Business Visa - B1

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

I attended B1 interview at Chennai consulate on 10th Sept 2013. My interview was at 8:00am.
I went to consulate by 7.20am and stood in the queue for 15 min before entering to the consulate.
I have undergone all the checks to enter into the consulate and waited there for almost 40 min for my interview to be happened.Here is my interview experience.

me:Good Morning, how are you?
VO:Very good morning,m fine thanks and how abt you?
me:Doing good.Thanks.
VO:Can i have your passport?
me:sure sir.
vo:where are you going in US?
me:told the answer.
vo:what is the purpose of the travel?
me:business meetings.
vo:How long you gonna stay in US?
me:6 weeks
vo:Are you going to US only for business metings?
me:I'm going there to attend Business meeting with my CLient and also to take KT from them.
vo:ok cool.Who's your client?
me:I said HP Software.
vo:You are working for Hp also right?
me:yes sir
vo:Is it internal project or client project?
me:Client
vo:How long you are working for HP?
me:3 years
Then the GOLDEN WORDS came from the VISA Officer.
vo:Your VISA is APPROVED and we can keep your passport(by showing my passport)
me:Thanks a lot sir.

I was really happy and cant able to express my feelings in words because my H1B got rejected previously 3 years back(applied H1B from small consultancy) so went to chennai consulate with so many doubts in my mind.Thank God, VO dint ask me anything related to my previous H1B application.

Thanks to immihelp for providing us the previous interview experiences, I hope my experience will help somebody.

Thanks,

ALL THE BEST TO YOU

Today (9-Sep-13), I attended the B1 visa interview at Kolkata consulate. The interview was at 8:00 AM. Before going into the consultate I was having mixed feelings. I was going for a US visa interview after a gap of seven years. I woke
up at 5:45 AM. After freshing up, I got dressed up and left home. No breakfast. It was cloudy and drizzling. Getting my car out of the garage during rainy days is always a problem. Wasted another 25 minutes. I was on the road by quater by 7:00 AM. As I approaching the second Hoogly bridge to get to kolkata, it was a lovely sight - the muddy river, the early sunrise partially hidden in the dark rain clouds and the drizzle. As I crossed over the bridge, the drizzle was no
more. Unfolded a Kolkata so beautiful - empty streets, clean streets, greenery on the 'maidan , puffy white clouds all over the maidan area. Lovely sight, Awesome!

I reached Kolkata Consulate at Ho chi Minh Sarani in another 20 minutes. Parked my car adjacent to the consulate (yes,there is a parking space), did wait for another ten minutes to have a quick breakfast, put on my blazer and walked my way to the consulate. I was let in after the security checked in my appointment date and time. Into the reception area, a lady checked in my passport and documents, was asked to wait for two minutes, and then walked to the councelling room. Here, I was once again called by an officer(an Indian) to the window, the documents were
rechecked. A sticker with a number was affixed on the back of my passport. A wait of another ten minutes and finally I was standing in queue for the final interview. My number was called and I was in front of the the lady officer
(American) for the interview.

Q: Good morning. How are you doing?
Myself: Good morning. I am fine.

Q: Why do you need to visit US?
Myself: I am going there primarily to attend business meetings. I am XYZ consultant and specialist in XYZ skills/application/product. The client has been having business dealing with my company for several years now. I am going there to share my knowledge and experience for their upcomming solutions.

Q: Are you married?
Myself: Yes

Q: Is she travelling with you on this trip?
Myself: No

hmmm.... Ok. Your visa is approved. I am keeping back your passport. Thank You.
Myself: Thank you.

It was over in one and half minute. I came back to the reception area, handed a despatch form with three hundred rupees, to send back the passport to my mailing address. A relief. A drive back to my home took another twenty minutes. Had my morning cup of tea over the day's newspaper. In another half an hour I was getting ready for office.

A 30-35 years old American lady was VO.

