Business Visa - B1

Here is my experience guys.

First of all thanks to "immihelp" for their website.

I have applied for B1 in Chennai.
10th Apr - Biometrics
11th Apr - Visa interview.

Biometrics - Went to Teynampet OFC.

My appointment was on 8:30AM. Reached there by 8:00AM. Saw a line standing outside and I was at the last person.
After few minutes, security person came and asked the people stand in a line (this is for 8:00AM). That line moved quickly. Next is 8:30AM line. This went quick.

After entering in they checked the UID and sent in, followed by security check and was given a token.

Photograph taken along with finger prints. Done. Hardly 15min.

Visa Interview:

Appointment was at 8:30AM. Reached by 7:45AM. Big line.
8:30 AM and 8:00AM line seperated. Our line started once the 8:00AM line completed.

Outside checked the DS-160 form,Stamped and affixed a sticker (token no) to my passport.
Moved-in, security check for belongings - Done
Again entered into another line for biometrics - it was quick.
Entered into the next building. Within 15min my turn has come.

The person infront of me got his visa rejected. I was tensed.
So, here is the interview

Me: Good Morning
VO: No reply
VO: Passport plz.
Me: Gave it to him.
VO: Why r u travelling?
Me: Training
VO: How long?
Me: 4 weeks.
VO: What you do in HCL?
Me: xxxxxx (very short)
VO: Will you work if you go there?
Me: Nope
VO: Your visa is approved. Have a nice stay.
Me: Thanks.

To avoid messing things. Don't carry other stuff apart from your DS-160 and related doc's. Keep it simple.
Also, I am having my company TAG around my neck.

I saw many people came with formals (most of them having new ones). I just went normal with formal pant and shirt.

All the best to others.

Weird experience! I didn’t get B1 VISA in April 2013. I applied in 2007 for B1, my company was 2 months old, 2 employees, had 1 invitation letter mentioning that I’ll stay at client’s home because I had good terms with him and he wants to help me.

I wanted to meet 4 clients for major discussion and defining the scope of project. I booked hotel, bought air ticket (to save money because interview date and my travel date has 1 week difference).

C: Good morning
Ans: Very good morning

C: Why you want to go to the USA?
Ans: I want to meet my existing clients and their business partners to discuss technical issues for the next phase of the project and sign contracts.

C: how long you want to stay?
Ans: 1 month

C: Want to meet just one client for a month?
Ans: I’m going to meet other clients as well.
(*my intention was to say other existing clients. I had invitation letters from all, total 4 clients)

C: You applied 5 years ago, why didn’t you get VISA on that time?
A: Not sure, may be my company was young on that time!!

C: What’s your company name?
Ans: xxx
(*she was keep typing from the beginning and was typing at this time too)

C: What’s your income?
Ans: Rs. x,00,000 a month
(*x lakh was true based on provisional docs, but I mentioned 25k less in the D-160)

C: how many employees you do have?
Ans: 14

C: Do you have clients in other countries?
Ans: I said name of 4 countries

C: why are you not going to other countries and want to go to the USA?
Ans: It never required to go other countries and there is a requirement this time to go to the USA.

C: Are you married?
Ans: Yes

C: Sorry you’re ineligible to get VISA this time, but you can reapply next time.

Hello All,

My B1 visa application was rejected on 25th Feb, 2013. Now I am going to Re-Apply again in next 15 days or so. But please help me what can I do now to make sure that it does't get rejected again or even increase the chances.

Are they going to reject the B1 application if re-applied within 2 months?
Do I need to come up with new information? in terms of Reason for visit and New client?

Please suggest so I can make sure of all things this time.

I am writing here the previous visa interview conversation. FYI - My rejection reason was 214(B)



Q) Why do you want to go US?
A) My company has got new project and I have to go for requirement analysis and studying their system where project is going to be installed.

Q) How many days?
A) 10 days

Q) Who is your employer?
A) xxx

Q) What is your salary?
A) xxx per ann.

