Once you’ve determined that you’re eligible for H1B dropbox, and scheduled your appointment to renew your H1B visa, there are many things to remember until your passport is stamped. This may include planning your travel with appropriate dates, seeking permission from your employers, etc. All of this can go smoothly if you know how long it takes to have your visa stamped in your passport after you submit the passport and other documents at dropbox drop-off location.
With over 8,500 visa holders sharing their US Visa Dropbox experiences at our sister website VisaGrader.com Dropbox tracker, we have summarized the data and put up trends of how much time it takes at different consulates in India. During the 2023 year alone, 3,632 entries were submitted for H1B Visa. We will update this article every month to understand the latest trends in processing times across India.
Data Updated as of December 6th, 2023
Article Contents
Current H1B Dropbox Processing Time in India – Overall Insights
As of the latest data until December 2023, we observe that the processing times are heading toward the lowest number of days since 2023’s start. Below are the key insights as of December 6th, 2023.
- H1B Dropbox Processing times continue to trend downwards at all consulates in India. This indicates that the delays are reducing, and US Consulates are performing much more efficiently.
- Current H1B Dropbox Processing times range anywhere between two o three weeks across consulates in India
H1B Dropbox Processing Time in Hyderabad US Consulate
As per our community-driven tracker at VisaGrader.com, there were approximately 1,184 experiences shared for the US Consulate in Hyderabad, India for the year 2023. The average processing time is approximately 93 days, which comes to about three months.
Below is the table that lists the average processing times in days for H1B Dropbox submissions at the Hyderabad US Consulate.
| Month – Year | Avg. Processing Time in Days |
| January 2023 | 172 |
| February 2023 | 145 |
| March 2023 | 159 |
| April 2023 | 162 |
| May 2023 | 119 |
| June 2023 | 106 |
| July 2023 | 42 |
| August 2023 | 69 |
| September 2023 | 47 |
| October 2023 | 45 |
| November 2023 | 34 |
| December 2023 | 23 |
Below is a graph showing the H1B Dropbox Processing times trend in Hyderabad, India, for the last 12 months.
H1B Dropbox Processing Time in Chennai US Consulate
In our community-driven tracker at VisaGrader.com, there were a total of 923 user submissions about their H1B visa Dropbox experience at the Chennai consulate in India. The Chennai Consulate’s processing times trends are similar to the other US consulates, where the processing times were at peak at the beginning of the year and trended down.
Below is the table that lists the average processing times in days for H1B Dropbox submissions at the US Consulate in Chennai.
| Month – Year | Avg. Processing Time in Days |
| January 2023 | 149 |
| February 2023 | 161 |
| March 2023 | 126 |
| April 2023 | 79 |
| May 2023 | 103 |
| June 2023 | 70 |
| July 2023 | 49 |
| August 2023 | 66 |
| September 2023 | 61 |
| October 2023 | 34 |
| November 2023 | 20 |
| December 2023 | 12 |
Below is a graph showing the H1B Dropbox Processing times trend in Chennai, India, for the last 12 months.
H1B Dropbox Processing Time at Delhi US Consulate
In total, there were a total of 846 submissions from the users in our community driven tracker, with their US Consulate as New Delhi, India. The processing times have remained consistent, averaging less than a month.
Below is the table that lists the average processing times in days for H1B Dropbox submissions at the US Consulate in New Delhi.
| Month – Year | Avg. Processing Time in Days |
| January 2023 | 166 |
| February 2023 | 188 |
| March 2023 | 169 |
| April 2023 | 103 |
| May 2023 | 84 |
| June 2023 | 58 |
| July 2023 | 60 |
| August 2023 | 80 |
| September 2023 | 51 |
| October 2023 | 25 |
| November 2023 | 23 |
| December 2023 | 28 |
Below is a graph showing the H1B Dropbox Processing times trend in New Delhi, India, for the last 12 months.
H1B Dropbox Processing Times in Mumbai US Consulate
According to our data in our community-driven tracker, there were a total of 1,255 H1B Visa drop box submissions at the Mumbai Consulate, India. Mumbai consulate H1B dropbox processing times have continuously fallen to their lowest in recent months.
Below is the table that lists the average processing times in days for H1B Dropbox submissions at the US Consulate in Mumbai, India.
| Month – Year | Avg. Processing Time in Days |
| January 2023 | 181 |
| February 2023 | 177 |
| March 2023 | 167 |
| April 2023 | 120 |
| May 2023 | 95 |
| June 2023 | 85 |
| July 2023 | 69 |
| August 2023 | 46 |
| September 2023 | 55 |
| October 2023 | 33 |
| November 2023 | 23 |
| December 2023 | 10 |
Below is a graph showing the H1B Dropbox Processing times trend in Mumbai, India, for the last 12 months.
