Business Visa - B1

I would like to thank everyone in this forum for sharing your experience. It helped me lot during my interview. Now it's my turn to share experience had at chennai consulate .

Biometric Test : 21st Oct 2013

Admin : Can you tell your Full name :
Me : YYYY :
Admin : Your DOB :
Me : ZZZ

Personal Appearance Test : 22nd Oct 2013 @ 9:00AM

Me : Good Morning Sir
VO : Very Good Morning
Me : Given my Passport ( He did't ask me)
VO : (By Looking at my Passport) Oh ! You are travelling on H1 B , then I will keep your Passport with me.
Again: Can I have your I129 DOC?
Me : Given I129 doc ( Full 59 pages )
VO : He looked into docs and asked , Are you going to work at Client place ?
Me : Yes Sir, I am going to work at YYYY City and YYYY is our Client.
VO : ohh YYYY City . Can I have your Supporting docs,
Me : Provided BEP and I797B Original forms.
VO : what is your designation?
Me : YYYY
VO : What is your India salary ?
Me : YYYY per annum,
VO : What is your US salary ?
Me : YYYY dollars per annum
VO : Your Visa is approved ! Happy and Safe Journey . Provided white pemplet,
Me : Thank you Sir ,
VO : You are welcome :-)
If your Status is not RFE, then you already have Visa ?

Heyy guys, I attended my Visa interview today at Chennai.

For the Biometric test all they ask you is appointment letter, DS-160 confirmation page and of course your passport :).
It gets over within 5 minutes.

For the visa interview, the just ask the normal questions.
e.g.: Purpose of visit, how long are you going to stay, what is you annual package, explain about the product on which which you would be given training, are you married, where are your parents.

Just the normal questions. Be calm and composed and you'll get through it.

Visa is scheduled for 3rd & 4th Oct'2013 at Mumbai Consulate
The place is new to me, so I started by journey to BKC around 1.30 & have reached around 3.00 PM (one hour early) to the OFC centre...

3rd Oct Experience...

The OFC execute asked to keep my Mobile in the nearby locker managed by 3rd Party. They have charged Rs. 200 so better not to carry Mobile or any other electronic items...

They only checked Passport, Appointment letter & DS160 confirmation letter, if there is any mistake in Name-Surname & DOB, they ask for modification, for this also that 3rd Party would charged Rs. 200...

I entered to the Office around 3.15... and its takes only 10 minutes for all the process...

Learning form the day: Not to carry Mobile, electronic items & any luggage...

4th Oct'2013..

I joined the queue around 9.30 and after following the all the instructions, I reached to the counter for my Visa Interview.

O- Why u want to visit USA
M- Business meeting.

O- When
M- Said (date which u entered while filling application)

O- Tenure
M- 3 Weeks ( Duration which u entered while filling application)

O- Why 3 weeks
M- Explained my schedule

O- Your package
M- Said

O- Designation
M- Said

O-How many peoples you are supervising
M-12

O-Client Name
M-Said

O- Client side supervisor name
M- Said

O- R u married
M- Yes

O-Kids
M- No

O- r u taking you wife with u
M- No, this is business meeting & I don't want to disturb the same in personal stuff

O- Who will take care your wife in your absence
M- My Parents

O- Are they are living with u
M- Yes

Then the golden word comes, " I am approving your visa, have a nice trip to USA"

My personal advice to all...

1. Be confident
2. Read your application document
3. Answer short & straight
4. Look at officer eyes (very important)

I must say that all the executives & officers are very kind & soft spoken at USA embassy...

status visa granted

mom goodmorning sir

vo what is your purpose of visit united state ?

mom : family vacation with my son...tourist

vo : why your husband do not acompney you ?

mom because of old age he do not travel long
 vo when will you go to us ?

mom replied depature and arrival date and total days

vo only 15 days ?

mom yes

vo what is the bussiness of your son ?

mom replied......

then golden words came.....your visa is okk....you will get your passport soon

) Be transparent. As what I have said, the Consuls are individual who have years of experience and extensive trainings in their chosen field.