Q) How many years of exp?
A) With my employer? 6 years (VO said yes, so I mentioned no. of years I spent with current employer)

Q) What is your designation?
A) Tech Lead

Q) What is your role in your company?
A) I have to manange team of 3-4 persons, I have to assign them task and guide them when needed.

Q) Why you are selected to go US?
A) I have been working with this Client's project for last 2 years and being most senior person, my company and client decided that I would go. I brief VO about the system I am going to study over there.

Q) Have you travel before?
A) NO

Q) VO asked me but I couldn't hear the question properly but I think VO asked : Will you do work there?
A) NO. (I could have asked VO to repeat the question)

VO was typing something is computer meanwhile I was answering the above questions.

Q) So, who got the new project? (your client or your company)
A) My client ( I made mistake here in hurry. I had mentioned first that our company has got new project. I was bit upset by my not hearing properly)

VO again typed something in computer and said.. I am really very sorry. your visa application can't approved at this time. I was given reason 214(B)

I was not asked about my marital status and child. I am married and have one kid.

Can you please share your thoughts about finding my reason of rejection and how can I improve that in next month when I apply again.

Thanks in advance.

Jbhavsar.

As of now my two visa's are rejected earlier L1(two years back) and B1(last week) i had always thought that obtaining visa is very simple i have good qualification/working in a good comapany and sponsership by the company is sufficient to obtain visa. When my L1 was was reject i was not affected much because company choose some of the people and apply for L1 blanket petition for all of us and some of the employees has visa rejected and some obtained sucessfully also. After working for eight year in my company i got the apportunity to go to USA for attending the conference for the product i am specialist on. I did get invite for the conference and i was very hopeful that time that i would got the b1 visa.

I went to embassy last week for my visa interview.

I was asked following questions.

Q Was your visa rejected earlier
My Answer yes L1

Q what was the reason for the rejection.
My Answer (as i was not sure about the reason) i answered at that time i was suggested that i should apply for H1 visa.

Q why haven't you apply for H1 then after
My Answer Because project requirement for getting long term visa was over by then and now i need b1 visa only.

Q Where are you going?
My Answer USA....place name

Q What is the purpose of the trip?
My Answer attending conference

Q How it is beneficial
My Answer I would learn product enhancments in the conference that we would further use in implementing solutions for our clients.

Q Are you married, mam?
My Answer No i am not married.

Q What is your designation?
My answer deputy consultant.

Q What is salary?
My answer i told my salary..

The i have been told that my visa was rejected under section 214(b)


Attending this conference is very important for my company and me. And my company want me to reapply for it again as the coference is in April(next month)

Could you please guide me is there any chances of getting visa approved after the first rejection and anything i missed in my answers that streghten the chances of visa approval.

Thanks in Anticipation.

This was my first time for any visa interview and had seen many rejections in last couple of weeks for my colleagues, so was not exactly hoping that I will get through. But as luck would have it...

Day 1: I had 830 appointment for biometrics which happens in Trade Center building in BKC. Reached there at around 730. They started the process at 8 and I was out with my photo and fingerprints taken by 815. Whoa!

Day 2: Judgment Day! I had 745 appointment in US embassy in BKC. Reached there at 7 and was greeted with an already long queue. But it started moving by 715. Within half an hour I was through the security check and had received the token number. After fingerprinting (again!), I had to wait till 845 for my number to be called for interview. I saw 3 B1 getting rejected in front of me with the lady VO being very stern. This is how mine went:

Q: Why are you going to the US?
A: I am going there for requirement gathering and technical discussions for the next version of my project.

Q: What do you do?
A: I am a J2EE developer and work on building blah blah…

Q: So basically software.. what’s your company name?
A: ZZZ
 
Q: How long are you with them?
A: more than a year

Q: What is your salary?
A: YYYY per annum

Q: Have you ever been abroad?
A: No. This will be the first time.

Q: Is this a new project?
A: No. I am working on this project for a year now and we are planning to start the next version next month.

