B1/B2 visa renewal dropbox timeline and interview slot booking strategies for Mumbai

Hi everyone,

I am currently navigating the US B1/B2 visa process for a planned 25th-anniversary trip with my wife, and we are dealing with two different application scenarios.

First, strictly regarding the Dropbox Renewal: My wife’s visa expires in December 2024, and we are planning to submit her renewal application via dropbox in June 2025.
Second, for Appointment Booking: I require a fresh interview. I have been attempting to secure an early slot by refreshing the scheduling portal every 2-3 hours for the last 48 hours, hoping to catch a cancellation for late 2025, but I am seeing mostly Feb 2026.

I am worried about the logistics at the Mumbai consulate. Could anyone clarify the current timeline for dropbox processing and whether my aggressive slot-checking strategy is safe? Also, what specific questions regarding “past travel history” should I prepare for during the interview?

Realizing this is not about your specific document checklist, I need to address your booking strategy immediately.

I feel compelled to share my recent timeline regarding the consulate process, which was unfortunately quite distressing.