligible for dropbox.

Do u have any confrmation on this from any attorney or do u know any case like this who has done stamping without any isue.

any help is appreciated

[isg2015]

send an email with your query to [[email protected]] they will revert back or alternatively you can call +91 120 4844644 or +91 40 46258222 number

I have a question for you.
I am also in the same boat as u, I have employer change and my current visa with previous employer expires in Sep 30,2015 and I have new I-797 Petition from new employer valid until 2018. Site says I am eligible for dropbox.

Do u have any confrmation on this from any attorney or do u know any case like this who has done stamping without any isue.

any help is appreciated

Thanks a lot. Actually I emailed the query to them but as usual they only directed me to the general information website where you do not really get an answer to this particular question. So I called up the consulate (who initially did not even want to talk as according to them there is no drop box system; my second call convinced them of the same, thankfully) and they also gave me the helpline numbers you mentioned above. Helpline people were really helpful and according to them the day I am trying to schedule the appointment (note: not the date of the appointment itself) should be the one when I start counting the days, hope I can rely on them. So, this works for me I guess. In case anyone else is looking for the same answer, so thought of sharing.

I do not have any idea about the circumstances under employer change, so cannot really help you, sorry about that. But IMO technically there should not be a problem.

Thanks again
ISG