Q: But why were you chosen?
A: I have around 5 years of experience of which more than a year is in this domain. And I have greatly contributed to this project for a year…

Q: Does anyone report to you?
A: No

Q: I don’t understand. You are not a team lead, no one reports to you but still your company is sending you there for this important discussions.. why?
A: In my team, there is no one else who has such knowledge of both domain and technology. I have certification in the domain too. Also, over the year I have had lot of good communications with the client and have got good rapport with them. Even when they visited our India office last year, I have had good interaction with them.

Q: Who is this client?
A: ZZZ
 
Q: How long will you be there in US?
A: One week.

Q: One week is enough for such important discussions?
A: It will basically be a high level discussion wherein we will agree on the requirements at a broader level. As we work in Agile methodology, we have daily meetings with the client to fine tune these requirements later once I am back in India.

Q: But why you need to be physically there?
A: I understand there are ways like video conferencing, but for this particular discussions the client preferred a face-to-face meeting so that there will not be any gaps in core understandings.

Then she congratulated me for visa approval and wished me a nice stay in the US.

I had good preparatory sessions with my company's travel team, but during the actual interview, I answered what came to my mind at that time and confidently. Stuck to the facts and maintained good tone and eye-contact. Also I was wearing a suit, maybe that helped a bit.

Hope this experience helps you guys in clearing your interview.
Cheers

Got the Passport picketd up today itself (next day of interview) with B1/B2 Visa stamped with 10 Years Multiple entry Visa from the OFC center @ cenetaph road . Thanks all for sharing your experiences and knowledege which helped me a lot in this success . Thanks to Almighty God .. and Best wishes to all others

Hi all. My B1 visa application got rejected for the second time today morning in Mumbai. My first visa rejection was over a week back, on 12th March. Need some urgent inputs from all of you. Here's the experience:

Visa Experience 1 (Mumbai)
I needed to work on a 3 month project with a U.S. subsidary of my Indian company. However, I would not have been paid for the same in U.S. and would have continued to receive my salary in INR by my Indian company (case of B1 in lieu of H1 visa).
The travel desk of my company advised me to speak honestly with the Consular Officer. I told everything honestly during interview and the visa was rejected. The Counsel Office handed over 214(b) asking me to apply for work visa. No documents were asked, even when I had all of them.

Questions asked:
Why do you want to visit US? (Answered to work on project)
What is the project about? (Described the project)


Visa Experience 2 (Mumbai - after 1.5 weeks of the first rejection)
The earlier project was scrapped. I was required to visit U.S. for attending business meetings with the same U.S. subsidiary of my Indian company for 2 weeks. I applied again for B1 visa and was rejected again. Here's the experience:
Me: Good afternoon officer.
Officer: Good afternoon. Please give me your passport.
(**I handed over my passport and cover letter on company letterhead. The cover letter mentioned about the meeting and that I need to return in 2 weeks for implementing the learning in India
Officer: Have you applied for U.S. visa earlier?
Me: Yes officer. It was a different case. I had applied for B1 in lieu of H1 because I would not have been paid any salary by any U.S. company, but the counsel officer thought otherwise. Now the project is scrapped. I have to just attend business meetings and come back in 2 weeks.
Officer: Oh, you had applied 2 weeks back?
Me: Yes officer. That was B1 in lieu of H1. But this time, I have to return in 2 weeks.
(***The officer typed and looked on the computer for a minute***)
Officer: Have you been to any other country?
Me: Yes, I have visited Thailand for tourism purpose, for a week.
Officer: What's your salary?
Me: Rs. One lakh one thousand per month.
(*** All this time, he was looking at the computer. In between, he also looked at the cover letter on company letterhead ***)
Officer: I am sorry. This time too, you do not qualify for the visa. (handed me the 214b)
Me: May I know the reason for the same?
Officer: The reason is there is not much change in the overall situation for your visit. I am not convinced about your case. You can reapply whenever you want and there's a change in situation.
Me: Okay, thank you sir.
I am tired of all this - have no clue what should I do. If I get a visa within the next 1.5 months – my company would still allow me to travel to U.S. But I have no idea how… and what to do for the same.
Please advise honestly. Should I reapply?

Thanks.

