Business Visa - B1

After my biometrics the previous day The interview was scheduled at 9AM , I was very focussed along with being nervous.
The VFS staff is pretty efficient and handle the candidates well.
Initially at the security check they found my passport photograph CD which was actually not allowed hence i had to go out and dispose it in a dust bin and come in.

The security check you documents folder , however the lady checking mine randomly rearranged all the documents when putting it back into the folder. Hence please be careful about that.

eventually I was called in for the interview after waiting for around 30 mins the questions were very simple -

Q Where do you work?

Q when was you company started

Q how long are you going there for

Q why are you going to the US?

I answer all of the above confidently and the Golden words were said!

I wish you all the best , Stay focussed and confident these are most important factors.

Myself and My collegue from our Team were scheduled for 8:00 AM at the Consulate.

We declared as travelling alone in the DS 160

We were alloted with consecutive token numbers. Later we were assigned to the same Visa Officer.

Collegue went first.

Next my turn:

I presented my passport with a smile and wished "Good Morning" to the officer with eye to eye contact.

Q: Why do you want to go US?
Me: To attend Business meeting with our On-Shore BPO Team

Q: How many of you are travelling together?
Me: For this meeting, I'm the only person who will be travelling

Q: How? one more person also applied for the visa from YOUR COMPANY for the same meeting? Just now...
Me: Actually, I'm attending the meeting with our on-shore team, who are working for our client called "XYZ". XYZ Teams have several process teams like A, B, C etc. He may applied for different meeting with the same client.

Q: How long you have been with YOUR COMPANY
Me: 1 Year 8 Months

Q: Where are you going in US?
Me: Our Office in CITY, State

Q: How long you will be stay there?
Me: 3 to 4 Weeks

Q: Are you getting your wife with you?
Me: No

Q: How many children do you have?
Me: 2 Kids.

Your Visa is Approved. Have a great stay.

Me: Thank you mam.

My Suggestion: Employees having same consulate appointment schedule can avoid the consecutive token numbers in the queue. So that they will be assigned to different officers. This would avoid unnecessary questions during the questionnaire.

Hi All

First of all, a huge thanks to all memebers in this forum who shared their experiences here. It was the best learning.
Don't overdo it. Just read the first few pages one day before you're going. It's the best training you can ever get.

My OFC was on 7th May.
It was pretty straight forward. Too many people come in 1 hour early. Just be there ten mins before hand.
If your appt is at 9, they will call you in sharp at 9. It doesn't matter if you come in 2 hours early.

Please do not take any bags or electronics to both OFC and the Visa. I had a tough time because of this...trying to keep my bag outside. Had to leave it unprotected on my bike unprotected. Thankfully it was there when I came back :P

Just take the necessary docs alone. Passport, DS160 and appt confirmation.
OFC process is pretty straight forward. It will end in 15 mins. You'll get a stamp on ur DS160 from here.

Visa Consulate
Best experience ever. Was there just ten mins before hand. Don't bother going in early in the hot sun. There's no point anyway.

Again don't take any thing on you other than documents.
No wallets - just carry some cash 100rs should do
No cellphones - they have a facility to keep these but better to not take it
Note: there will be auto guys and other local people saying they have a token system for your valuables. Although they are genuine, they charge you 100 bucks for it. Instead, the consulate itself has a cart outside, where u can keep your pen drives, mobile phones etc. But even for this, you have to stand in a queue, get sent out by the security, then stand in another queue for the cart guy to give you a token. Better to avoid all this BS
dont take any liquid medicines, chewing gum, sealed envelopes, CDs (photo CDS are not allowed inside dont take it), body lotion, children's medication, chapstic etc

Chit chat with people in the queue. They talk about them, you talk about yourself. If the person seems positive keep talking, else stop talking to them. They could totally ruin your mood.

