Business Visa - B1

This is my first overseas VISA experience and one of my ambition to visit USA from my childhood. Believe me I was totally disturbed for last two days night because of VISA interview (no one will ready to miss this kind of golden opportunity).
I am basically from Chennai and I attended the interview at Chennai US consulate office on 08/19/2014.

I have been asked below questions by the Visa officer:

VO: Good morning, how are you today!!!
Me: I am doing great, how about you??

VO: I am doing good, thanks for asking (with a smile ?).

VO: Where do you work?
Me: YYYY LTD

VO: Why do you want VISA??
Me: To participate in business discussion program with my stake holders at Plano, Texas (As per the client’s invitation letter).

VO: Duration of your travel?
ME: Exactly 20 days which commence on 11th Oct to 30th Oct’14

VO: Who is your Client?
ME: YYYY YYYY Company (Told twice since first time he did not understand).

VO: How long you are working with current company?
ME: 3Yrs and 9 months.

VO: your designation?
ME: Asst Manager

VO: I am approving your VISA (with a cute smile ?) have a good rest of the day.
ME: Thanks for approving and you too have a great day!!! With a BIG smile.

While leaving the counter, I was thanking GOD for making this miracle!

Note: While standing in the counter, please concentrate on officer’s slang and the way of questions to the interviewer where you can prepare yourself and anticipate the same.
Go with formal wear, preferably light color shirt with dark color trouser (I dint wear tie or suite), do not act like too smart because I saw a lady who got rejected for B1 visa due to too much of enthusiasm.
I would advise, please write down stereotype of questions and draft an answer per your assignment/requirement/purpose of visit. Just answer to the point.
All the best to all who is getting ready for US visa interview and please post your experience here after attending your Visa interview which will help others.

I saw an inspiration quote written in the Gemini Flyover arch (while standing the queue at Chennai US consulate office) “Nambikai than vetrien muthal padi” said by Arinchar Anna – “Confidence is the first step for success”
God Bless All!!!

Many thanks to GOD and users of immihelp whose comments & experiences helped me a lot to prepare for interview.

My B1 Visa was rejected TWICE in the past. This is my THIRD attempt after a gap of more than 2 years. I have not been outside of India as on today.

US Visa Day 1: OFC done with no worries as expected.

US Visa Day 2: Interview.

Here is my interview experience which took 3 minutes only.

I put on my company i-card and entered interview hall. I was asked to head towards Counter No.xx. Person ahead of me was being interviewed by VO. His Visa was approved after a round of questions. He left the counter. I was waiting for my turn. VO signaled me to come forward. I approached counter window.

VO: Good Morning Sir, Thanks for waiting in a queue!
Me: Good Morning Sir.

VO: Which company you work for?
Me: ABC Pvt Ltd.

VO: How long?
Me: x Years and y Months.

VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: Bachelor of Commerce (VO didn’t get my answer so I repeated again!).

Then for next 30 seconds, he didn’t ask any questions. He was reading something on his PC screen. I guess he may be going through the comments updated by prior VOs on my previous B1 rejections.

VO: What is your current designation?
Me: I am a Subject Matter Expert

VO: You are an Expert of which Subject?
Me: I do accounting and reconciliations. I mean to say I am an Expert of accounting and reconciliations.

VO: You are an Expert or a Subject Matter Expert?
Me: Subject Matter Expert.

VO: Who is your Client in US?
Me: PQR Co.

VO: What do they do?
Me: I explained in 2 lines.

VO: Why you are going to US?
Me: I am going to US to understand xyz accounting activities in a new module of xyz.

VO: How many people are there in your team?
Me: Four

VO: What is your annual salary?
Me: x Lakhs yy Thousand z Hundred and zz Indian Rupees per annum.

VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes

VO: (He kept my passport and said) Your US VISA is approved!!!
Me: Thank you so much (with a whole hearted flash on my face), you have a great day (with a thumps up). VO was too happy to receive my return greetings.

I immediately moved away from Counter No.xx and headed towards EXIT.
 
Finally I GOT IT...

GOOD LUCK to all.

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning

VO: Show me your passport
Me: Passport given

VO: Why do you want to go U.S.?
Me: To attend business meetings and knowledge transition

VO: Are you going directly to client or client's client?
Me: Client of my company

VO: Which company you are working with.
Me: X

VO: Who is your client?
Me: X

VO: What will you do there?
Me: To attend business meetings and knowledge transition and documenting the meetings outcome [added additional responsiblitiy]

VO: Who is your client
Me: X

VO: What is your designation here
Me: ZZZ

VO: So what does YYYY does?
Me: gather requirements, system design and handover to the development team

VO: For how will you in U.S.?
Me: 2 weeks.

VO: Thank you. Your visa is approved.
Me: Thank you!

I believe the reason why VO asked designation was probably to map my designation and requirements of B1 visa. I had prior business travel experience to other countries, but I believe that should hardly matter.

The interview lasted for 30 seconds.

In a nutshell -
Be yourself and show confidence in your answers.
Do not mumble!
Be prepared.
Share the truth.
You should know why are you going and what you will do there. That's it.
If your designation sounds technical, prove how you'll play the role.
Wear pleasant attire - No casuals.

Cheers! Best of Luck!

Where you are going in US?

