Business Visa - B1

Rather a pleasant but experience on Feb 4 (Luckily I got appointment again in Delhi, I think slot was available as someone cancelled :) Rather long interview, but I was confident, could feel my heart beat, but she was very calm, Today I felt she wanted to approve my Visa from very starting.....
VO: How are you?
M: I am good how are you?
VO: I am great thanks, it’s quite windy today...Give me your passport?
M: Smiles...Given
Reads on computer...
VO: Wow you studied in France
Me: Yes,
VO: Where
Me: MSc in Cell Biology & Bioinformatics in École Polytechnique, Paris
VO: I did my Year abroad there, so you know French
Me: Yes I have C1 level certification in French
VO: Wow, so let’s do this interview in French
Me: Smiles, I could try
VO: She said you don’t have to...I am not so good in French. Anyhow, where you work
Me: I work in Big Pharma company (given name) in Hyderabad for more than 2 years
VO: How much you earn?
Me: 25 Lacs per annum...
VO: Everything fixed?
Me: Yes, also 15% of fixed salary is given as bonus depending on individual and company’s performance
VO: So how are you performing?
Me: I have the rating and I am above expectations
VO: Wow,
Me: I will get 140% of my bonus component
VO: Good for you, I see you are going for AAD, where it is taking place
Me: Walter E Washington Convention Centre
VO: Where will you stay?
Me: Renaissance Hotel
VO: Your Company spends too much..
Me: Yes, it makes $XX Billions every year as profit and I travel in business class
VO: That’s nice, Which airline are you flying?
Me: Flying Emirates
VO: Which countries you have been to...I see you have been to Canada
Me: Yes Canada, UK, France, Singapore...Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland. Interrupts in between
VO: Which countries you have been on business reasons
Me: Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden
VO: I see you have 5 years Schengen Visa, was that sponsored by your company or Europe just choose to give you
Me: I travel frequently for business purposes, so when I applied last time in April 2018, they gave me 5 year multi entry visa (MEV). I also have 3 and 1 year Multi Entry visas before this...
VO: I see that rarely on Indian Passport Holders (I don’t know why she said that...I know 4 people in my company who have 5 year MEV)
Goes inside with my passport and god knows how long she stayed in...(2-3 minutes and longest of my life)
Comes and smiles
VO: How many years you stayed in the UK
Me: 3 years 3 months for my BSc
VO: Where you did BSc
Me: BSc in Pharmacology in University College London
VO: Can you show me your previous passports...
Me: Gave two previous passports...
VO: Why your company is making you travel so much to Europe, do you get paid in Euros?
Me: There are lot of conferences and workshops and I attend those collect the data at these conferences, analyze the data in tools and get insights from data which I share with my stakeholders...(Interrupts in between)...VO: ok ok..
VO: Do you get paid in Euros when you travel to Europe?
Me: No, I get reimbursement of all expenses I make through Company’s Multi Currency Corporate Card and air tickets and hotels are paid directly out of Company’s account
VO: Types something in system for 1-2 minutes then ask, have you been ever denied US Visa
Me: Yes twice, one in April 2016 with my previous employer and one with my current employer which was recent in Jan 2019
VO: Why did you choose to apply from Delhi and not Hyderabad
Me: I have my permanent home in Delhi and working from home for last 3 weeks. In addition, there were no appointments in Hyderabad...
Goes inside again and come within 1-2 minutes
VO: Do you own house in Delhi?
Me: No, however, I have one flat in Gurgaon...sorry Gurugram, Delhi NCR in Sector 55 which I own, however I am the only son of my parents, so that house will be mine...only as ancestral property
VO: Laughs...Are you single
Me: Yes,
VO: No worries, your visa is approved
Me: Thank you very much
VO: Returns my previous passports, Canadian Resident Card and expired UK Resident card
Came out with smile
Feb 1: Finger Prints
Feb 4: Interview
Feb 5: Visa Issued (as per CEAC)
Feb 8: Ready for pick up

I was recently rejected but would like to apply again for the same expo.I was the team leader for over 16people.All denied! Only 3qns asked...
1.What was the criteria for choosing the selected people you are leading?TOLD as i fumbled
2.Tell me about the Expo. TOLD
3.Have you traveled internationally before for the same?No, gave my reason in a long answer as i was fumbling.

I would like to apply again as an individual but i need guidance on how to state my answers, i have not seen anyone here with experience on expo attendance visa interviews, i would like to get guidance.