Long queue, security frisking, then you get to show your passport and DS160 and appt confirmation
They will stick the token number on ur passport and send you in

Here they will check your documents
No sealed envelopes. Open them all. Or you will be asked to do it
I had a CD ...I was asked to go out and give it to the cart guy
I waited in a queue for half hour till he said they dont take CDs and I had to just trash it
Unnecessarily got delayed by half hour here

Security will check your docs thoroughly - No electronics - ipods, pendrives, externals etc
Then once they let you in, the will ask u to stand in a queue

Finger prints will be done here. Then they will ask you to go to the next building.
Its a hall full of people and you might feel a little shy cuz everyone can hear what you and your VO will be talking about

Get used to the system. There's a bit of a waiting here.
They will flash your token number on the TV. Wait for your turn.

I overheard some convos with VO and applicants

Last time you applied for 3 months. Now you are applying for 1 month.
*astonished*You sold paint and your company gave you a leisure trip? How much paint did you have to sell for that?
Have you had trouble with the police in India? Applicant -> yes, just once for a menial....blah

Most often repeated questions

Why are you going to the US
Where
How long
Why so long?
Why were you chosen for this
Will you be working there

I rehearsed my answers to these questions in my head, everytime I overheard someone being asked

Then I got my number on the TV and went to the window

Read in this forum that, if your VO is a middleaged American guy, you're in luck. It was true.

I had an american guy. 5 people ahead of me
1. Husband and wife, middle aged - Pinkslipped
2. Young guy late 20s rejected with this --> "Visa is approved - I have no problem in approving your visa but you have applied for the wrong category. If you reapply I will happy to approve your visa. seems like you have already been to the US so you should know this"
3. Young girl with mother - approved
4. Unconfident guy in 20s - Rejected No questions
5. Myself - approved as below

I was wearing my company tag. Its an international MNC

VO: Oh you work for ZZZ?
Me: Yes I do

VO: passport please
Me: Gave it

VO: How long have you been with them?
Me: 3.5 years

VO: and you will be going to the US for?
Me: Conference on YYYY

VO: How long is the conference?
Me: 2 days

VO: How long will you be staying?
Me: 1 week

Then the golden words "Your visa is approved. Have a nice stay"

No documents required, no further questions.

Here are some tips I got mostly in this forum and worked out in my favor

1. Smile and be confident
2. Be genuine. Look at the VO in the eye. Mostly they look at you
3. Keep your docs super intact - have proof for everything - makes u feel 100% confident even if they are not going to ask for it
4. Dress well. Tie/Blazer anything that makes u look professional. Don't roll up your sleeves. Treat this like a job interview
5. Don't ask for too long. Then they will ask you unnecessary questions. Best bet to ask for 1 week on a B1. Ask for 1 week. Ensure this matches your DS160. Your DS160 and the days of stay when you tell the VO should either be in sync or u should request for lesser number of days than mentioned in your DS 160.
6. Thank the officer while leaving. Don't get too excited and forget to thank.
7. Don't be jumpy, nervous or shifty while standing in the queue.
8. wait behind the line in the queue. after the other guy is done, they will ask you to come up. Wait for them to call you. Don't rush into the window as soon as the other guy leaves. wait for them to call you.

 Hi All,

I got my B1 visa successfully on 18th Apr on my first attempt (I had apply for B1 visa last year also but couldn’t able to appear for interview due to some reason).

On 10th Apr I had my figure print scan from Nehru place Delhi center.
On 18th Apr I have scheduled interview at 9:30 AM and reached 9 AM there, bit of crowdie with 70-80 peoples in one slot.

You will not allowed to take any electronic device like mobile/bag/sharp thing inside except your documents/passport so better not to bring all other stuff but at the first check point they have facility to keep these extra stuff in there locker so you can handle them.

At first check point the security only scan the barcode on your DS 160 and after that you been asked to flow the queue and enter the embassy building.

Here you have to go thru the full body scanning similar to the airport check in where you were asked to put your Document/purse/keys in bucket to go thru the scanner.

