If you're an Indian H1B holder planning to get your visa stamped in 2026, there's one thing you need to know: Hyderabad is your only option for first-time stamping.
The US Consulate in Hyderabad has been the exclusive processing center for first-time H1B visas for Indian nationals since 2023. And with the elimination of dropbox in September 2025 and new social media vetting requirements since December 2025, the process has changed significantly.
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Why Hyderabad for H1B Stamping
If this is your first H1B stamp, you're going to Hyderabad. Period. Since 2023, all first-time H/L visa interviews for Indian nationals happen exclusively at the Hyderabad consulate. Doesn't matter if you're from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, or Kolkata. (If you're doing a renewal, you have more flexibility — see our comparison of all 5 Indian consulates.)
US Consulate General Hyderabad
Address: Survey No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, Telangana 500032
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (closed US & Indian holidays)
Jurisdiction: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha + all first-time H/L visas nationwide
The $340 million consulate building opened in March 2023, right in Hyderabad's Financial District — tech corridor territory. Officers here see IT professionals all day, every day. They know the patterns, they know the red flags, and they ask detailed questions. If you work for a consulting company, expect serious scrutiny.
No More Dropbox for H1B
As of September 2, 2025, H1B is no longer eligible for interview waiver. Everyone — including renewals — must attend an in-person interview. Only B1/B2 visas retain dropbox eligibility in India.
Third-Country Stamping Ended
Since September 6, 2025, Indian citizens can no longer stamp in Canada, Mexico, Dubai, or Singapore. India is now the only option for H1B stamping.
Social Media Must Be Public
Since December 15, 2025, officers check your social media during interviews. Private profiles trigger 221(g) administrative processing. Make all profiles public at least one week before your appointment.
How to Book Your Appointment
Three things to do: fill DS-160, pay the $205 fee, and book two appointments (biometrics first, then interview). Sounds simple, but each step has gotchas.
Complete DS-160
Fill the DS-160 form at ceac.state.gov/genniv. Takes approximately 90 minutes. The session times out after 20 minutes of inactivity — save frequently.
Critical for H1B: Enter your 13-digit USCIS petition number from I-797, employer details, and list all social media accounts from the past 5 years.
Pay MRV Fee ($205)
Pay through usvisascheduling.com (replaced USTravelDocs in July 2023).
NEFT/IMPS
Activates in ~3 hours
Cash at Citibank/Axis
Next business day
Fee is non-refundable and valid for 1 year.
Schedule Appointments
Once payment reflects (24-48 hours), book two appointments:
- VAC (biometrics): Schedule 1-3 days before interview
- Consular interview: Current wait is ~75 days for H/L visas
Getting an Earlier Slot
- Book any available slot immediately — you get 1 free reschedule
- Cancellations appear most often: 6-8 AM IST, late night, Mondays
- Use slot monitoring services: checkvisaslots.com, visagrader.com
- Don't refresh too often — account gets locked for 24-72 hours
Documents Checklist
Organize documents in a clear, transparent plastic folder — sealed envelopes are prohibited inside the consulate. Use our H1B stamping documents checklist to track your preparation.
Required Documents
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- All previous passports with US visas
- DS-160 confirmation with barcode
- Appointment confirmation letter
- MRV fee receipt ($205)
- 2 photos (51mm x 51mm, white background)
H1B Petition Documents
- Original I-797 Approval Notice
- Copy of Form I-129 petition
- Certified Labor Condition Application (LCA)
- Employment verification letter
- Pay stubs (3-6 months if applicable)
- W-2 forms, tax returns (2 years)
For Consulting/Staffing Companies (Critical)
- End-client letter on client letterhead with contact info
- Statement of Work (SOW) / Master Service Agreement
- Project description with technology stack
- End client location and contact details
Interview Day: Step-by-Step
Plan for 2-4 hours total at the consulate. The interview itself takes 3-5 minutes for standard cases, but consulting company employees should expect 10-30 minutes.
Arrive 1.5-2 hours early
Store your phone in paid lockers outside the consulate (₹50 for phone, ₹100 for bags). No electronics allowed inside.
Security screening (30-45 min)
Two checkpoints. Bag check, metal detector, document verification. Have your passport and appointment letter ready.
Wait inside (30-90 min)
Queue by your token number. Use this time to mentally review your key answers.
Biometrics collection
Fingerprints taken. Quick process, usually under 5 minutes.
Interview at window (3-30 min)
You'll stand at a window, not sit. Hand over documents when asked. Answer confidently and concisely. Decision is usually communicated immediately.
Exit with your slip
Blue slip = approved. Your passport is retained for stamping. Pick up your phone from the locker.
Strictly Prohibited Inside
Common Interview Questions at Hyderabad
Hyderabad officers have your petition, LCA, and DS-160 on screen. They're verifying that your answers match the documents. Any inconsistency triggers suspicion.
Standard Questions
- • Who is your employer?
- • What is your job title and responsibilities?
- • What is your salary?
- • Which city/state will you work in?
- • What is your highest educational qualification?
- • How long have you worked with your current employer?
Consulting Company Questions (Expect Deep Probing)
- • Who is your end client?
- • Where is the client located? How big is the company?
- • Do you have a client letter?
- • Can you explain your project in detail?
- • What products does your company work on?
- • How many H1B employees does your company have?
- • Why do they need you in the US — can't you work from India?
Want to practice answering these questions? Our H1B Question Bank has 50+ questions with sample answers for each.
Practice these questions out loud
Reading answers isn't the same as speaking them confidently. Mock interviews build fluency.
For a complete list of 20+ H1B interview questions with sample answers, see our H1B Interview Questions Guide.
After Your Interview
Approved (Blue Slip)
- • Passport retained for stamping
- • Delivered via Shree Maruti Logistics
- • Typically 3-7 business days
- • Track at ceac.state.gov
221(g) Admin Processing
- • Not a denial — temporary hold
- • May need to submit additional docs
- • Wait time: 1 week to 12+ months
- • Common for: private social media, consulting cases, sensitive tech
221(g) Processing Times by Type
No docs requested
7-20 days
Docs requested
1-17 months
TAL clearance
4-8 weeks
Security cases
3-12+ months
Tips from Recent Applicants
These tips come from people who actually went through Hyderabad in late 2025 and early 2026 — what they wish they'd known beforehand:
Make social media public at least 1 week before
Officers are checking LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram during the interview. Private profiles = immediate 221(g).
Ensure LinkedIn matches your DS-160 exactly
Job titles, employment dates, company names must align. Any discrepancy raises red flags.
Know your salary, title, and work location cold
These are verified against your LCA on the spot. Hesitation looks suspicious.
Consulting employees: know your client inside out
Client company name, location, project details, your manager's name at client site, what the client does — all of it.
Dress business casual, stay calm
Formal pants, collared shirt. Neutral colors. Confident but not arrogant. Answer exactly what's asked — no extra information.
Practice with AI mock interviews
Reading answers isn't the same as speaking them confidently. We've compared 7 AI mock interview tools to help you choose the right one.
Book a hotel in Nanakramguda/Gachibowli area
Walking distance to consulate reduces morning stress. Options: Elite Hotel Gachibowli, Casa Hotel & Suites, The Vantage Inn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Look, Hyderabad in 2026 is tougher than it used to be. No dropbox, no third-country options, and they're checking your Instagram now. More hoops to jump through.
But it's still doable. Know your petition cold, have your documents organized, make your socials public, and practice answering questions out loud. For a complete preparation strategy, check our US Visa Interview Preparation Guide. Start the process 3-4 months before you need to travel — slots fill up fast, and you want buffer time if something goes sideways.
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