Hey,

I had a appointment last March 2018, finished my bio-metric and couldn't take my Visa interview.
I need to apply for b1 visa again.
Im confused, wheather I need apply ds-160 or I shall retrieve the form I last submitted?
I need to update my experience, invitation etc
I not sure though what to be done.
Shall I use the old cgi no or I do need a new cgi no?

Please help me on this.

Thank you.

Hi All,

I know most of you are here because you are going to face US B1 visa interview pretty soon so I have listed down B1 questions and sample answers for them.

If you get a chance to go through them and it may be useful for you guys. Feel free to ask any questions if feel so.

Dont Forget to COMMENT if you have got benefited from this even a single bit.

Link for questions and my experience:

https://www.immihelp.com/experience/293208-US-B1-VISA-QUESTIONS-AND-ANSWERS.html

https://www.immihelp.com/experience/247766-US-B1-Interview-at-Chennai.html

Thanks and Regards,
Your Friendly Neighborhood BATMAN

Q1: Purpose of the trip?
Ans: To attend business meeting of ongoing project and to meet our architects.. etc (first mistake)
Q2: Show me invitation letter?
Ans: Shared
Q3: Annual CTC in INR?
Ans: xxxx
Q4: why can't we do this discussion online?
Ans: F2F discussion will get answers faster and clear (fumbled). Current project is very critical to company brand(2nd mistake)

Sorry.Here is your 214. ufff.

 

Q1 : Why are you travelling to Illinois?
              Ans: I am going to attend business meetings. (Confidently)
              Q2 : Have you been ever to any other country?
              Ans : No.
              Q3 : You are working with YASH Technologies? Am I Correct?
              Ans: Yes
              Q4 : How long you’ve been associated with YASH Technologies?
              Ans: 1 Years and 8 months
              Q5 : For how long you are going to be in Illinois?
              Ans: For 2 weeks
              Q6 : What do you think is the accomplishment of your trip?
              Ans: We are going to discuss on the future enhancements of our application.
              
              Then suddenly, she starts typing for a minute or two and handed over me 214B form, Passport and my Invitation letter by quoting “Unfortunately Sir, You’re not eligible for the Business Visa as of now. Please take this 214B form and have a nice day.” To which I replied “Thanks, Have a nice day!”

              I exited the consulate by 09:40 am.

Q1: Purpose of Visit
Explained in 2-3 sentences

Q2:Have you travelled to any other countries
Yes.I have travelled to UK for a period of 11 months

Q3:What were you doing for 11 months
I was doing a similar assignment as per my role there

Sorrrrry ...... they issued me 214 (b)

Please can any one help me how can I reapply my VISA

Interview time was at 11:45am, today, 1st Feb 2019.

I reached the venue at 10:50am itself, just to get the feel of the place, my perseverance and the people.

A pretty decent crowd was there today - few singles, few families, few spouses alone, few coat-suits, few formals and few casuals.

The questions from the VO were very sharp and short. I too answered them without any fumble and in brief. Wherever she thought my explanation was fine, she stopped me. The interview did not even last for 90 secs, I was approved.

While from my experience, I can definitely say that our approval is 50% ours and 50% of the other who is interviewing us. My VO was a very pleasant lady, was asking questions in a very polite manner, she never hurried on me on anything. I was patiently answering them and it was very timid interview.

The only people who rushed me was our Indian securities (overdoing) their duties, like they were hurrying us on everywhere - Scan check, biometric, etc.

Good luck to everyone who are appearing for the interview.

Best,
Sarma

Interviewed on: 31/01/2019

You need not wear the formals. Look decent. Be confident and be prepared to answer the possible questions.

Me: Good morning, officer
VO: Good morning. Where have you been to Europe?(as I had stamping in my visa earlier)
Me: I have been to YYYY for a conference for a period of X days.
VO: Why are you going to California?
Me: To attend a business meeting with our ZZZ(company) stakeholders
VO: What is ZZZ(company) to yours?
Me: It is a partner for us.
VO: How long are you planning to stay there?
Me: 14 working days
VO: What is the weekly agenda?
Me: Mentioning the project details with the agenda.(stopped me)
VO: And said have a nice trip to US :)
Me: Thank you :)

I had applied for B1 last year, the interview was at Hyderabad consulate. It got rejected. Now i want to apply for it again but the dates are not suitable for me at Hyderabad, i need an early appointment. I am thinking of applying from New Delhi. Would this situation affect the interview result? The reason for changing location is not because i want to try different consulate, its just i need an early appointment. Please advise.