Unable to schedule dropbox appointment as it shows only OFC appointment for interview

IW in the dropdown indicates Interview Waiver. I’m trying to renew my mother’s visa and until last evening it was showing Chennai IW in the dropdown and no appointments available to schedule but when it did finally open up, I only saw Chennai VAC and other VACs open up. So I had to schedule the VAC appointment and the Consular appointment for a renewal that is previously approved for Interview Waiver. Has anyone faced this? I have just scheduled one just in case and it is in Feb 2021 which was the first available appointment in Chennai. I thought I would only have to schedule one Chennai IW appointment. Can anyone please help me understand this. TIA.

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Looks like the interview waiver program is temporarily suspended by the Embassy. They asked to wait until it resumes to schedule an appointment. Thanks.

Hi,
I am in the same boat as you. Just that mine was Kolkata center and the option for IW got removed since June 9th and I am only seeing VAC appointments. Can you please give me the phone number which you called to confirm the suspension of the IW process and did they give any eta on when it will be back?

Thanks,
Ram

@Ram_Narayan it was an email reply from Visa service desk when I submitted a feedback request.
I scheduled a VAC appointment to see if I can schedule a emergency appointment but now I’m worried if I can schedule a IW appointment, if I cancel this VAC appointment. Not sure how many times we can schedule and cancel an appointment. Does anyone know?

I am eligible for dropbox as well … but every time I try to schedule it tells me no ofc appointment available … why does it show ofc appointment page at all is what I don’t understand … anyone knows what’s going on ? Are they now giving Dropbox appointments at all and that’s why it just shows ofc page ?

Try around US 12-2 AM mid-night eastern time and you will see the appointments. They are gone within an hour or so.

So, you will have to wait and book quickly.

Hi, I was trying to schedule an appointment for myself. I do qualify for a Visa Interview Wavier while applying to renew my visa.

I filled in my DS-160 online and initiated the process to schedule meeting using CGI Federal Dashboard. I kept trying for it throughout the week 1 Aug 2021 to 8 Aug 2021 without any success.

I started receiving this message “You are approaching the maximum number of times you may view this page. Please complete your transaction at this time.” as I was trying to get onto the scheduler page where I could align the appointment slot. So, the solution is to wait over night as this portal has a limit where you can only access this page 7-8 times a day. Once you see this message, you can access it again after 00:00 Hrs EST (09:30 Hrs IST).

Finally on 9 August 2021, I got to the page where I could see the available appointment slots for interview. Nothing reason to get happy or excited because the first slot available is for 31 January 2022. I had no other option but to book that slot.

Best chance for you to get onto the scheduler page is if you try to access it between 09:30 Hrs IST to 11:30 Hrs IST.

Good Luck with your interview.

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Hi, I am eligible for Interview Waiver and have tried multiple times to see any slots open up but in vain. I will try in the timeline you guys mentioned above and see if I catch any Luck :crossed_fingers:

Hi Vishawanath,

Did you get the appointment? if yes can you suggest few things, when to try and all?

Regards,
Prashant

Hello all,
Has anyone been able to schedule drop box appointments at Delhi recently? I have been checking multiple times a day for a month and have had no luck thus far.
Any word on if embassy is planning to put slots availability soon?

Yes if we check very frequently in a day they lock the account for 72 hours

Helllo, May I please know the time it took you to get the passport back with the decision after dropping the passports?

Hi! Were you able to schedule a new appointment after viewing this message? If so, then in how many days? Because I am getting the same error and I don’t know if it means that I’ve to pay the fees again?!

No, it means you have checked for slots way too many times in a day. Stop checking immediately else you will be locked out for 48-72 hours. The message you are seeing will reset in 24 hours. Try again next day.

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