[tharian]

Originally Posted by poised2drive

Not needed.

Children under 14 years are exempted from interview and biometrics.

However, you need to carry the photos ( as per the U.S. norms) and other pertinent documents of your child to the biometrics where it is scanned.

Had a query regarding applying for my kid (Age 5) US Visa. My wife has a valid tourist Visa and mine has expired, rather the PP was stolen when travelling and I got a two year Visa from the Indian Consulate in US, which has expired.
I have applied for the renewal, for which the interview is next year.

For my kid, since one parent has a valid Visa, is the interview waived off? We have filled up the DS160 form and paid the fees, but it only shows an option to schedule an interview and not a drop box option. Is there something we are missing? Any input would be useful.

[KadiNiSikhiya]

Originally Posted by tharian

Had a query regarding applying for my kid (Age 5) US Visa. My wife has a valid tourist Visa and mine has expired, rather the PP was stolen when travelling and I got a two year Visa from the Indian Consulate in US, which has expired.
I have applied for the renewal, for which the interview is next year.

For my kid, since one parent has a valid Visa, is the interview waived off? We have filled up the DS160 form and paid the fees, but it only shows an option to schedule an interview and not a drop box option. Is there something we are missing? Any input would be useful.

Even if one parent has a valid B1/B2 visa, any child under 5 is automatically eligible for Dropbox. Going by what you have mentioned here, I strongly suggest you double-check the DS-160. It seems there's some mistake in there which has led to your current predicament. As for yourself, keep checking the portal, people are getting dates even for next month in North(Delhi) region.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by KadiNiSikhiya

Even if one parent has a valid B1/B2 visa, any child under 5 is automatically eligible for Dropbox. Going by what you have mentioned here, I strongly suggest you double-check the DS-160. It seems there's some mistake in there which has led to your current predicament. As for yourself, keep checking the portal, people are getting dates even for next month in North(Delhi) region.

The website says parents need to have valid visa (doesn't mention about either one of parents so I'm assuming both parents are expected to have valid visa). If in doubt, better to check with the officials.

[KadiNiSikhiya]

Called VFS yesterday, and they said that both parents don't need to have valid visas to have Dropbox for the child. Just one would do and, if an Interview is being listed as the only option for a child then a parent can also give an interview on their child's behalf.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by KadiNiSikhiya

Called VFS yesterday, and they said that both parents don't need to have valid visas to have Dropbox for the child. Just one would do and, if an Interview is being listed as the only option for a child then a parent can also give an interview on their child's behalf.

This is useful information. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by tharian

Had a query regarding applying for my kid (Age 5) US Visa. My wife has a valid tourist Visa and mine has expired, rather the PP was stolen when travelling and I got a two year Visa from the Indian Consulate in US, which has expired.
I have applied for the renewal, for which the interview is next year.

For my kid, since one parent has a valid Visa, is the interview waived off? We have filled up the DS160 form and paid the fees, but it only shows an option to schedule an interview and not a drop box option. Is there something we are missing? Any input would be useful.

Going by what is mentioned by @KadiNiSikhiya above, your child should have been eligible for dropbox. However, since you had a case of lost passport (and valid visa stamped on it), I am guessing that it might the reason dropbox option was not available while filling out DS160.

Please contact VFS if you need clarification or in case DS160 needs a revision for your child to avail drop box since your wife still has valid visa.

[mpksuhas]

Got South Africa Tourist E Visa by applying through DHS website

The website is buggy, asks for hell lot of information and it takes around a month for visa approval. However, its free for Indian passport holders and is anyway better than going via paid option through their consulate at Mumbai.

Visited South Africa with E Visa for two weeks start of this month, no issues faced. Do go through TripAdvisor comments too on the issues faced by some on applying the E Visa.

There is a talk for having visa free entry for Indians to South Africa, hope that gets done soon.

[mpksuhas]

Regarding B1 visa renewal for a friend, had a query. Kindly let know if anyone has information on the same, different travel agents / his office helpdesk was not having a full idea on how to proceed. Hence wanted to check if anyone had similar situation earlier.

So my friends B1 visa, which he got while employed with an earlier employer and had traveled few years back to US got expired 1.5 years back.

Based on the time limit, he is eligible for drop box renewal. However, the catch is that he shifted job and is under a new employer now.

Now the query he had was, since B1 was through an earlier employer -
- Does he have to go via full process now? (~ 10 months waiting period for slot + interview at Chennai)

OR
- He can submit via drop box + new employee details if required?

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Regarding B1 visa renewal for a friend, had a query. Kindly let know if anyone has information on the same, different travel agents / his office helpdesk was not having a full idea on how to proceed.

If his visa does not have any annotation (mention of company name), he should be eligible for drop box renewal. He can submit with his current details.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

...
Now the query he had was, since B1 was through an earlier employer...

An employer may have facilitated obtaining the B1/B2 visa, but unless the visa itself has a specific annotation entry reg. the company/role the person traveled for, there's no limitation on its usage irrespective of employment status.

Entry is at the discretion of the customs officer at port of entry, as always.