i94 not taken from passport - h1b visa interview

[chetanbagga0]

Hi,

I recently traveled back from the US and had a visa interview at the Mumbai consulate. After the interview I was told that my visa (H1b) was approved, and I should get it within 3-5 days.

 

I did however notice that my passport still had the i94 attached to it. The delta employee did not take it off the passport where I boarded. 

 

Would this affect my chances of getting my visa? 

 

When I try to track my visa on the ceac website, it says “Administrative Processing”. Granted its been only about 30 hours since my interview, I was a little worried. I was not given an 221g form, but was clearly told my visa has been approved.

 

 

Any insight would be helpful! Thanks!

[jairichi]

 

Hi,

I recently traveled back from the US and had a visa interview at the Mumbai consulate. After the interview I was told that my visa (H1b) was approved, and I should get it within 3-5 days.

 

I did however notice that my passport still had the i94 attached to it. The delta employee did not take it off the passport where I boarded. 

 

Would this affect my chances of getting my visa? 

 

When I try to track my visa on the ceac website, it says “Administrative Processing”. Granted its been only about 30 hours since my interview, I was a little worried. I was not given an 221g form, but was clearly told my visa has been approved.

 

 

Any insight would be helpful! Thanks!

 

No issue with I94.

Wait for status change. It is too quick to expect "issued" in status update.

[pontevecchio]

This has no connection to your visa. If it is a PIMS issue you should be able to get the visa in a few days.

[t75]

There is late submission procedure for unreturned I-94s. It should not be an issue but no stamping is guaranteed.

[maverickp]

You already have your visa stamped, what other "chances" are you talking about anyway?

And in any case, the whole I-94 system has been moved away from the older paper-based system to an online system now. That means, when you enter the US next, you won't be given a paper I-94. You passport would be stamped by the Immigration officer at the PoE, but instead of getting a paper I-94, you will have to retrieve your I-94 electronically, at this link: 

 

@t75: Many airlines, from what I know, don't bother collecting paper I-94s these days on flights going out of the US, because the system has been set up to generate your departure record automatically from the airline's flight passenger manifest. My old paper I-94 was not taken by the airline either, and when I went for my stamping, I asked the visa officer who said it's not a problem. Also, I wasn't asked about it when I came back to the US, so I'm guessing it shouldn't be an issue and you don't need to go in for the late I-94 submission procedure anymore.

[chetanbagga0]

Thanks for the clarification guys!

@Maverickp I don't have my visa stamped yet, just got a nod from the VO that the visa will be issued. My passport is currently with the consulate under "Administrative Processing". Hoping that changes soon enough.

[maverickp]

Well, that means the visa should be approved, pending admin processing. Don't worry about the I-94 being removed, it's not necessary now in any case because the paper-based I-94 system has been phased out :)