2) Be honest. As much as possible don’t lie. If you do so, tendency is you will forget what you have written on the application form and you may blow that chance of getting the visa. Whatever way the Consul will interrogate you, if you are honest with your answers, you will still give the same reply.

3) Be yourself.

4) Relax and be confident with all your answers. Never make unnecessary movements like twirling your hair or worse, biting your nails (as some unconsciously do) or make facial expressions that will distract the Consul.

5) Get as much information needed like the place you want to visit, jot down possible questions the Consul might ask you. If possible, practise in front of a mirror or with a friend.

6) One question, one answer. Don’t give too much information other than what is being asked. Keep the talkative side of you behind for a while as this may get you into trouble than good.

7) Have your presence of mind, stay focused and be attentive to the questions asked.

8) Have an eye contact.

9) Have faith in yourself.

10) Have faith in God.

11) As per my observation, the Consuls really don’t care of your financial status, what they care about is your strong ties to your country or work. That you have the intentions of going back to your country and NOT stay in the US as an illegal alien.

12) Being granted a visa is not because of the mood of the Consul during the interview as how we see it when things went wrong and denied of the opportunity. It is but by how you confidently answer and assures the Consul of your honest intentions as a tourist.

Just wanted to share my experience

Verification Officer (VO) : Took the passport and asked the company name.

Me : YYYY YYYY XX technology corporation (I was wearing the ID card).

Verification Officer (VO) : How long are you working with this company:

Me : 5 years 2 months

VO : Current package?

Me: YYYY lacs.

VO : What is your destination city in USA?

Me : Waltham (Massachusetts), he asked me the same question again and confirmed that.

 VO : does your company have a branch over there?

ME : yes

 VO : is that the head office?

 Me : I said no, and mentioned that the head office is in YYYY

VO : Thank you Sir, I am approving your visa.

Tips:

Wear formals and be confident while you answer the questions. Wear the company ID card.

In case of married people, carry the marriage certificate and photograph of the marriage ceremony or family photograph. They might ask you all these things if the spouse name is not mentioned in your passport

hiii there
i m 40years old....i put my family visa at mumbai consulate. i am gujrati. and my english is poor so i gave my interview in gujrati.
here is my visa interview quastion
me; good morning sir,
vo....did not replay...even did nt look at me.....
vo : what is your purpose of visit us ?
me ; tourist ...family vacation
vo ; where have you been travel before ?
me : in europe belgium, france, germany, austria, italy, netherland, in far esat thailand , hongkong , macau, chaina, philippines
vo: saw me your old passport ?
me: i handed over old passport
vo : how old your son ?
me : sir 14 years old sir...
vo : who will take care of your son when you travel to us ?
me : sir he will come with me on tour...
vo : where is his passport ?
me : sir he is clearing his fingerprint security so his passport is nt with me
vo : sit down and come back with your son passport
i sit down and wight for my son....vo officer took another person's interview
when my son came i go went back to window
me ; si r here is my son"s passport and mine too
vo: what is your bussiness ?
me I replaied
vo what is your duty in your bussiness
me i replied...... be specific about your work...iexplain shortly ..dont give big lacture.....
vo : what is your anual income ?
me : sir 22 lac
then magic word came...............YOU GRANT VISA you will get your passport soon ...
   me : thank you sir.....have a nice day........

really this forum and website help me lot because i read it....million .thanks to the admin of this website

key poing.
1 always tell the truth
2 read your ds 160 form carefully and fill it very carefully and fill the truth in ds 160
3 wear formal dress
4 if you fill the truth if form of ds 160 so you don't have to worry
5 never lie to visa office they are very smart.....
6 be honest...if you tell the truth in interview ...your voice will be more confident
7 be prepare well before interview practice it at home
8 be confident
9 visa office are not your enemy.... but that is their duty to check the person throughly before issuing visa.
10 saw respect and manner in your awnsering lanugage....to visa office

 thank you friend.......best of luck to all applicant.........

