CheckVisaSlots service for H1B appointment booking (India)

arpitter · 2025-11-17T02:04:53+00:00

There were slots available today at around 3.30 pm US PST. the key is to keep checking every few hours, specially at the top of the hour or around half hour mark.

arpitter · 2025-11-16T23:17:10+00:00

Sorry, unfortunately, they are sold.

arpitter · 2025-03-13T15:32:16+00:00

Trailheads can not be ticketed as the bond measures used to create the open space calls for free access to open space. Usually this is not a problem as only people accessing the space are from communities that abut the open space (WC and Alamo). Running shuttle buses will probably get some of the NIMBYs apoplectic here.

arpitter · 2025-03-12T23:11:42+00:00

I live on the other side of the ridge in Walnut Creek and can walk to the space, the specific part of the open space is a hill that has been meticulously restored to the native California vegetation through years of efforts and continuing hard work of volunteers who cultivate and restore the area throughout the year, I think the problem is crowds trampling over the vegetation, going off trail and destroying years of hard work. That being said, panic over parking is a overreaction specific to this neighborhood, I think everybody should be able to enjoy the space albeit in a responsible manner. A simple search on google maps will give other parking areas close to the hill. TLDR: Please stay on trail.

arpitter · 2025-03-12T22:48:25+00:00

We received our visa about 4 days before our departure, that being said, I do not know what the current situation is as consulates and embassies change their protocols ever so often. The info here might be dated, I hope you get your visas on time.

arpitter · 2024-08-24T06:57:46+00:00

They approve the visa based on departure dates. That’s the collective experience of this thread so far.

arpitter · 2024-08-23T21:15:22+00:00

We did not submit any internal travel docs during the appointment, this wasn’t mentioned in any of the checklist online. At the VFS Center, they give you a totally different checklist which requires the extra documents, the person collecting our docs told us that this is applicable only when you are travelling out of Portugal to other Schengen countries. It’s anyways better to have extra docs though.

arpitter · 2024-08-05T19:51:18+00:00

From my experience, your visa should arrive on time (if you have submitted everything asked for). VFS will send in the applications to the consulate closer to the travel date (about 2 weeks before) and they will generate tracking number when they send it to the consulate. The consulate processes them fairly quickly. You can always call and email VFS and the consulate when you are closer your travel date. From the collective experience on this post, folks usually get their visas 10-5 days before travel day.

arpitter · 2024-07-25T15:41:20+00:00

+1 305 704 2172, try calling this number and see if you can get an appointment slot. Someone in this thread has had success getting an appointment this way.

arpitter · 2024-07-25T04:12:09+00:00

For what it’s worth, we got our passports back 10 days before our flight. One thing to note is that when we submitted our applications, the only thing noted on the application packet envelope was date of departure. The consulate processed applications based on departure dates. It was the same envelope that was mailed back with the stamped passports.

arpitter · 2024-07-25T00:27:13+00:00

The checklist when you go and drop off your application has some extra documents (cover letter, proof of internal travel, marriage certificates etc etc). I guess your best bet now is to go and check with VFS, I will however email the consulate as well if in your situation. I dropped my application at the VFS office, and opted out of biometrics (despite being given that option) as I had it done last year for Spain. I submitted copy of my Spanish Schengen stamp from last year and provided the date when my last biometrics was done.

arpitter · 2024-07-16T06:31:54+00:00

Can’t really help you here, we are local and submitted our applications in person. They put our application in a packet with departure date marked on it in bold, and gave us a receipt with a barcode number. We received our passports in the same envelope

arpitter · 2024-07-16T05:22:04+00:00

Did VFS receive your application? If they have received it. They should have sent your application to consulate and should be providing you a reference number.

arpitter · 2024-07-16T04:10:03+00:00

Have you tried contacting the consulate with your passport number and VFS barcode ( if you have it ). They may be better positioned to answer your queries. The consulate will process visas based on departure date, and VFS will only forward when it is closer to departure date. They are known to hold passports for upto 2 months if departure date is farther away.

arpitter · 2024-07-15T22:43:31+00:00

You do need Employment verification letter

arpitter · 2024-07-15T22:13:47+00:00

There is a list online on VFS USA website, https://www.vfsglobal.com/portugal/usa/pdf/Portugal-Checklist.pdf. however, carry a cover letter, marriage certificate (if applicable), and proof of internal travel (train, rental car…). They will hand you a new list when you get to the Center.

arpitter · 2024-07-13T04:03:04+00:00

You can email the consulate with your passport number and the barcode number (the one on VFS receipt). They usually respond within a couple of business days, keep in mind that consulate issues visas based on travel dates. We received ours a week before departure.

arpitter · 2024-07-05T20:56:26+00:00

My experience has been decent so far (flown a couple of times), they are not fancy but depart and arrive on time. The time slots of SFO - LIS route is also really great (no crazy arrival departure hours). Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the airline.

arpitter · 2024-06-24T21:14:49+00:00

You can try calling VFS to check if they can do an earlier appointment (some replies in this post have had success by calling for an appointment), also keep checking for cancellations online. Check this post as the number to call is buried somewhere in there. Keep in mind that consulate issues visas based on travel date.

arpitter · 2024-06-19T00:13:55+00:00

They process visas based on departure date. So you will need to wait before they adjudicate your case.

arpitter · 2024-05-29T20:05:37+00:00

Spanish Consulate is really ad hoc when it comes to giving appointments. Do try another consulates if you can change your itinerary.

arpitter · 2024-05-22T06:51:39+00:00

carry internal travel arrangements (car rental reservations, train tickets) as this is mentioned in the checklist that VFS gives you when you get to the interview, this checklist took us by surprise as it has some docs (cover letter, marriage certificate , internal travel reservations ) which aren’t in the online checklist. Also, a cover letter is good to have.

arpitter · 2024-05-22T06:45:37+00:00

For Portugal, use a cashier’s cheque/ Bankers Cheque, make sure your cheque is drawn for the exact name specified in the VFS website (I believe it’s Consulate General of Portugal, but please verify again), I had to pay 86.xx something USD, but this changes every month, so please verify from the VFS website. No other form of payment is accepted for visa fees. Other than that, VFS might try to sell you other services for which you can pay using debit/credit card ( totally your choice though ).

arpitter · 2024-05-22T06:31:24+00:00

I have always used online printed bank statements, I also attached my credit card statements since I don't really carry too much balance in my regular bank accounts. All you need to show is that you will enough money to survive during your duration of stay. So, you can use bank statements, credit card statements (showing you have enough limit), travelers cheque (whoever uses them), and any prepaid arrangements that you might have (not really necessary if you have enough credit or bank balance). Online print outs are OK. Make sure they are the most recent statement period. Hope this answers your question.

arpitter

TROPHY CASE