After this you will come to another counter where you will be providing a token number. There are lots of LCD screen mounted all over there which were flashing the current token number of applicant’s whose interview was going on at Visa councilor counter.

Now I come to another Hall where I have to undergo figure scanning once again to match with my Nehru place figure prints. Then finally I was at the place where the entire applicants were sitting on chairs in front of VO glass window. There are screen above the VO window flashing the current and next queued applicants’ standing in a line similar we take ticket at any movie hall ?.

I waited for my turn which was according to our token number, even if you miss your turn then asked the attended there they will arrange in between.

Now comes my turn, a girl standing in front of me and she got her visa, so I thought in my mind that I wouldn’t be getting as they might have this ratio to give one in 4 or 5.

Me: Good Morning officer. (Gave my passport to her)
VO: Good Morning.

She scanned my token slip.

VO: Who is sponsoring your Trip?
Me: xxx India Pvt Ltd Mam. (My employer in India)

VO: (surprisingly) xxx, Why you want to go to US?
Me: Mam, Actually My client yyy Inc has signed some new client in Singapore and India so they want to meet me face to face to discuss their future expansion and product methodologies. (She was just looking into my eyes while I am giving this answer to judge me I think and I also constantly looking her in to eyes while replying.

VO: (typing): Why you have chosen?
Me: Mam I am the senior most person in this project working from almost 1 year and mave 6 years of experience in retail domain.

VO: (typing) What you do in your company?
Me: I am the Team Lead handling my client yyy Inc web development project and mentoring the work of my 4 team members.

VO: How long you want to stay?
Me: only 2 week mam.

And then the golden words, Your visa is approved and hand over me a visa approval card.
Me: Thank you mam.

Tips:
1) I was wearing formal pant/shirt with a tie.(Not more that 10 % were wearing a tie, I saw a guy who have his sleeves up and his visa was rejected, So its totally my assumption the your presentation mattered a lot as they have just few seconds to judge you, my interview just last for 20-25 sec).
2) I am the only person there having my company ID around my neck.
3) Remember confidence is the key I had prepared answer of these usual questions but I forgot the exact word so I gave them answer which actually happening in my project in plain simple words.
4) Don’t get confused and don’t create answer in front of VO as in this case you will stammer and make VO confused.

Best of luck to others.

Hii first of all thank you immi web site
This site make our confidence on top and it's wonderful for the knowledge
Me b1/b2 and wife gets b2 visa .only talk confidently and truly you will get it.ok
Thanks to all messengers

Here is my experience guys.

First of all thanks to "immihelp" for their website.

I have applied for B1 in Chennai.
10th Apr - Biometrics
11th Apr - Visa interview.

Biometrics - Went to Teynampet OFC.

My appointment was on 8:30AM. Reached there by 8:00AM. Saw a line standing outside and I was at the last person.
After few minutes, security person came and asked the people stand in a line (this is for 8:00AM). That line moved quickly. Next is 8:30AM line. This went quick.

After entering in they checked the UID and sent in, followed by security check and was given a token.

Photograph taken along with finger prints. Done. Hardly 15min.

Visa Interview:

Appointment was at 8:30AM. Reached by 7:45AM. Big line.
8:30 AM and 8:00AM line seperated. Our line started once the 8:00AM line completed.

Outside checked the DS-160 form,Stamped and affixed a sticker (token no) to my passport.
Moved-in, security check for belongings - Done
Again entered into another line for biometrics - it was quick.
Entered into the next building. Within 15min my turn has come.

The person infront of me got his visa rejected. I was tensed.
So, here is the interview

Me: Good Morning
VO: No reply
VO: Passport plz.
Me: Gave it to him.
VO: Why r u travelling?
Me: Training
VO: How long?
Me: 4 weeks.
VO: What you do in HCL?
Me: xxxxxx (very short)
VO: Will you work if you go there?
Me: Nope
VO: Your visa is approved. Have a nice stay.
Me: Thanks.

