Business Visa - B1

Hi All,

I have got my B1 VISA in 3rd time. Although it is not good to get VISA after 3 attempts but its your fate. Thank god I got it this time..

First attempt:
I was not prepared enough. I thought whatever comes as natural flow, I will reply.

VO: Why r u going to US?
Me: I am a software engineer. I am working with xxx...... <It was a very long answer>
VO: Whom r u meeting with?
Me: <started telling names, actually he was asking for designation of people whom I will meet. So foolish answer>
VO: I am sorry, this time I cannot grant you VISA?
Me: <couldn't say anything, took my passport back and headed to EXIT>

Second attempt:
This time I am over-prepared. Which is not good again for your VISA interview.
I have satisfactorily answered all the questions, didn't make any blunder but still VISA rejected. She was asking me so many questions this time as if she already made her mind to reject and waiting for me to make mistake...

Me: Good morning mam. <no reply>
Me: I said, good morning mam <repeated>
VO: Good morning sir. May I have your passport please.
Me: Yes sure <she was not adequately audible. Bad luck>
VO: Why do you wish to go to US?
Me: I am a software engg. To attend some of the business meetings around requirement planning meetings I need to travel to US.<answered one liner>
VO: How long you will be on travel?
Me: Maximum 8 days including travel time <before I could finish my answer, next question>
VO: Where do you work?
Me: xxx
VO: What is your experience?
Me: 1.5 years <I don't know she asked me total exp. OR current company's exp.>
VO: So Where r u going?
Me: I will be going to xxx, xxx, xxx <I gave full name of the company and location>
VO: Is this your client company?
Me: No, it is part of global, xxx
VO: Where have you travelled before? Netherlands..
Me: Yes
VO: What were you doing there?
Me: I have been there ..... <before I could finish my answer, next question>
VO: What is your salary?
Me: xxx
VO: What is your qualification?
Me: Bachelor of Engineering in BioMedical <a long pause as if she is ready to approve VISA>
VO: I am sorry sir but I cannot approve your VISA
Me: Please reconsider because my visit is important..... <before I could finish>
VO: I am very sorry.

Third attempt:
VO: Why r u travelling to United States?
VO: How long have you been working with current employer?
VO: How long will you be staying in US?
VO: OK sir. You are granted with VISA. Your document will reach to you in next 3 days..

And very next day my passport with 10 years VISA reached to me.

In my view, getting US VISA is directly linked to your luck..
Basically, they might judge following points:
1. You didn't mug-up answers and whatever you are answering is not cooked-up.
2. You are earning a decent amount as per your experience and qualification. Not too low not too high. Because in both cases you are under doubt...
3. Your first answer is precise, accurate, confident and giving enough information about your visit.
4. Your attire is professional
5. You answer only what is asked for. Do not confuse them with long answers... they already have your history...

As soon as interview begins, they create an image of yourself into their mind based on your history. Then during the interview they verify, if you are a genuine, confident, look-professional, clear about your trip.

Thanks immihelp for getting my visa B1.

Hello all

I had my B1 visa interview on 21st Mar and OFC on 20th Mar at Chennai.
OFC was at 12:30 pm, again there was a line and the process seemed slower due to the hot weather. Once inside everything happened fairly quickly: took fingerprint scans, took a photo, asked for name, DOB and passport number.
Get a date and time stamp on the DS 160 confirmation page.

Interview slot was at 11:30 am. I don't know how may more slots are there after this, i guess this was the last one.
I reached by 11 am and had to wait till almost 12 noon to get in. I was one of the few wearing a suit in the sweltering chennai heat.
No mobiles are allowed inside, there's a facility for storage before joining the final line, don't know if it requires payment..
Once I got in, after the mandatory security checks, I had to get my fingerprints scanned again and they put a red swipe on my token slip.
Waited for around 10 mins for my token to be called up. The VO was a kind young lady. Following is the transcript of our discussion:

Me: Good Afternoon
VO: Your passport please
(I gave her both my passports, she returned the older one)

VO: Why are you traveling to the US?
Me: Business meetings

VO: Who are you meeting?

Me: Our client xyz

VO: Where do you work?

Me: <My company name>

VO: Oh ok, What position do you hold?

Me: <Told her my designation>

VO: What's you annual salary?

Me: <Told her my annual salary in lacs>

VO: What will be the duration of your stay

Me: 3 weeks

VO: So why is it that you have to go the US now?

Me: There is this project on XYZ where i need to assess the client's current processes around ABC domain

VO: but why now? how long have you been at your company?

Me: Just one and half months

VO: Oh alright then, I'm approving your application now

Me: Thanks, have a great day

It is good to dress in business formals, but for the chennai heat, applicants should at least put on a shirt and tie along with formal pants. Do not carry anything that you won't need. As for me, just out of my sheer paranoia i was carrying all my original educational documents, which were not required, at least for a B1 in my case.

Advisable to prepare for the standard questions in advance.
All the best!

Hi immihelp,

A BIG THANKS to immihelp. I got approved my B1 from Chennai consulate and my interview was at 21st Mar 2014. My Appointment was at 7.30 which was the first slot of the day. My OFC got over on 20th. I was stayed near to the consulate. I get in queue at 7.00 and tried a makeover on my face & shown a simulated confidence (this helped me).

VO: Good morning, passport plz
Me: (passport given), said good morning. (I have taken my invitation letters in hand).

VO: Why you are going to US? (At the same time he moved hands towards me by asking docs in my hand)
Me: To attend business meetings and technical training at (client name).

VO: (he did not get the client name, he again asked), who is ur client?
Me: said.

