Business Visa - B1

Hi All,

Now the procedure has been changed and instead of one day it is now for two days.

First Day, I had a biometrics. It was done in 15 mins.
Second Day, I had an appointment with the VO and also before that they took my finger prints once more. Then after all I got my token number and was waiting for my turn. My number was displayed and I went to meet the officer, here comes the conversation:

VO: Good morning
Me: Very good morning Officer
VO: How are you doing?
Me: Replied and asked him the same and he replied the same.
VO: Let me check your details in the computer.
Me: I waited
VO: Oh you are working for YYYY company?
Me: Yes
VO: Who is your client?
Me: ZZZ
VO: For how many days are u travelling?
Me: Just for 3 weeks
VO: Are u married?
Me: No
VO: Purpose of visit?
Me: Started explaining...

Then comes the word. "Your Visa is approved sir, you will get in a weeks time". The officer I met was really a gentleman. I was really thankful to him.

Regards,
ZZZ

Dear b1 b2 visa applicant those who are given an interview for b1 b2 visa in september and october plzz post full interview questions and what happened in vfs because us consulate change the visa procedure soo plzz post full comments acctual what happeneds in consulate and embassy because i m going to interview in october thank you.

Thanks a lot Immihelp for providing a very good platform to share and discuss our experiences. Here is my experience though it is bit lengthy, I hope it will be helpful.

As most of you people might already knew, that there have been some changes in US Visa procurement starting 27th Sep 2012. I attended my B1 Visa Interview on 27th Sep 2012 at Chennai(Actually it got scheduled on 20th Sep, thanks to Islam protests and Bharat Bandh, it got to be postponed) and believe me there was a confusion in very possible step, mainly due to lack to training for VFS staff and Security staff at US embassy about new procedure.

Now we need to take two appointments one for Biometrics at VFS and one for actual Visa Interview. In my case appointment for Biometrics fell on 26th Sep 2012 (No other options are provided) and
Interview can be scheduled on following days, so I picked up the very next day at early in the morning slot (07:30 AM).
On 26th Sep, I visited VFS office in Canotaph Road, Teynampet which is around 3-4 Kms for Us embassy.
The place is already crowd when I reach there at 02:30 PM (I had 03:00 slot) and I felt bit uneasy with environment as it is in 1st floor and no proper ventilation or AC available. A VFS guy calls out by Applicants by name and ask as to form a queue in order. So it doesn't matter when you arrive, as No first come first serve basis is applicable. I suggest you all to be there exactly on time. Once after getting into VFS and followed by Security checking, you are provided with a token and asked to sit in a lobby, which exactly resembles the actual US visa interview lobby. So its more like a mock interview. On calling, we have to submit our passport and appointment letter and VFS staff (one sits behind the window) may ask you some questions to make feel bit easy and then we are suppose to give our finger prints impression followed by a photograph taken by them (So no need to get a photograph on our own :) ). That's it but in between the VFS staff struggled a lot to take my photograph, purely due to lack of experience in handling a Camera..true and VFS staff from other counter came running saying Server is down. All the time I was like Oh boy what a time I had.

On 27th Sep, I visited Us embassy at 6:30 AM (I had 07:30 slot), eventually the first one in the morning there and security staff made me to wait until 07:15 (they have no idea of changed norms, there expecting the old format of appointment letter and after looking into my appointment letter, they said I have to go to VFS office, I tried to explain them but in vain. After looking all others appointment letters they started to run here and there) and finally allowed me in after thorough security checks. I am forwarded to counters where they use to take Biometrics before, here I am asked for passport and appointment letter and Initially, I have no idea why they made wait in front of the counter for long time, I heard the staff talking in Telugu saying they waiting for someone, may be their superior to have a look into the new appointment letter. After 15 mins, a guy walked in and training started.....second episode started. After some time, they gave me token number N1 looking into my confused face. Immediately I am called by another counter and I got to know that they are using me as test data to test the process of biometrics submission at VFS. The test passed and I am allowed to enter the Visa lobby.

After little waiting, my token number flashed on the screen and I went to the window with bit nervousness.

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning
VO: Where are going to, in US sir?
Me: Houston
VO: Repeated "Houston"
Me: Yes
VO: what is the duration of your visit?
Me: 2 weeks
VO: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: I am going to visit my parent company to attend few....
She interrupted me asking
VO: For which company are you working for?
Me: YYYY X
She didn't got it.
Me: Spelled my company name.
I continued with telling her my purpose of visit
Me: I am going to visit my parent company to attend few business meeting and to visit our client.
She interrupted me again asking
VO: Who is your client?
Me: YYYY XX
VO: oh! then you are travelling to Seattle.
Me: Yes
VO: Is it within 2 weeks
Me: Yes
VO: Ok, what is your current salary per annum?
Me: XX lakhs XX thousands

and then the golden words followed saying "your visa is approved sir"
Me: Thank you
VO: oh wait a moment, we have some changes in the procedure, so you select the place where you need to pick up your passport right?
Me: Yes

that's it.

I been to consulate office today and faced my B1 Visa Interview. I'll not state all the discrete details of the interview process as its all common some or other way. I want to give my conclusion for those who are first time scheduled for the same.

Please take care of following points:
1) Be what you are, don't fancy yourself and endup with nervousness.
2) Be in time and try to relax your self, ie feel cool.
3) Take the interview as just a conversation to a person you met first time. You no need to feel like an applicant but like a friend, whom you are sharing about yourself.

Don't gather too much experiences from others as everyone's perception may differ for the same.

Lastly but not least, Be true to yourself.