To avoid messing things. Don't carry other stuff apart from your DS-160 and related doc's. Keep it simple.
Also, I am having my company TAG around my neck.

I saw many people came with formals (most of them having new ones). I just went normal with formal pant and shirt.

All the best to others.

Weird experience! I didn’t get B1 VISA in April 2013. I applied in 2007 for B1, my company was 2 months old, 2 employees, had 1 invitation letter mentioning that I’ll stay at client’s home because I had good terms with him and he wants to help me.

I wanted to meet 4 clients for major discussion and defining the scope of project. I booked hotel, bought air ticket (to save money because interview date and my travel date has 1 week difference).

C: Good morning
Ans: Very good morning

C: Why you want to go to the USA?
Ans: I want to meet my existing clients and their business partners to discuss technical issues for the next phase of the project and sign contracts.

C: how long you want to stay?
Ans: 1 month

C: Want to meet just one client for a month?
Ans: I’m going to meet other clients as well.
(*my intention was to say other existing clients. I had invitation letters from all, total 4 clients)

C: You applied 5 years ago, why didn’t you get VISA on that time?
A: Not sure, may be my company was young on that time!!

C: What’s your company name?
Ans: xxx
(*she was keep typing from the beginning and was typing at this time too)

C: What’s your income?
Ans: Rs. x,00,000 a month
(*x lakh was true based on provisional docs, but I mentioned 25k less in the D-160)

C: how many employees you do have?
Ans: 14

C: Do you have clients in other countries?
Ans: I said name of 4 countries

C: why are you not going to other countries and want to go to the USA?
Ans: It never required to go other countries and there is a requirement this time to go to the USA.

C: Are you married?
Ans: Yes

C: Sorry you’re ineligible to get VISA this time, but you can reapply next time.

Hello All,

My B1 visa application was rejected on 25th Feb, 2013. Now I am going to Re-Apply again in next 15 days or so. But please help me what can I do now to make sure that it does't get rejected again or even increase the chances.

Are they going to reject the B1 application if re-applied within 2 months?
Do I need to come up with new information? in terms of Reason for visit and New client?

Please suggest so I can make sure of all things this time.

I am writing here the previous visa interview conversation. FYI - My rejection reason was 214(B)



Q) Why do you want to go US?
A) My company has got new project and I have to go for requirement analysis and studying their system where project is going to be installed.

Q) How many days?
A) 10 days

Q) Who is your employer?
A) xxx

Q) What is your salary?
A) xxx per ann.

Q) How many years of exp?
A) With my employer? 6 years (VO said yes, so I mentioned no. of years I spent with current employer)

Q) What is your designation?
A) Tech Lead

Q) What is your role in your company?
A) I have to manange team of 3-4 persons, I have to assign them task and guide them when needed.

Q) Why you are selected to go US?
A) I have been working with this Client's project for last 2 years and being most senior person, my company and client decided that I would go. I brief VO about the system I am going to study over there.

Q) Have you travel before?
A) NO

Q) VO asked me but I couldn't hear the question properly but I think VO asked : Will you do work there?
A) NO. (I could have asked VO to repeat the question)

VO was typing something is computer meanwhile I was answering the above questions.

Q) So, who got the new project? (your client or your company)
A) My client ( I made mistake here in hurry. I had mentioned first that our company has got new project. I was bit upset by my not hearing properly)

VO again typed something in computer and said.. I am really very sorry. your visa application can't approved at this time. I was given reason 214(B)

I was not asked about my marital status and child. I am married and have one kid.

Can you please share your thoughts about finding my reason of rejection and how can I improve that in next month when I apply again.

Thanks in advance.

Jbhavsar.