VO: What is your company?
Me: said

VO: How long are you working with this company?
Me: said.

VO: Who is your immediate superior in India?
Me: said

VO: who is from client side?
Me: said

VO: How long will you be there in US?
Me: 2 weeks.

(VO heard it like 2 years.)

VO: 2 years on B1, you couldn't.
Me: clarified it is that 2 weeks not 2 year.

(He was reading the docs I given)

VO: what is this project about( by looking my invitation letter)?
Me: I briefly explained.

VO: Then why you need to go US?
Me: said my reasons.

VO: Why you can’t do that from here?
Me: said some technical difficulties.

VO: Just explain any case you need to be there in US?
Me: I pick an example case and explained that.

All these time VO had my invitation letter and company introduction letter. Before me completing my example he started to talk again,

VO: Okay I am approving your VISA, wish you a nice journey ?(with a smiled face)
Me: Thanks ?(Me immediately ran from him).

Points: Be confident, don’t show over confidence
             Be precise when you reply. Be calm when you answering.
             Concentrate the questions; if you see any of our answers going wrong to him immediately clarify that just in my case. All the best :)

Hello All,

Thanks for all the folks in this forum who have shared their experiences. This was very helpful / usefull for the overall B1 visa interview preparation.

My schedule was by 8.00 AM @ Chennai. Reached the place by 07.45 AM & joined the queue outside.

It took half an hour to get inside the building. By 08.30 AM I waited for my turn / coupon # to be displayed in the screen to meet the VO. In 10 minutes I got the counter # to meet the VO.

This gentlemen (VO) was really polite & accomadative. I was asked 3 questions....

Me - Hi Good Morning
VO - Good Morning Sir, How are you
Me - Good thanks, How about you
VO - Good thanks

VO - Please pass your passport.
Me - Done

VO - Who is your client
Me - Sai

VO - Purpose of visit
Me - Said

VO - What will you do there
Me - Going to get trained by my client @ my onsite office

VO - How long
Me - 5 Weeks

Then the golden words...Your Visa is approved. You would get the passport ASAP & would be notified via SMS.

I thanked him. And was off to a tea shop outside for relaxing.

Few Tips

Stay calm & quiet
Just run the agenda of your visit in your mind
Stay relaxed when VO asks for any question
Process the question appropriately in mind & then answer. As there is no hurry answering the questions (It's not a rapid fire game)
Don't be nervous at all. As life doesn't end there.
Be precise to the point

Hello to all,
I am the new register person here,
just need some kind of the helpful information regarding to B1 visa.
i am still working in Afghanistan in Dyncorp International Company , supporting to ( ISAF ).
I been in this company almost 2 years and 6 month .
next some of the month i am coming back to home . i still have a valid ( LOA ) letter of authorization its come from State army.
i want to start some kind of the bossiness in back to my home .
is i am able to get a B! visa ? even there is no relative

Please suggest me here .

Thanks in Advance .

My bio-metric happened 11/3 and interview on 12/3........my pick up and delivery address in 31 Jasmine tower.Kolkata......but when I am checking the status in https://ceac.state.gov as 'Administrative processing".when I can get my passport?

Any help pls......any contact no.?

Krish

I went for my interview @ us delhi embassy. Lots of people have come for interview today. Around 200 i could see clearly. Mostly were tourist visa i believe. Parents whose children were in US were seeking for visa. Prior to me 2 such families were denied visa My turn was 3rd , after seeing that i was little nervous. But their was an indian officer so thought might work for me. But officer performed her duties till the time she is not satisfied by my answers.

Interview Experience

The whole interview lasted upto 5 min. It was a long interview where in the lady officer (indo-american) asked many many questions up till the time she is not satisfied with the answers.

Eye contact should be maintained throughout the interview ( she even said to the previous candidates) and good formal dressing is very must (observation)

Interview Question

1. Where are you heading upto
2. What’s your client name
3. What do they do
4. Which company you work for
5. What do they do
6. How it is linked with your client
7. What services your company provide to your client
8. What is the purpose of your visit
9. Which place your client is located
10. What is you project
11. Explain your project
12. How many people working on this project
13. How many from offshore and onsite for these project
14. What is the budget of the project
15. How many people will accompanying you when you travel
16. What’s your designation in the company
17. What’s your total experience
18. How many years are you working for this company
19. Did you travel to some another country previously

1. After applying for US B1 VISA (by company's corporate agent), my biometric appointment was on day 1, there they took my photograph and finger prints.
2. consulate interview was on day 3, attended it, they asked few questions.

a) where am I working (he checked my application and he answered himself, and I just said " yes ".
b) why am I going....I answered "training".
c) what is my salary in India
d) how long is the training.
e) how many are going? (2 other colleagues were coming with me)

and the counsellor replied "your VISA has been approved, have a good day"

3. After 2 hr, I received a call from couselate (why because, because of length in Surname, in my surname two letters were missing due to printing mistake and hence they are not able to stamp me the VISA. but I have already travelled with the same passport to Indonesia, Kuwait and Bahrain) and they given me a blue slip with my passport and it was mentioned in it "observation in passport of full name or new passport with full name".

4. I checked with Indian passport authority and they replied " observation cannot be made because they have stopped it fromm 2012.

5. so I applied for new passport and within 3 days I received it.

6. I submitted my new passport, old passport and blue slip at embassy and after only 2 days I received the VISA.

Thanks

Today I was rejected US business visa, the reason cited was that I do not have travel experience.

What does this means?

Will my travel to any other country on business or pleasure will be considered as travel experience? (...as it will mean some visa stamping on my passport).

Can someone help me on my above queries so that I can fix it and re apply.