First Time Applicant: My Interview lasted for hardly 2 Minutes

I wish to share my pleasant experience had in the US Consulate at Chennai. I am a first time applicant of B1/B2 Visa and a first time traveler to US. I would recommend that each one apply the Form DS 160 must be filled by ourselves and for no reason, unless or otherwise needed do not make others to apply it online. It is a simple process except remembering about the details such as date of birth of mother and father, salary details (take home and gross – which you might be asked) and above all what matters is “Honesty”. There are also sample form filling sessions in You Tube, that I made use of it effectively.
I have my trip in October, 2013 but I applied well in advance to avoid last minute anxiety.
The Visa Process require two days and it is desirable that you stay in Chennai in and around the consulate in Chennai. The first day I went to TPL House at Teynampet. A long queue that moves very fast of course. The security would ask you to show your Appointment confirmation and then you would be let in the gate of TPL House. Then again another person sitting inside the gate correlates whether your given name and surname are written fully and in order ( Kindly clarify before entering form DS 160 what is Surname and what is Given name, what is Family Name, What is first Name- all imply the same). After that you would be asked to go to the front portion of the building where the guards ask everyone to sign the visitors register, which causes a slight overcrowding. After that you would go to the first floor and then immediately they would ask your passport and then stick a barcoded sticker. Then you have to proceed for photo and finger prints. At that time they would give you a form and ask you to fill it and give it the next day at the Consulate after the interview is over. Remember this is only optional only if you want the passport to be delivered at home, otherwise your passport would reach the designated place, mentioned in your Confirmation page of DS-160 Form from there you can collect it. Do not get confused and misled and loose Rs.300 unnecessarily.
Next day my interview at the US Consulate was scheduled at 10:30 – I went there around 10:00 AM and was surprised to find people have come in advance and waiting and they have made the Consulate to function in advance than the prescribed time. You can carry your mobile phone and there is a counter where the personnel of US Consulate keep it and you can collect it back after you exit the Consulate. But, respecting the guidelines I did not carry my mobile phone.
Exactly by 10:15 I was called. I was cool and collective and the ambience there is not at all stressing. You can watch old couples, newly married, kids and all people and indeed I enjoyed spending time looking at them. The token number assigned to us when we enter keeps appearing and there are some 34 counters! I reached to counter no.24 when my number appeared:

Consular Officer: Hi Sir Good Morning.

Me: Good Morning

Consular Officer: Your Number is 274 (The token number)?

Me. Yes

Consular Officer: What do you do sir?

Me: I am a Professor in the Central University of _______________

Consular Officer: To which place are you going sir and the purpose?

Me: __________ University for Lecturing Honors Student. I am invited by them.

Consular Officer: How long is you stay there sir?

Me: Just 9 Days.

Consular Officer: Have a Pleasant Trip Sir. Your Visa is approved.

Me: Thank you very much. I also wish you a pleasant stay in Chennai. Thanks Again.

The Consular Officer was indeed happy and I am sure that must be the very first reciprocation he must have got it from scores of people he meets day in and day out. I felt, he deserved such a wish and I wished him and he felt immensely happy.

That’s all.

After a day, I received a mail that my passport have arrived in the nearest Blue Dart Courier Office and I went to collect and found that I have been granted B1/B2 visa for ten years.

To recap:
1. Fill the DS-160 form yourself
2. Be Honest. The Diplomatic missions of all Countries have active access to passport details. Hence do not conceal any information – this I tell as a professor of International Relations
3. Be Polite and balanced. The Visa Officer is never a Negative person. He is there to facilitate the right person to travel to his Country.

Hello

I got my B1 Visa approved in first attempt on 18 September 2013 (US Consulate Hyderabad) at 10:30 a.m.