Jai Hind
Om Shankar Mishra

My interview was scheduled on 12 Sep 12.
It got approved in just 3-4 ques.
I just wanted to say thanks to immihelp.Immihelp gives me right direction and confidence for interview.

guys i m going to interview in october 2012 so plzz give me some importanr tips help me out plzzz

had applied for 17th in chennai but due to protests it got cancelled

scheduled it for today 24th nad a hug line awaited with a lot of police personnel and tv news crew covering

added up to all the more anxiety

went in did all the initial check ups

went to the VO

VO :hello how are you
me :am gud how are you

VO:why r u going to US ?
me :to appear for my USMLE Setep 2 clinical skills exam

VO:how long will you be staying ?
me:2 weeks

VO:who is sponsoring for your trip?
me: my dad

VO:you will be recieving ur passport in a weeks time
me: thank you so much

he didnt ask for a single document
intially i forgot to giv him the passport that was my only hiccup apart from that it was a piece of cake
be genuine and stay confident (i was wearing a suit & it boosted me morally)

hyderabad:

9am.,

q1: why you are visiting usa?
ans: 2 attend a trade fair
q2: what products 2 import
ans: x,y,z
q3: what all the countries u have been?
ans: 8 countries.,
q4: show me your BL for x shipment?
ans; sh0wn
q5: what is ur income?
ans: xxx
q6: is this ur company?
ans; yes

ur visa appr0ved and in 7 days u will recieve it.,


i n0ticed:

   she writing so many things in c0mputer and seeing s0me thing in the c0mputer.,

  be c0nfident and try 2 answer str0ngly.,

First of all I would like to appreciate this site. It was very helpful in preparing for the interview.

My VISA interview is scheduled today at 8.00AM at Hyderabad. I went to consulate office at 7.30AM. Security was very tight due to the disturbances happening at Chennai Consulate. There was no queue when I reached there. They opened the fates allowed inside at 8.00AM.

At outside gate they have checked Passport and Appointment Letter. Security person cross checked the name in passport and appointment letter and appointment date and time.

After entering inside the consulate they have asked us to sit for 5 mins. After that they have 8AM appointment persons and asked to stand in a queue and they asked to put all the belongings in a tray. The items in the tray were scanned and they have given back to us. After that one young Indian lady reviewed the documents and helped to put them in an order and we were asked to go to a window for documents checking and barcode verification. After barcode verification they have redirected to fingre prints. After that a token was issued and asked to sit at a common place.

We have sat there idle for about 15-20mins. After that display started with the window numbers. I have waited for another 15mins here to get my chance. Here You Go....

VO: Good Morning
Me: GM, How are you?
VO: Good. Please give me your passport.
Me: Sure.
VO: Which company you are working?
Me: XYZ Company.
VO: What is the purpose of the travel?
Me: Going to my parent company for attending training on new processed and projects.
VO: How many days?
Me: 30 days.
VO: Do you have a training schedule with you?
Me: Yes, please (Handed over the training schedule).
VO: (Went through the schedule) What is your designation?
Me: Sr. Database Administrator.
VO: Since how long you are working in XYZ Co. (He is looking at my BEP).
ME: since 1 year.
VO: Being a Sr. DBA, why are you going to training now.
ME: blah...blah...blah....
VO: What is your annual income?
ME: X lakhs XX Thousand X Hundred and X Ruppes. (VO Smiled for my answer).
VO: Which College?
ME: ABC College. ZZZ.
At this point VO has placed my Passport in a tray. I thought he is convinced, but he started asking other questions also.
VO: What is your highest qualification?
ME: Masters in Computer Applications.
VO: Are you Married?
ME: Engaged and my marriage is on ZZZ. XX
VO: What is your fiance doing?
ME: Working as YYYY XX.

And the Golden Words.....Your VISA is approved, you will get your passport within 7 days.

Total interview was about 2minutes...I felt like a rapid fire round.

My Suggestions, which may be useful.
1. Be in a formal dress. Tie is not required and I did not had my id card hanging to my neck.
2. Be Confident. Make Eye Contact.
3. Put up a smile as per the situation.
4. Dont mug up with frequently questions and answers, maintain clarity on what you are going to tell the officer.
5. Dont get tensed whether it is first time travel or if you are single. In my case I am not married and this is my first time.

All the Best folks!!!

I am really thankful to immihelp, experience shared on this site were really helpful in understanding the interview process and for preparation for the interview.

My Visa interview was on 14th Sept 12 for 7.45 am slot. I reached there at 6.45 and they let us in at 7.10am

Visa interview process -

Step 1 - Security check

Step 2 - Get the token number by giving passport and confirmation letter at the counter.

            Person at the counter will return passport with token number.

Step 3 - Give your fingerprints at finger print counter.

Step 4 - Wait in a hall where on LED monitor you can see the token number and respective counter number.

             When token your number gets displayed go to respective counter.

Note - There are some Indian assistants who can assist us.

I greeted the officer with a smile and then he started my interview.

VO: Why are you going to US?
ME: I am going to attend the requirement gathering discussion for new project "Project name".
  
VO: Where are you going in US?
ME: Answered

VO: How long you are with your organization?
ME: Answered

VO: How long you are going?
ME: weeks

VO: Have you traveled outside India before?
ME: No sir.

VO: What is your designation?
ME: Answered

VO: Why only you are going?
ME: I have a system expertise as I am working for my project since more than 3 years. I am familiar with the current functionality of the project.


VO: Explain the project for which you are going?
My Visa officer was a cool man. When I asked him to repeat what he said he asked me same thing in Hindi “ Project me kya hona mangata he ”.

ME: I explained my project and mentioned that I have to go to analyze the current process and to define the new approach needed to increase the efficiency of the system.
  
After this answer officer said those golden words "Your visa is approved :), you will get it in 7 days by courier".

I said with a big smile, “Thanks a lot sir and have a great day ahead”.

I got the message at 4 pm that my visa is couriered and I got my US visa on Monday.