H1B Dropbox Processing Time in Kolkata US Consulate
As per the data in our community-driven tracker, there were few user-submitted entries for the Kolkata consulate, skewing the data a bit. On average, it took approximately 59 days to process H1B Dropbox submissions at the Kolkata consulate in India.
Below is the table that lists the average processing times in days for H1B Dropbox submissions at the US Consulate in Kolkata, India.
| Month – Year | Avg. Processing Time in Days |
| January 2023 | 4 |
| February 2023 | 287 |
| March 2023 | 118 |
| April 2023 | 181 |
| May 2023 | 11 |
| June 2023 | 67 |
| July 2023 | 63 |
| August 2023 | 6 |
| September 2023 | 4.5 |
| October 2023 | 60 |
| November 2023 | 44 |
| December 2023 | N/A |
Below is a graph showing the H1B Dropbox Processing times trend in Kolkata, India, for the last 12 months.
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What do you think of the H1B Dropbox processing times trend in India? What was your experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Hi,
I dropped off my documents for H1b at Bangalore on 4th April, the status changed to Delivered to Post on 8th April, and when I tried to check my status in “https://ceac.state.gov/”, it said, “Your search did not return any data.”
Any idea how long it is going to take to update the status on “https://ceac.state.gov/”?
Hello, I have a similar question. I’ve scheduled Dropbox appointments for H1 and H4 visas for myself and my family. Initially, I couldn’t find any available appointment dates at the Delhi center, so I opted for a date at the Chennai center instead. I understand that I can drop my documents off at any center on the same date and time (May 20, 2024), but I’m curious if there’s any difference in the approval time depending on whether I drop them off in Chennai or Delhi, as I have only 3 and a half weeks of vacant time.
Secondly, I recently changed my status from J1 to H1 visa while in the USA. When I was scheduling my visa appointment, I was granted a visa interview waiver. I’m a bit concerned because someone mentioned that when you change your visa status, you might still need to go through the visa interview process. Is it okay to have received the waiver in my situation?
Thank you in advance for any guidance.
My wife had an appointment for H1B drop box for 13/02/2024 in Mumbai. She is flying back on 1/03/2024 and still the passport has not been delivered. There is no status on the website. We have mailed to the embassy and are waiting for reply.
Will she get the passport in time?
I’m facing the same.. I did Dropbox at 14 Feb. at Chennai VAC. Will be flying on 3 March. Still waiting for my passports. Do I need to change my flights?
Any update PANKAJ?
I dropped for H1b stamping on January 11, 2024 at Chennai drop box, along with my wife for H4 stamping. Today is Jan 25, status still showing “ Application received “ last updated January 18th. Is this normal or delayed. My travel is scheduled for Feb 6 and I’m worried if I will receive my passport by then .
Where can I check status of my visa drop box from?
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV&eQs=WwjqOlbeRYzCYubaSQI+RA==
I did my h4 Dropbox on Jan 9th, status shows as application received . I had to cancel my tickets . When called to customer care they informed me it’s under processing and might take any where between 21 to 28 working days .
Hi Peter, Did you get your passport and how long it took to receive your passport?
Did you get your passport back? If yes, when?
I did my h4 Dropbox on Jan 9th, status shows as application received . I had to cancel my tickets . When called to customer care they informed me it’s under processing and might take any where between 21 to 28 working days .Hoping that I might get this week.
hi peter , when did you receive your passport ?
Did you get your passport now. if yes, when did you receive it. Please let me know
Hi, did you get your passport? If yes then. When?
hey , just checking if you received it . I did mine on January 30th and still shows received as of February 13th .
Have you received your passport now?
Did you get your passport back? If yes, when?
Hi Theja, I am going h4 Dropbox at Chennai on next week. so may I know how many days it takes time to approved yours and your wife visa?
When did you receive it ?
Is this page trying to say 1 application on an average might take ~150 days in month if we drop documents in March?
Or does it mean in 1 day those many applications get processed?
Hello Raja,
I am not sure if I understand your question correctly. The above data represents the historical timelines based on user contributed data at visagrader.com. In most cases these accurately represent the timelines. These are average times and not exact times. Also, depending on your situation, things might go smoothly when compared to others. You can also see that as consulates ramp up their processing, the time it took on avg. to process each application has come down drastically over the last few months in 2023. Hoping to see that these will continue to trend down in the new year.
Best,
H1BGrader Team
I stay in Hyderabad, and have to take H1B drop box appointment here, however there are no slots available except Chennai, that too in Feb.
