H1B Process Step 4- H1b Visa Stamping
Preparing for H1b Visa Stamping
Once you get your H1b Approval Notice from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services , you need to get the H1b Visa Stamped on your passport in order to enter United States. For h1v visa stamping purpose, your employers need to send the original H1b(employee copy) Approval notice along with the required documentation. Its good to have all the documents ready before you take an appointment at the respective US Consulate.
Once you received all the required documents from your employer and got other documents ready you need to take a visa appointment for your respective US Consulate. For Visa Appointments and Appointment information in India click here
Documents required for Visa Stamping
- Completed Non-immigration Visa Application Form DS-156. Separate form for each applicant. [Sample Form DS-156]
- Completed Form DS-157. Each applicant in India taking appointment through VFS need to fill and provide DS157 irrespective of their age or gender.
- Additional Questionnaire. [Download Fillable Form in PDF]
- Application visa fee original receipt issued by HDFC bank.( If you are applying in India)
- Copy of interview appointment letter which you get at the time of setting appointment with VFS.
- Original H1 approval form I-797.
- Offer letter from the company in USA.
- Valid Passport.
- Original Experience Certificates from all your previous employment's.
- All other legal papers you received with your H1 documents, like from I129.
- Two photographs 2 and 2 inches square (50 mm square) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. To be used in the application Form. US consulates are very particular about the Photographs specification. Check out the Guidelines for Photographs required for US visa.
- Demand draft for visa issuance Fee.
- Latest resume.
- All your Original Degree Certificates.
H4 Visa for Dependants
Dependents of H1B Holders - Spouse and unmarried children of age under 21 are eligible for H4 dependent VISA. Parents, brothers / sister of H1B holders cannot apply for H4, but they can apply for B2 Visitor VISA. H4 visa will be issued for the same period of time as the H1B holder (The VISA expiry date will be same for both H1B and H4). There is no process required from USCIS to get H4 visa from the consulate in your home country. Please visit H4 Stamping page for more info.
H1b Case on Hold under Section 221(g)
If yout your Visa stamping done. Congratulations! If your the Consulate is asking for more documents under Section 221(g) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, your passport will be returned to you. It suggest that your case requires further administrative action. It is not a rejection of your case it means that your case is on hold.
You may visit the respective Consulate on any working day with the required additional documents. Please follow the instructions that were given to you in form 221g . The application fee paid to schedule the initial interview remains valid for the subsequent interview up to one year from date of payment.