Sad I got rejected again for the second time... Mumbai Consulate

Vo : Good Morning( old lady)
Me: Good Morning mam

Vo: Why are you visiting to US
Me: There is up gradation of software applications and am going to understand the new application

Vo: Explain
Me: I explained in detail ( VO looked to be blank with my explanation or may he got confused )

Vo: How long you gona stay there
Me : Two weeks ( But my DS-160 mentions 3 weeks: again a bad hit I guess)

Vo : can I see your clients invite letter
Vo: Yes, I showed him ( he read it for 30 sec)
 
Vo: Whats your per annum salary
Me: told him in indian currency

Vo: Was typing somthing in his comp and tol sorry sir you dont qualify for US visa, have Patience next time you should get through, Thank you

I have to be in US for by start of May 2013 but now am doubtful whether I would be able to make it or not

Can I reapply in a weeks time?
There wont be any change in one week but is there any chances of getting the Visa approved if I apply?

Help me guys

I had B1 Visa interview at chennai today - 20th March at 8AM .

Came to the consulate at Gemini Circle at 7Am and was standing in the queue ,
already there were lot of people waiting for 7:30AM appointments .

Mine was 8AM and i was waiting , by 7:30 our Queue was made to go to the other end and perform the security
checks , I had my car key and was told to submit with the counter which i did after paying 10Rs fee .

then went inside a hall where there were multiple counters with LCD screens flashing the token numbers .

I was called within 5 minutes , an Indian lady verified my passport and asked for my invitation letter from my company which i showed her . then she wrote a batch number on the token sticker of my passport and returned the documents .

I was waiting for 15 minutes and was sent to another counter in the same hall to do a biometric fingerprinting of my
left hand alone , Then asked to go to the other block where the real interview takes place .

While i entered the other block hall it was almost empty (time was 8:10AM) only 2 counters had 1 or 2 people .

My counter was already empty and i was to report to the VO there immediately . Then started the interview .
the VO was a middle aged person and was very friendly and enthusiastic guy .

VO : Very Good morning , How are you doing ?
Me : Good morning officer , am doing good thanks .

VO : wow YYYY company
Me : Yes sir .

VO: Why are you going sir ?
Me : To attend a training for a project which is going to be migrating to India support shortly .

VO : How many days it is ?
Me : 15 days officer .

VO : Seems this is the first time ever abroad for you ?
Me : In my opinion officer , for every individual there will be definetely a first time and that is how it is to me as well, and i am very much confident about it officer .

VO : ( happily with a smile ) Your Visa is approved sir and you will get it in 4 - 5 days .
Me : Thanks officer have a great day , Bye

He didnot ask for any documents i had and the interview lasted only for less than one minute .
This was my first experience and it was short and sweet and i thank this forum for guiding me a lot .
actually i had prepared for the worst set of questions and all possible documents but nothing was asked .

Be confident and you can challenge your luck .

Hi All,

I have attended B1 visa interview yesterday(19th March 2013 , Hydrabad) and thanks very much to this forum which help me to get the US visa . I went through almost all the comments written in this forum . Now here is my overall experience
I have applied for 5 week of travel and I was really scared of its approval because 5 weeks for business meeting is not acceptable but thank god in my form I have written training and Business meeting and prepared well for that answer with detailed meeting plan .

I got following question

VO:- Purpose of Visit?
ME: - To attend class room training session of YYYY tool and meet with the different business team, stack holder .

VO:-How long you want to stay in US?
Me:-5 weeks.

VO:- 5 weeks ?(Surprised )
ME :- Yes

VO:- Why 5 weeks?
ME :- I had discussion with the US counter part and they come up the 5 week plan which will include ASASASASAS (Explained my each week plan).

VO:- You have detailed plane with you?
Me :- Yes here it is.(handed over)

VO:-What kind of business meeting ?
ME:-Explained in brief which is written in my Plan document .

Vo:- Which place ?
Me:- Place name in USA?

And then the golden word your visa is approved and have a nice trip.

Tips:-
1) Write and Practice the sample question as many times as you can do.
2) Be confident, calm and hide your nervous.
3) Go through all your document and your talk should be matching with your document.
4) Believe in yourself and god.