Why you are going US?

In which company do you work?

What is your project?

What is your salary?

Since how long you are working with your current company?

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning

VO: Passport Please
Me: Handed over the Passport

VO: Which Company you work for?
Me: YYYY company

VO: Why are you going?
Me: Answered in 2 Line

VO: What is duration of Visit?
Me: 4 Weeks.

VO: Your VISA is approved. Thanks you.
Me: thanks you.

Hi All,

Im very much Thankful to immihelp while preparing for interview.

My Interview was on Aug 5th, 4th was OFC.
OFC was cool.no need to worry.worry. Im very much tensed about my interview because L1b and H1B visa was rejected in last year.

Questions:

Me:Good Morning Sir,
VO:Very Good Morning

VO:Why You are going to US
Me:To participate in meetings with our Client

VO:which plce you are going
Me:told

VO:You are curretly working for YYYY XX technologies
Me:Yes

VO:Which company you have worked before YYYY X Technologies
Me:told

VO:How mach time you will be there in US
Me:2 weeks

VO:Can I see your Schedule
Me:I said I dont have
VO:oh no schedule

VO:Why your H1B got rejected
Me: Told

VO:Can I see your client letter
Me:Gave

VO:Can I see your Employer letter
Me: Gave

VO:Whats your annual Income
Me: told in lakhs

Thats all he siad your visa is approved.

Prepare well and be confident you will get

Wish you all the best those who are going for interview

Hello All,

First of all, I convey my thanks to immihelp for providing the information related to VISA interviews. My B1 VISA got approved on last Friday at Mumbai Consulate.

FYI: I have been rejected twice for B1 Visa for last 2 years.

As usual process which most of the users shared the details before reaching VO counter for interview process.

Shared the greetings:

Me: Good Morning .. with a smile
VO: Good Morning too in his response

Questions:

VO: What is the purpose of the visit?
Me: Replied accordingly as per the filled form

VO: Which city the client is located?
Me: XYZ City

VO: For which company you work for?
Me: ABC Pvt Ltd, India

VO: Since how long have you been working for this company?
Me: Replied

VO: What is your current designation in company?
Me: Replied

He started typing for almost a minute or so. And told me.... I have approved your VISA and it will delivered withing 3 - 5 working days.

Tips / Suggestions :

* Wear formal dress (light colors mostly) and have the company ID.
* Keep short and crisp answers with little clear tone in voice while answering
* Never move your attention while answering the questions and listen carefully.
* Most people before you would be in tension either they are student visa, etc. Try to be cool and calm state.

Good Luck for those who are appearing interview.... :)

Hello All,

First of all, I should say thanks to immehelp because without this site I would not have got through my interview.

Here are the questions.

• What is the purpose of visit?
         
        To meet our client for knowledge transition
        
• Which company you work for?

        ABC

• Since how long you are working for this company?

        ZZZ

• Have you ever been at US?

        Nope

• What is your annual salary?

        xxxxxxxx tell in Rupees

• Who is your Client?

       xxxxxxxxxxx

• What is the duration of visit?

        2 weeks

My suggestion is that be confident and put in your answers very crisp and clear and clad in a formal dress with at least tie. So you will defiantly come up with flying colors.

Hi all,

First I want to thank immihelp for helping me to prepare thoroughly for my Visa interview. My experience is as follows:

My interview was scheduled at 10 am in New Delhi, so I reached the consulate sharp at 9:30 am. Even half an hour before... the queue already started to take shape for 10 am interviewees.

I joined the queue and had to wait for 20 mins in the queue before I got to get in. As I entered the consulate building I went through a security check. Note that no cell phones, electronics are allowed. I will advise you to keep just your documents and loose change.

After frisking I was made to sit in waiting rows for around half an hour. Finally my row was called to move and I reached a window where my finger prints were matched with what I submitted one day before. As soon as I was done with finger prints I joined a queue that took me to the interview window. Following is how my interview went:

The interviewer was an American. He asked me to give him my passport via a slit in the window. Surprisingly the first question he asked me was in Hindi ;)

1. Kya karte hain aap?
A. (I replied in English).

2. Where do you work?
A. Told...

3. What is the nature of your work?
A. Told in one sentence. Crisp and to the point answer.

4. Since how long are you working for this company?
A. Told...

5. Where are you visiting in US?
A. told (city and county).

6. Who is your client?
A. Told...

He was writing something as I was reponding to him. After his 5 seconds of his silence... he spoke the golden words "Your Visa is approved".

My tips:
- The atmosphere inside is quite intimidating so don't loose your cool.
- Go in a formal attire... preferably a formal suit.
- Prepare all possible questions thoroughly beforehand.
- Don't loose your confidence... afterall, not able to get one is not the end of the world.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks to immihelp...

My Experience..

VO: Namaste. Aap kaise hain?
Me: Mein achha hoon.. How are you?
VO: I am fine.
VO: With whom r u working?
Me: xyz
VO: Since how long?
Me: 2 yrs 8 days
VO: What takes you to US?
Me: Business meetings and discussions
VO: How long you will stay?
Me: 2 weeks
VO: Who is your client?
Me: ABC Ltd
VO: Ur visa is approved. u will an SMS once it is ready for pickup...

Some tips from my side:
Dress formally and be confident