Can i go ahead and schedule it for Chennai, and possible for drop the documents in VAC Hyderabad ?
H,
Yes, you can do that.
What is the email address or phone to reach out the Consulate? I tried and only get the VFS related contact info… who just give generic responses.
Hello,
My husband is on H1 and I am on h4. We both submitted our visa extension application on sep 15th. My husband’s visa was issued by oct 3rd. At the time, my status was showing as approved. Now its Jan 2024 but since dec 22nd, my visa status changed to application received. I emailed senators office and they only gave me vague update saying its being processed. What else can I do? I am very worried, its been 4 months.
Rupa,
Well, this is very odd to hear this. Usually, it should be immediate. Did you email the consulate? What did they say? Did you get any 221g form? Try to email them, if you have not and ask for status.
Hi, I dropped off my documents for H1B dropbox at Hyderabad on 20th December 2023(location for VAC is Chennai on appointment confirmation), when i tried to check my status in “https://ceac.state.gov/”, it didn’t bring up any results in Hyderabad, or Chennai. But when i selected Mumbai it shows application received! please advice.
Pranav,
Not sure, it could be a glitch or what you have selected during filing of DS-160. Email them, if you are not sure.
Hi,
I dropped off my documents for H1b at Bangalore on 4th April, the status changed to Delivered to Post on 8th April, and when I tried to check my status in “https://ceac.state.gov/”, it said, “Your search did not return any data.”
Any idea how long it is going to take to update the status on “https://ceac.state.gov/”?
My son’s H1B visa drop box appointment missed. Is there any way to get an appointment for Dropbox. He has booked the ticket back to US on 20th Jan 2023. Any way to get it stamped by that time. He is an H1B visa holder. This is for restamping.
Please check this article.
Under common FAQs, this is addressed. Hope your son will be able to submit documents again.
1. When I filled my H1b application, I was dropbox eligible but i had chosen New Delhi as my consulate/preferred site.
Can I do dropbox in Chennai? As those are the only dates available
2. My job starts Feb 15th, there are no slots atm till March. Is there anything I can do? Any chances that slots may open up in other centers?
Check More details on your question about dropping off document at another consulate.
Yes, they do release slots as some capacity opens up. It can be random and hard to predict how many they will release. They will update everyone if a large set is released.
Please share the list of documents required for first time H1B DROPBOX
Check H1B Dropbox Checklist
Hi All,
I have a Dropbox appointment on Jan 24 2024 at Chennai for H1B stamping. I don’t see any slots opening for other centers other than Chennai which is full till Feb .
Do you think USCIS will release any more slots in other centers in late dec or Jan ? As of now no appointment slots seen for mumbai Delhi Hyderabad Kolkata
Abhishek,
To clarify, firstly USCIS does not release slots, it is US Department of State. Coming to your question, Yes, they do release slots as some capacity opens up. It can be random and hard to predict how many they will release. They will update everyone, if a large set is released.
As dropbox processing in centralised in Chennai, do u think USCIS will be able to deliver the dropbox processing commitment in 7 to 10 business days from Jan 24 onwards, as they say while taking odciment at the dropbix window?
Lak,
Well, it is very hard to say. It is an administrative change, but we do not know if they really increased the capacity to address the demand. We could expect some improvement, let’s see.
My husband is on H4 and I am on H1b status. Because of limited stamp appointment dates, he got his appointment on Jan 18 and I got on Jan 25. We are traveling back on feb 27. Will that be any issue with the stamping process.
Roani,
Usually less. But, having said that, hard to say as you are the H1B holder and he is dependent. Usualy, it is suggest to do at the same time or main applicant does first and then the dependent.
My son has an appointment on 16th Jan in Chennai and ne needs to be back by 27th in the US for his project and has booked tickets accordingly Can his visa be expedited in any manner? Kindly advise asap
Well, it is hard to say if they would approve expedite appointment. It is up to the US consulate discretion. He can try for sure stating business reason.
I think submitting the Dropbox on Jan 16 he should get his passport back within -3-4 days and he should be good to fly back on 27. I had Dropbox at Kolkata last year and
I received my stamped passport within a single day . You never know.
My son has an appointment at chennai on 6 th Jan 2024 .
Can he drop his passport in Mumbai on the same date and time ?
He has a ticket to travel back to USA on 15th Jan 2024 for his job :
a) will he get his passport back in normal course ?
b) can he request for an expedited appointment via an interview ?
Ajay S,
Yes, he can drop in Mumbai.
a) well, this is hard to say due to various factors. You can see the above processing times average. Factor in some buffer and then ask him to plan.
b) Well, unless, he falls under certain criteria, he cannot request expedite appointment. He would know, ask him to check with consualte.