VO: Hello How are you (with a sweet smile)
ME: GM, I am fine (smiled)
VO: Can I have your Passport pls ?
Me: Given
Vo: (by looking at the passport )Why you want to go to US ?
Me: I am working @ <comany name> India and company want me to visit US comany ........to take part in meetings
        And also visit Datacenter @ us company...After all these I gave to gain knowledge abt the particular technology and
       come back ......India to implement this here after 1 month
VO: Do you have travel plan ?
Me: Yes (given)
Vo: who is you clients ?
Me: Said
Vo: Where is Datacenter placed
Me: inside same company where I am visiting
Vo: Whats u r designation at ......India ?
Me: Said
Vo: your annual salary ?
Me: Said
VO: experience in company ?
me: said
vo: your qualification ?
me: said
vo: r u married ?
me: yes
vo: do you have marriage certificate ? (by looking passport since it was not added in it)
me: given marriage certificate+famplyphoto+children birth cert
vo:(looked marriage date compared with passport issue date) do u have children ?
me: yes, photo attached
vo: (looking at photo) wav, they look nice.
vo: okay your visa is approved, u will get u r passport within a week
me: thank u ma'am.

Note: Bring u r all documets/VISA size photo

My OFC appointment was scheduled on 6th of august and Visa interview was on 7th of August

OFC appoinment on 6th

Even though my OFC appointment was scheduled at 10 AM they allowed me to enter the center by 9 AM. The documents that you should carry to the OFC center are
1.)Passport
2.)DS-160 confirmation page
3.)Appointment Letter
4.)Fees receipt of the application

Your photo will be taken at the OFC so no need to carry your photograph with you.The whole procedures at the OFC was completed before 9:30 and i reach back to my hotel by 10 AM.

Visa Interview on 7th

I was the first man reached at the interview center .I reached there by 5:30 AM.Since my interview was scheduled under 8 AM slot i was allowed to get in only after others under 7:30 slot :-). I was carrying all documents including my certificates,invitation letter from the client,Approval letter from the company,Bank statements along with the above 4 documents.All interviewee under 7:30 slots were allowed to get in by 7 AM.After a long standing duration of 2 hours i was allowed to get in by 7:30 AM. First they paste the token number on my passport and after 2 security checks i was allowed to get in a the room where my fingerprint verification took place.After finger print verification i was allowed to move to the next building where the Interview took place.I wait there until my turn arrives.I was looking into the TV screen where my token number will be displayed.Finally my token number displayed and i followed the queue of the respective counter.A lady was interviewed ahead of me and she got the Visa.Next was my turn.The interviewer was a middle aged American and he looks friendly.

Me:Good Morning
VO:Good morning

VO:Please give me your passport?
Me:Given

VO:Why are you going to US?
Me:For attending a training with my client XX in US

VO: How long have you been working in this company?
Me:2.8 years

VO: Duration of your visit?
Me:2-3 months

VO: What is your role in the current company?
Me:Software engineer by designation,Requirement gathering,Design and implement software,Fixing defects.

VO: oh great,Your visa has been approved and i will keep your passport.You will get your visa in 5 business days

I was surprised,he asked me only 4 questions and didn't asked for any documents other than passport.For the GOD sake it was a great day and i found no one is getting their Visa rejected.Simply all are getting VISA.

After that i paid a 300 RS to the blue dart courier service for taking my passport after Visa processing.

I was out of the center by 8:15 AM

Thanks

Questions are same as covered in earlier posts. Few observations that would help you be more confident:

- Be cool & calm. Try not to show your nervousness even if you are internally
- If you feel conscious/ nervous before the interview, try rehearsing the commonly asked questions facing yourself in mirror - it surely helps.
- Prepare short and specific answers, shorter the better. If officer needs more details - he/she will ask!
- Always go with a smile and greet the officer. It sets a positive start.
- Look in to the eyes of the officer while giving short answers. You have to be truthful to be convincing.
- You may at times be able to hear other candidates interview discussion, you may ignore if that is going negative if it adds to your nervousness. Remember each candidate is different, and so is the officer's decision.
- Lastly, don't forget to thank the officer out of happiness when approved.

Finally, I would say your journey to the US starts from a footpath. Irrespective of who you are, you will realize it on the day of your interview standing in queue extending outside the consulate :)