H1B - Visa stamping appointment - Dropbox Eligibility question

[vipc]

Hello,

I have a question on the H1B - Visa stamping appointment - Dropbox Eligibility.

My current stamped H1b visa in passport expired on 7/21/2024. Now I have to travel to India in July for family reasons, planning to get the new H1B visa stamped in the passport (new I-797A expiring in 2027 July). Now the question is , till what date i am eligible to go for Dropbox appointment?

The appointment scheduling website showed that I am eligible for Dropbox and it allowed to book a Dropbox appointment on 7/18/2025. Now I am hearing from multiple sources that the 12months window from latest same category stamped Visa expiry date is no more valid and it should be at least 15days before the 12months window ends (in this case, before July 6, 2024). Could you please confirm or correct what is the latest eligibility rule for dropbox appointment is. Really appreciate your earliest response. TIA.

[SkipLegalHelp]

If your H1B visa expired on July 21, 2024, and you're applying for renewal on July 18, 2025, you qualify for the Dropbox process since your prior visa expired within the past 12 months. The 15-day rule you mentioned isn’t an official requirement. The key is that your visa falls within the 12-month window.

Hope this helps! I pulled this piece of information from a very reliable source called skiplegal.ai

Good luck!

[vipc]

If your H1B visa expired on July 21, 2024, and you're applying for renewal on July 18, 2025, you qualify for the Dropbox process since your prior visa expired within the past 12 months. The 15-day rule you mentioned isn’t an official requirement. The key is that your visa falls within the 12-month window.

Hope this helps! I pulled this piece of information from a very reliable source called skiplegal.ai

Good luck!

Thank you!

[ashes2010]

Hello VIPC, I just came across someone who was turned away from submitting the documents for dropbox because his appointment was not before 15 days of the visa expiry...do you have any further updates to your case?

[vipc]

I do not. but i do hear cases on the same. See one in attachment.