My appointment was scheduled at 09:00 a.m. Reached the consulate at 08:30 a.m. and stood in the queue outside the main gate. I was allowed inside at 08:45 a.m. after checking the passport. We were made to sit in batches as per the appointment timings. At 09:00 a.m. I was asked to be in queue for taking the token. The receptionist checked the passport and pasted a big sticker containing the token number on the front of passport. Then we were asked to go through the security check. After that we went to other bulding where in there was a waiting area and 2 LCD screens displaying the token numbers. I waited for about 45 minutes and at 10:05 a.m. my token number was displayed. I went at the corresponding window where already 3 members were in queue. The VO at this window was an american guy 30-35 years of age and bit serious and rude. The adjacent window had an indian guy. He was speaking hindi with senior citizens. At my window, there was a couple (with baby) giving the interview.This VO suddenly asked the lady about her date of marriage and she was caught unaware and she murmured which was not audible to the VO. He again asked and she was telling the date to her husband. The VO intervened and said you need to give the answers. Poor husband shouted at her and she told the answer. Then VO asked about their baby's date of birth and again she fumbled with the DOB saying last year september. VO got angry. I was thinking like I got the wrong window. The adjacent guy was so soft spoken and nice and was issuing visa to everyone. At the end, he gave a piece of paper to this couple and sent them. Sam thing happened with the next member, VO handed over a piece of paper to them. I don't know what was that. The guy ahead of me got the visa issued. And then my turn came. VO called me. I was not nervous or tensed but was having odd feeling.

Here are the excerpts:

ME: GOOD MORNING
VO: GOOD MORNING.. YOUR PASSPORT PLEASE..

I GAVE THE PASSPORT..

VO: PURPOSE OF TRAVEL.. (I WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THIS SINCE HE SPOKE IT AWAY FROM THE MIC)
ME: SORRY... COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT IT..

VO: PURPOSE OF TRAVEL..
ME: TO PRESENT A PAPER IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

VO WAS TYPING AND LOOKING AT THE SCREEN.

VO: WHAT DOCUMENTS HAVE YOU GOT FOR YOUR AGE?
ME: REPLIED.. AND WAS ABOUT TO SHOW THE DOCUMENT..

VO: DONT SHOW ANY DOCUMENTS AND ANSWER FACE TO FACE ALL THE QUESTIONS...
ME: YES SIR

VO: KEEP YOUR RIGHT HAND FOUR FINGERS ON THE SCANNING MACHINE
ME: KEPT THE RIGHT HAND ON THE SCANNING MACHINE

VO: WHERE ARE YOU WORKING?
ME: REPLIED..

VO was continuously typing and looking at the screen... He was hardly looking at me..

VO: WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
ME: REPLIED..

VO: WHATS YOUR DESIGNATION?
ME: REPLIED..

VO: ARE YOU MARRIED?
ME: YES..

VO: CHILDREN?
ME: NO..

VO: WHAT DOES YOUR WIFE DO?
ME: WORKS AS A TEACHER IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL..

VO: WHAT IS YOUR SALARY PER ANNUM?
ME: XX LACS PER ANNUM...

VO: HAVE YOU BEEN TO ANY OTHER COUNTRIES?
ME: NO...

VO: YOUR HIGHEST QUALIFICATION?
ME: M.TECH.. PRESENTLY PURSUING PH.D.

VO: WHAT IS YOUR RESEARCH TOPIC?
ME: REPLIED IN ONE LINE

VO: FERROUS AND NON FERROUS MATERIALS ? (HE WAS QUOTING IT FROM THE TOPIC)
ME: EXPLAINED IN DETAIL

VO: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PAPER?
ME: TOLD THE TITLE...

VO WAS EXPECTING MORE AND SO WAS LOOKING AT ME..

ME: CONTINUED WITH THE EXPLANATION..

VO: CAN YOU TELL THE NAME OF CONFERENCE?
ME: YYYY X CONFERENCE

VO: WHERE IN USA?
ME: XX CITY, XX STATE

VO: HOW MANY DAYS WILL YOU BE THERE?
ME: SIX DAYS..

THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION, HE WAS CONTINUOUSLY TYPING AND LOOKING AT THE SCREEN.. I TOO WAS CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT HIM AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS CONFIDENTLY..
VO DID NOT CHECK SINGLE DOCUMENT.. BUT ASKED TOO MANY QUESTIONS WHICH I REPLIED CONFIDENTLY WITHOUT FUMBLING OR STAMMERING..
HE DID NOT ASK REGULAR QUESTIONS LIKE HOW MANY YEARS I'VE BEEN WORKING, WHO'S SPONSORING MY TRIP, INVITATION LETTER, SPONSORSHIP LETTER ETC..
conversation lasted for about 12 minutes.. and then came the golden words..

VO: OK.. I AM APPROVING YOUR VISA... CONGRATS.. BYE...
ME: THANK YOU..

Next day..i.e., 19 September 2013, I receuved a mail stating that my "PASSPORT IS READY FOR PICKUP"

I am yet to collect it.

I OWE THIS TO IMMIHELP AS I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT THE VISA PROCESS Was...THANKS A TON IMMIHELP FOR ALL THE GUIDANCE FROM FILLING DS160 to VISA INTERVIEW.

USEFUL TIPS:

1. Prepare all the documentation. (Even though in my case, VO didn't check a single document, one should always have the documents)
2. Prepare well for the interview. Rehearse it many times. Stand in front of mirror and do it. You will know the body language.
3. Dress formal wear.
4. Reach early at the venue. (minimum 15 minutes early)
5. Be self-confident and not over-confident.
6. Dont get tensed. Be Relaxed.
7. Keep your body posture right and look at VO.
8. Answer all the questions confidently without fumbling the words.
9. Don't argue with the VO. Be polite.

BEST OF LUCK !!!

My B1/B2 VISA Interview was scheduled for 17th Sep'13 at 11:AM
I reached Embassy around 09:45 AM and was a bit nervous...I checked my documents again
they allowed me to enter at 10:00 AM. They just scanned my passport and gave me a token number let me go to Interview area without any queue.
Within 5 mins. I got a call that my interview is scheduled at Window No. XX

Two Guys were already standing there in front of me. VO was a early 30s gentleman but seems to be a bit tough and rude. He rejected both of their Visas who were standing in front of me. I was saying to myself that I got stuck in a wrong queue and I made my mind that this guy is tough and there is every possibility that mine would also be refused. Then that guy called me toward the window

VO - Your passport Please. How are you?
Me - Good Morning Sir. I am good Thanks!! How are you? (With a smile) and handed over passport
VO - Why you want to travel USA
Me - Sir I work for ABC Company and My Client is XYZ. Recently my client has came up with New Business Applications to run the process and I am going there to get the training on the same And I'll be attending couple of Business meetings as well.
VO - You work for XYZ Company directly
Me - No Sir I work for ABC Company and XYZ is our client
VO - For how long you have been working with ABC Company
Me - Sir for 6 years In fact 6 years and 4 Months (With Smile)
VO - Why you want to travel
(At this time I got confused since he asked me the same in the first Question and I though I misheard him So I clarified it again)
Me - Sir I am sorry I didn't get you (With a smile)
VO - Why you want to travel to united states (With a rude face and high pitch)
(Here I thought my Visa got rejected for sure now)
ME - Sir for business Meeting and Trainings
VO - Ok Your Visa is approved
Me - With a Great smile..Thanks Sir
VO - Contact helpdesk for passport delivery and have a safe journey
ME - Thanks Sir (With a Smile)

They didn't ask me for even a single document except passport during all review

I was so happy at that time that when I was filling form for passport delivery My hands were shaking :-)

Thanks to immihelp.com and all the friends who shared their experiences.

Suggestions - Be confident and dressed formally (No Casuals). Talk to VO without any hesitation in your mind.
Don't fall into argument with VO

All the Best :-)

Thanks
Dinesh