Dropbox requirement for Kids under 14, both parents visa has expired

USA H1B
1

I booked Dropbox appointment for all (Primary + wife + kid(under 14)).
while booking the booking system suggested Dropox and I selected it.
I checked the Dropbox eligibility tool and it says all are qualified.
But when I spoke with Embasy customer care, the Agent told me, for Kids under 14, both parent should have valid Visa to qualify for Dropbox.
Q? Wondering if this is true that both parents should have valid visa(we all having family appointment on June 7, at Mumbail) would there be any issue?

Customer care agent ( 1-703-520-2239) pointed me to this official link : https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/en/renew-visa

From above link:

Eligibility criteria for children under 14 years of age:

  • I am applying before my 14th birthday.

Note: Children under 14 must submit photocopies of both parents’ passports’ biographic information and valid U.S. visa page.

2

My understanding is that if it is a family application i.e. both parents applying with under 14 children, this requirement should not be applicable. This may apply when applying H4 just for the under 14 child.

Call VFS and this time talk to agent’s manager for a more definitive answer.

1 Like
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Hi @oct2018gtest_test , did you submitted dropbox for your child along with ur application and stamped successfully?

4

Were you able to do Dropbox successfully for your kid under 14 years

5

Were you able to do dropbox for your kid under 14Yrs. Please respond.I do have the similar situation. I am planning to travel to India in july-2024 with my family(H1B/H4) for visa stamping(Our visa has expired and I797 is valid till July-2026). When trying with interview waiver, It shows that I and my wife are elligible for dropbox. My kid is 11 years old and it says that parents should have valid VISA. I am bit confused… Can we do drop box for kid(together with the family:myself + spouse + kid)… Any help on this is highly appreciated. Please respond.

Anil,please kindly suggest. Thanks.

6

Yes, I did my Dropbox today and no questions were asked. Was able to do Dropbox for my kid as well even though parents didn’t have valid visa. They just took our approved i797

Happy to help if you have any more questions

7

Thanks Pratha.

I was earlier confused as the portal says kids(under 14) would need parents valid visa. Let me also book dropbox appointment for my kid along with me. I assume that it is OK to collectively go for drop box as a family(parent + Kid…parent’s H1B visa expired but has valid I797 approval)…

It will be great if others can also share the ideas please. Thank You very much.

8

Yes it is true. It’s very confusing. I talked to lot of people and always got mixed response. So I just took a risk and went for Dropbox only.
Yes full family can take one appointment and only one person can go and submit all documents

9

I am in same situation, I and my wife eligible to drop box as expired visa in 48 months but my daughter doesn’t. I am in confusion to go drop box or interview. please confirm it once again.

10

I am in same situation, I and my wife eligible to drop box as expired visa in 48 months but my daughter doesn’t . I am in confusion to go drop box or interview. Can please share your experience if anybody went through this process recently.

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Please share status, whether they accepted or not.

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I did Dropbox for my kid as all our visas expired within 48 mths including my kid. I am not sure if 48 mth rule exist for kids below 14 years. Since my kid’s visa expired within 48 mths , I didn’t bother to cross check about the rule for the kid and hence can’t say with guarantee

13

Thank you for sharing info. I am planning to do the same. please post here if you got any update for your drop box.

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Helpdesk provided same information what they mentioned in the portal.

I think experienced people can help on this who went through this process.

15

We all got our visas stamped without any issue

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How to procced in this case.

Primary H1B has is travelling in June and has drop box in June 24.

But dependents H4(Wife+Child) are planning to travel in july are yet to get the slots. WIll they eligible for Drop box or Inperson interview,

17

I can see mixed responses here.

I am on H1B and dependents on H4.
Me and my spouse both have visas expired in March 2024.
My kid’s visa expired in March 2024.

What is preferred way to go for renewal?

  1. Dropbox for entire family OR
  2. Dropbox for parents and in-person for kid OR
  3. In-person for entire family

I called customer care twice and 1 customer care person said kid is not eligible for dropbox, while other customer care person said even though parents don’t have valid visa, still kid is eligible as kid has got H4 visa stamped in past.

19

I read in this portal,
In the same scenario, some people got approved visa through Dropbox even kid is not eligible to Dropbox. I think it’s ok take risk.

Keep in mind one check point, you have to go Dropbox appointment scheduled place If VO wants to attend in person interview after reviewing your application.