I am working as a software engineer. I have submitted my application on September 1, 2010 and I got the confirmation bar code number. How long will this bar code number be valid if my employer is late to pay the visa fee and schedule the appointment?
Shravan Kumar
The bar code on your DS-160 confirmation page is valid as long as the information you listed in the DS-160 form is accurate. You may only use a bar code once. If you need to update your DS-160 to reflect a new job, to correct information, or to upload a more recent photo, a new confirmation page with a new bar code will be generated. If you schedule an appointment with the old barcode and later update your DS-160 and receive a new barcode, you will need to bring both confirmation pages with you to the Consulate General at the time of your appointment.
I am an Indian citizen from Hyderabad. I already had Visa (Category B1/B2), expired in May 2010. I repeatedly tried for visa appointment for renewal of my visa (for same category) since April '10. Incidentally, on the web page,
I could not see calendar for Hyderabad consulate. It shows most of the time for New Delhi or at time for Mumbai. Usually, I tried to see availability through web www.vfs-usa.co.in. I wonder if I am looking for visa appointment at wrong page.
Alok Agarwal
Visa interviews must be scheduled through our partner VFS at the website www.vfs-usa.co.in. Although we regularly add new appointments, visa appointments are in high demand, particularly if you are looking for an interview in Telugu or Hindi. If you are seeing the calendar for New Delhi or Mumbai, it means the type of appointment you are looking for is currently unavailable in Hyderabad.
You may choose to schedule your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or at any of the U.S. Consulates General in India. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply within their consular district. Consular officers work in one region, so they are more familiar with the circumstances of applicants from that region. Also, officers are trained in regional languages and can offer translation assistance that would be unavailable at other posts. If you choose to apply somewhere other than where you live, please be prepared to explain your reasons during the interview.
I have been asked to appear for my H1 visa interview in October at Hyderabad and when I try to schedule my visa interview I am shown dates available with Hyderabad consulate only but my I- 797 shows my consular post as Chennai which has created a confusion about to where to attend my visa interview. Your help and suggestion on this regard will be of tremendous value to me.
Manoj
Many companies applied for H1B petitions before the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad opened, or were unaware of the new Consulate. Because of this, many I-797s list the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai as the Consular Post.
Residents of Andhra Pradesh are welcome to schedule visa interviews in Hyderabad even if their I-797s show Chennai.
As mentioned in the previous answer, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply within their consular district. If you live in Andhra Pradesh, you are in Hyderabad's consular district.
My visa was under administrative processing. My start date on DS 2019 was September 1. So I asked my professor to issue a new DS 2019 and defer the start date to November 1. He extended the start date but unfortunately forgot to extend the end date. Thus my 6 months internship got cut short to 4 months internship. Luckily my visa case is closed and my visa is approved today, September 10. Can I enter US now in September and begin my internship in spite of being issued a new DS 2019. Because by this I can make up for the 2 months loss. By doing so will I face a problem at the port of entry? Or else, can I request the professor to issue me a new DS 2019 with an earlier start date?
Bharat
You should enter the U.S. using your most recent DS-2019.
Exchange visitors travelling to the U.S. on a J1 visa may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date.
If you wish to join your program earlier, your professor should issue you a new DS-2019 with an earlier start date or update your program start date in SEVIS.
You may also be able to apply for an extension of your program in the United States. You should not attempt to use your original DS-2019, as it is no longer valid.
If your SEVIS ID number changes at any time, you must apply for a new visa and may be subject to additional administrative processing.
Ask the Consul
Have you got any queries on issue of visas by US Consulate in Hyderabad or about Consulate services? The Consulate officials will reply to them in these columns on every Monday. Email your questions to queries2consul@gmail.com
