Business Visa - B1

Hi

Guys,

Even though the status is showing Origination scan on your passport status, give a try to collect it from your nearby OFC center.. provided you have chosed OFC center as pick up location. The same status was showing for last three days, it was available at OFC..once the passport was picked up...it changed the status to picked up. Possibly this info might help you.

Ths status now is 'The current status of your passport is In Transit From Post.'

I had appeared for my interview on 01st October, been tracking the status of my passport since Tuesday, seen multiple status messages from origination scan, to in transit with post, etc etc. very cryptic and not really making sense at all. Any one know better?

I went for the interview at Chennai. My allotted time was morning 7:45 on September 25. Arrived at the counslate about 30 minutes earlier. It was like frenzy at the counslate even people with 10 am time were in the que. But those guys were thrown out of the que by the security guys. After security checks, a hand biometric scan was taken. Also make sure all of carry a rs 100 with u as they may say that our photo might not be in us visa standard and we must take a new one. But dont worry there is a photo clicking oppurtunity within the counslate.
Ok then here are my interview questions.
VO: How are you?
ME: Fine thank you. Hw r u?
VO: Fine, You are working in XYZ company right?
ME: Yes.
VO: What do they do?
ME: It is a manufacturer of xyz products and systems.
VO: Great. Why are u going to US?
ME: to attend meeting and discussions at our head office on our xyz product line.
VO: Ok, what is your post.
ME: Explained my post.
VO: Experience
ME: xx years
VO: OK, You are good to go to US.

My advice: guys dont be nervous. Dont flutter, Dont over do the awnsers.

Hi All,

Now the procedure has been changed and instead of one day it is now for two days.

First Day, I had a biometrics. It was done in 15 mins.
Second Day, I had an appointment with the VO and also before that they took my finger prints once more. Then after all I got my token number and was waiting for my turn. My number was displayed and I went to meet the officer, here comes the conversation:

VO: Good morning
Me: Very good morning Officer
VO: How are you doing?
Me: Replied and asked him the same and he replied the same.
VO: Let me check your details in the computer.
Me: I waited
VO: Oh you are working for YYYY company?
Me: Yes
VO: Who is your client?
Me: ZZZ
VO: For how many days are u travelling?
Me: Just for 3 weeks
VO: Are u married?
Me: No
VO: Purpose of visit?
Me: Started explaining...

Then comes the word. "Your Visa is approved sir, you will get in a weeks time". The officer I met was really a gentleman. I was really thankful to him.

Regards,
ZZZ

Dear b1 b2 visa applicant those who are given an interview for b1 b2 visa in september and october plzz post full interview questions and what happened in vfs because us consulate change the visa procedure soo plzz post full comments acctual what happeneds in consulate and embassy because i m going to interview in october thank you.

Thanks a lot Immihelp for providing a very good platform to share and discuss our experiences. Here is my experience though it is bit lengthy, I hope it will be helpful.

As most of you people might already knew, that there have been some changes in US Visa procurement starting 27th Sep 2012. I attended my B1 Visa Interview on 27th Sep 2012 at Chennai(Actually it got scheduled on 20th Sep, thanks to Islam protests and Bharat Bandh, it got to be postponed) and believe me there was a confusion in very possible step, mainly due to lack to training for VFS staff and Security staff at US embassy about new procedure.

Now we need to take two appointments one for Biometrics at VFS and one for actual Visa Interview. In my case appointment for Biometrics fell on 26th Sep 2012 (No other options are provided) and
Interview can be scheduled on following days, so I picked up the very next day at early in the morning slot (07:30 AM).
On 26th Sep, I visited VFS office in Canotaph Road, Teynampet which is around 3-4 Kms for Us embassy.
The place is already crowd when I reach there at 02:30 PM (I had 03:00 slot) and I felt bit uneasy with environment as it is in 1st floor and no proper ventilation or AC available. A VFS guy calls out by Applicants by name and ask as to form a queue in order. So it doesn't matter when you arrive, as No first come first serve basis is applicable. I suggest you all to be there exactly on time. Once after getting into VFS and followed by Security checking, you are provided with a token and asked to sit in a lobby, which exactly resembles the actual US visa interview lobby. So its more like a mock interview. On calling, we have to submit our passport and appointment letter and VFS staff (one sits behind the window) may ask you some questions to make feel bit easy and then we are suppose to give our finger prints impression followed by a photograph taken by them (So no need to get a photograph on our own :) ). That's it but in between the VFS staff struggled a lot to take my photograph, purely due to lack of experience in handling a Camera..true and VFS staff from other counter came running saying Server is down. All the time I was like Oh boy what a time I had.

On 27th Sep, I visited Us embassy at 6:30 AM (I had 07:30 slot), eventually the first one in the morning there and security staff made me to wait until 07:15 (they have no idea of changed norms, there expecting the old format of appointment letter and after looking into my appointment letter, they said I have to go to VFS office, I tried to explain them but in vain. After looking all others appointment letters they started to run here and there) and finally allowed me in after thorough security checks. I am forwarded to counters where they use to take Biometrics before, here I am asked for passport and appointment letter and Initially, I have no idea why they made wait in front of the counter for long time, I heard the staff talking in Telugu saying they waiting for someone, may be their superior to have a look into the new appointment letter. After 15 mins, a guy walked in and training started.....second episode started. After some time, they gave me token number N1 looking into my confused face. Immediately I am called by another counter and I got to know that they are using me as test data to test the process of biometrics submission at VFS. The test passed and I am allowed to enter the Visa lobby.

After little waiting, my token number flashed on the screen and I went to the window with bit nervousness.

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning
VO: Where are going to, in US sir?
Me: Houston
VO: Repeated "Houston"
Me: Yes
VO: what is the duration of your visit?
Me: 2 weeks
VO: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: I am going to visit my parent company to attend few....
She interrupted me asking
VO: For which company are you working for?
Me: YYYY X
She didn't got it.
Me: Spelled my company name.
I continued with telling her my purpose of visit
Me: I am going to visit my parent company to attend few business meeting and to visit our client.
She interrupted me again asking
VO: Who is your client?
Me: YYYY XX
VO: oh! then you are travelling to Seattle.
Me: Yes
VO: Is it within 2 weeks
Me: Yes
VO: Ok, what is your current salary per annum?
Me: XX lakhs XX thousands

and then the golden words followed saying "your visa is approved sir"
Me: Thank you
VO: oh wait a moment, we have some changes in the procedure, so you select the place where you need to pick up your passport right?
Me: Yes

that's it.

I been to consulate office today and faced my B1 Visa Interview. I'll not state all the discrete details of the interview process as its all common some or other way. I want to give my conclusion for those who are first time scheduled for the same.

Please take care of following points:
1) Be what you are, don't fancy yourself and endup with nervousness.
2) Be in time and try to relax your self, ie feel cool.
3) Take the interview as just a conversation to a person you met first time. You no need to feel like an applicant but like a friend, whom you are sharing about yourself.

Don't gather too much experiences from others as everyone's perception may differ for the same.

Lastly but not least, Be true to yourself.

Jai Hind
Om Shankar Mishra

My interview was scheduled on 12 Sep 12.
It got approved in just 3-4 ques.
I just wanted to say thanks to immihelp.Immihelp gives me right direction and confidence for interview.