Aaahh!!!......And I am not Traveling to my home country!!! :(

Hi Friends,

I am posting after many days........ :)

but, I thought of writing and sharing my experience, so that others who plan for a travel and who are in a kinda similar situation like me would benefit from this!

I was happy that I could start the application and process of 'Work Visa' and currently I am in a situation, where I am just waiting for the final approval. I happily booked a Flight ticket back to my home country a month before, just now to realize I won't be able to travel due to Visa issues or rather if I travel I will have to take up H1B Consulate Interview before I enter in USA.

Now, we dependents generally feel that "Ok we have a Visa and we can plan for a travel abroad, based on the same." But believe me, its not that easy when you are in a situation where you have applied for a New visa with COS (Change of Status) or applied for a Job transfer Visa if you are already on H1B.i.e. (H1B Transfers) ......and I am sure there are many other situations depending on which Visa you are on, in this country and all the Visa transitions.

Travel.......I believe should be planned, atleast 6 months before the travel date. I know its difficult to manage incase of very busy individuals but for those on dependent visa's like ME, it's very easy to plan a travel many months before.

Things to Take a note of (in terms of Visa) , while you plan for a travel:

1) What is your current Visa status?

2) Are you in any Visa Transition - changing from F1 TO H1 or changing from H4/F2 TO H1, any company transfer visa's ?? First thing to do is, connect with your Lawyer and the Employer and try to find out if they are eligible to travel without any hassle? I would say, avoid travels to be tension free! :)

3) If yes then, what would be the consequences? - Clearly in my case I am on F2 visa and have applied for H1B under COS (Change of Status) category, so If I travel outside the country my COS would be abandoned and I would have to then take an appointment, give a Consulate interview for H1B before I enter USA. (In short get my visa stamped and then enter)

4) Definitely it also comes with lot of planning, where I will have to connect with Lawyer, get visa interview date, do all the documentation required for H1B interview...etc.

5) So be sure, about all these important factors, apart from important date of travel, and cost of tickets etc. :)

Best bet would be, connect with the Lawyers and consultants on your own, because they would never give this information to you, unless you explain and share details about your travel plan. Be proactive and gather related information and make sure, before you actually leave this country so that you have made good plans beforehand.

I am sure there are many varied Visa and Immigration cases and all differ from one another, but what help's is, we sharing important information to all those dear people whom we care so that they don't have to feel the emotional trauma of canceling all the travel plans at the last minute.

So I would say - Plan your travel ahead of time, explore all possibilities, collect detailed information and then travel! :)

Have a Happy Journey! :)

K

(Please note: I am not legally eligible and right person to quote about the visa terms and conditions etc. Here I just thought of sharing my experience so that others can benefit from the same )