Visa Revalidation in India

Here is my experience for H-1 Visa revalidation in Mumbai, India.

I planned my trip for India earlier in April this year (2005). I was suppose to stamping my H-1 Visa on my passport. Upon searching the web and with few friends found the information. Here is the procedure one can follow and use.

Step 1: Get the appointment with Mumbai Visa consulate. You can use the website http://visa-services.com to book the appointment. (Normally the lag for appointment is almost 2.5 to 3 months, means if you want to go in October you should plan it in mid July)

Step 2: After getting appointment you need to send out the documents to them. Recently they changed the procedure (effective from october 3, 2005), and you need to send all documents within 12 days after taking an appointment.

Step 3: The list of documents you need to send will be available once you take the appointment. Partial list mentioned here. (Please confirm with official website as this is just for information)
- Form DS-156
- Form DS-157 (All male applicants between 18 and 50)
- I-797 (H-1 Petition from Employer)
- Photograph stapled or glued on DS-156 (Size 2 X 2 inches)
- Appointment Letter from consulate (you will receive an email about your appointment once you reserve it)
- Questionarie for all H-1 Applicants
- Drafts from nationalized bank or scheduled bank in amount of Rs. 4400, Rs. 2200 in favor of "American Consulate General"
- Draft of Rs. 607 in favor of "VFS"

Step 4: Make a packet of all this documents and take it to Blue Dart Courier service which is responsible for sending all documents to Consulate. Do not seal the envelope, do it infront of Blue Dart. They will provide you one "Airway Bill", Do not loose it in any case, they won't give you passport back if you don't have that Airway Bill.

Step 5: Appear 15 minutes before your appointment time at Consulate. Keep your passport - appointment letter handy. Once you are inside the consulate they will give you the packet you sent them through blue dart and send you for finger printing.

Step 6: After finger printing, they will give a pink slip to you and call your number. Just go to the window and they will ask you whatever they want to...
Few General Questions:
- Who is your employer?
- What is your title?
- What are your skillset and how long you are working for this company?
- If you have done your masters, they might ask you for your Masters Degree Certificate (keep it with you), also keep I-20 and OPT card with you.

Step 7: If they grant you the visa (which in most cases... at least for stamping purpose), you are done with the office. Come home and they will send you your passport next day at your home in India. You need to provide "Airway Bill" to the person from Blue Dart or he won't give you passport.

Thats about it...