As of now my two visa's are rejected earlier L1(two years back) and B1(last week) i had always thought that obtaining visa is very simple i have good qualification/working in a good comapany and sponsership by the company is sufficient to obtain visa. When my L1 was was reject i was not affected much because company choose some of the people and apply for L1 blanket petition for all of us and some of the employees has visa rejected and some obtained sucessfully also. After working for eight year in my company i got the apportunity to go to USA for attending the conference for the product i am specialist on. I did get invite for the conference and i was very hopeful that time that i would got the b1 visa.

I went to embassy last week for my visa interview.

I was asked following questions.

Q Was your visa rejected earlier
My Answer yes L1

Q what was the reason for the rejection.
My Answer (as i was not sure about the reason) i answered at that time i was suggested that i should apply for H1 visa.

Q why haven't you apply for H1 then after
My Answer Because project requirement for getting long term visa was over by then and now i need b1 visa only.

Q Where are you going?
My Answer USA....place name

Q What is the purpose of the trip?
My Answer attending conference

Q How it is beneficial
My Answer I would learn product enhancments in the conference that we would further use in implementing solutions for our clients.

Q Are you married, mam?
My Answer No i am not married.

Q What is your designation?
My answer deputy consultant.

Q What is salary?
My answer i told my salary..

The i have been told that my visa was rejected under section 214(b)


Attending this conference is very important for my company and me. And my company want me to reapply for it again as the coference is in April(next month)

Could you please guide me is there any chances of getting visa approved after the first rejection and anything i missed in my answers that streghten the chances of visa approval.

Thanks in Anticipation.

This was my first time for any visa interview and had seen many rejections in last couple of weeks for my colleagues, so was not exactly hoping that I will get through. But as luck would have it...

Day 1: I had 830 appointment for biometrics which happens in Trade Center building in BKC. Reached there at around 730. They started the process at 8 and I was out with my photo and fingerprints taken by 815. Whoa!

Day 2: Judgment Day! I had 745 appointment in US embassy in BKC. Reached there at 7 and was greeted with an already long queue. But it started moving by 715. Within half an hour I was through the security check and had received the token number. After fingerprinting (again!), I had to wait till 845 for my number to be called for interview. I saw 3 B1 getting rejected in front of me with the lady VO being very stern. This is how mine went:

Q: Why are you going to the US?
A: I am going there for requirement gathering and technical discussions for the next version of my project.

Q: What do you do?
A: I am a J2EE developer and work on building blah blah…

Q: So basically software.. what’s your company name?
A: ZZZ
 
Q: How long are you with them?
A: more than a year

Q: What is your salary?
A: YYYY per annum

Q: Have you ever been abroad?
A: No. This will be the first time.

Q: Is this a new project?
A: No. I am working on this project for a year now and we are planning to start the next version next month.

Q: But why were you chosen?
A: I have around 5 years of experience of which more than a year is in this domain. And I have greatly contributed to this project for a year…

Q: Does anyone report to you?
A: No

Q: I don’t understand. You are not a team lead, no one reports to you but still your company is sending you there for this important discussions.. why?
A: In my team, there is no one else who has such knowledge of both domain and technology. I have certification in the domain too. Also, over the year I have had lot of good communications with the client and have got good rapport with them. Even when they visited our India office last year, I have had good interaction with them.

Q: Who is this client?
A: ZZZ
 
Q: How long will you be there in US?
A: One week.

Q: One week is enough for such important discussions?
A: It will basically be a high level discussion wherein we will agree on the requirements at a broader level. As we work in Agile methodology, we have daily meetings with the client to fine tune these requirements later once I am back in India.

Q: But why you need to be physically there?
A: I understand there are ways like video conferencing, but for this particular discussions the client preferred a face-to-face meeting so that there will not be any gaps in core understandings.

Then she congratulated me for visa approval and wished me a nice stay in the US.

I had good preparatory sessions with my company's travel team, but during the actual interview, I answered what came to my mind at that time and confidently. Stuck to the facts and maintained good tone and eye-contact. Also I was wearing a suit, maybe that helped a bit.

Hope this experience helps you guys in clearing your interview.
Cheers