Business Visa - B1

I got rejected in B1 visa interview 2 months back. i am submitting again this month. what i suppose to select for the below question(YES or NO). Is this question mean about my VISA interview rejection last time???

Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the United States, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?

I got my B1 visa rejected third time at Chennai.

First time in 2009 - I was nervous and my experience was less(2.5 years)
Second time in September 2018 - VO asked for meeting agenda, I handed it over to VO and he drilled me on that.
Third time on 16th October 2018 - This time I dont understand what went wrong as the questions were very normal but still got rejected, below is how it happened:

VO: Passport please
me: Good morning (Handed my passport)

VO: What is the purpose of travel?
me: I have to go our Company's headquarter to attend internal meetings on requirements of new product.

VO: Where in US?
me: Sunnyvale, California

VO: what's your designation?
me: Technical Lead

VO: What is your salary?
me: XX lacs annually (It is par with industry standards)
(I did not tell my monthly salary which is not exactly XX/12 as it does not include variable component)

VO: how long have you been with YYYY company?
me: 8 years and I have total 11 years of experience

VO: where were you working earlier?
me: I was working in YYY company.
(In DS-160 I selected 'NO' for 'Were you previously employed' because there is one NOTE which says 'provide previous employer details in last 5 years')

VO: How long did you work in YYY company?
me: 2.5 years

VO: Did you ever travel abroad?
me: Yes, I traveled to Thailand on my personal visit.
(In DS-160, I selected 'NO' for the question 'Did you travel outside India in last 5 years' as I traveled in 2011)

VO: How long will you stay in US
me: 2 weeks

He typed something for 30 seconds and then said 'I am sorry to say but you are restricted to travel on non-immigrantion visa' and gave me 214(b)

What did he mean by 'restricted'? What can be the reason of rejection this time? Can it be because I applied after one month only? However he did not ask me anything related to previous rejections.

I got my B1 visa rejected third time at Chennai.

First time in 2009 - I was nervous and my experience was less(2.5 years)
Second time in September 2018 - VO asked for meeting agenda, I handed it over to VO and he drilled me on that.
Third time on 16th October 2018 - This time I dont understand what went wrong as the questions were very normal but still got rejected, below is how it happened:

VO: Passport please
me: Good morning (Handed my passport)

VO: What is the purpose of travel?
me: I have to go our Company's headquarter to attend internal meetings on requirements of new product.

VO: Where in US?
me: Sunnyvale, California

VO: what's your designation?
me: Technical Lead

VO: What is your salary?
me: XX lacs annually (It is par with industry standards)
(I did not tell my monthly salary which is not exactly XX/12 as it does not include variable component)

VO: how long have you been with YYYY company?
me: 8 years and I have total 11 years of experience

VO: where were you working earlier?
me: I was working in YYY company.
(In DS-160 I selected 'NO' for 'Were you previously employed' because there is one NOTE which says 'provide previous employer details in last 5 years')

VO: How long did you work in YYY company?
me: 2.5 years

VO: Did you ever travel abroad?
me: Yes, I traveled to Thailand on my personal visit.
(In DS-160, I selected 'NO' for the question 'Did you travel outside India in last 5 years' as I traveled in 2011)

VO: How long will you stay in US
me: 2 weeks

He typed something for 30 seconds and then said 'I am sorry to say but you are restricted to travel on non-immigrantion visa' and gave me 214(b)

What did he mean by 'restricted'? What can be the reason of rejection this time? Can it be because I applied after one month only? However he did not ask me anything related to previous rejections.

Hi all, I am really grateful to all the answers which helped me to prepare for my interview. I did apply for the first time and through all the help I got here, I got my visa approved. Would like to share my experience in a hope it might help someone else too.

Location: US Consulate, Chennai
Date: 16th Oct 2018

VO: good afternoon, please give me your passport.
Me: Good afternoon (and handed my passport to him with a smile in my face)

He looked into the screen for a minute or 2 before asking me farther question.

VO: Which company are you working?
Me: I told my startup's registered name.

VO: What is the domain of work in your company.
Me: I explained in short about our product (no more than 2 lines which I had prepared earlier.)

VO: Wow that interesting, so you do this and that ...
Me: I sensed he got interested in the product idea and explained in a bit detail taking this opportunity. (I was looking straight in his eyes and was answering with a smile)

VO: So what is you designation?
Me: I told him my designation.

VO: Where are you going in US?
Me: I am going to attend *** Conference which is happening in San Jose in these dates.

VO: How long will you stay in US?
Me: 5 days. (Here let me tell you 2 important things, 1) My conference was for 3 days so I added 2 days more and said 5 days cause I hard one guy was saying earlier to me that he will stay only for the days he will have the conference which The VO asked why only those days, won't you roam around a bit. He said no and VO wasn't convinced from his look. Luckily my dates mentioned in DS form was 2 days more than the conference. Please make sure you say exactly the same as you mentioned in your DS form. 2) Don't not mention dates against this question even if you have mentioned dates in the form. Another guy before me replied from this date to this date against the same question and the VO got irritated and said "I am not asking for dates please answer me in no of days you will be staying in US"

VO: What is you education background?
Me: I told I did my master from IITB.

VO: Then you joined this startup?
Me: No, I had worked in Oracle for these years and then moved to this company.

VO: So whats the name of the startup you said?
Me: This time I realised that he is trying to search the company home page and I told our registered name which is different from our brand name and our website in in that name only. SO I said:
:: My company name is THIS but our brand name is THIS.

VO: Can you spell that out?
Me: I spelled the brand name.

VO: (after opening our website) Oh you guys are working in AR/VR field, do you use oculus rift or similar device.
Me: I took this opportunity and explained about our product in more details and he was listening with full concentration. I was smiling and explaining in a way you explain a new exciting gadget to your friend (showing you are also excited to have worked on that product)

VO: After typing for another 2 minutes: Your visa got approved, Good luck with your trip and your startup.
Me: Thank you very much

Though he didn't ask for any documents in the process, I kept all the documents suggested by others in this group like, employment letter mentioning my designation, letter saying my company will sponsor the trip, my old passport, last 3 month payslip, last 2 years of ITReturn form, property papers, mtech sertificate, aadhar card etc.

Please be confident, talk slow if require and don't show you are nervous. I saw a guy got rejected who was answering a bit nervously (though that might not be the reason)

I'm really grateful to all the answers here that helped me prepare for my interview! Following is my experience!

Location: US Consulate General, Hyderabad
Time: 11th October 2018, around 12:30 pm

VO was an elderly gentleman.

Me: Good Afternoon sir (in the meantime an officer on my side of the counter, who already had my passport passed it to the interviewer).
VO: Good Afternoon, what's your purpose of visit to the United States?
Me: I have to attend ABC developer conference.
VO: Can you please provide the invitation letter of the conference?
Me: passed the letter
VO: Why do you want to attend this conference?
Me: I'm studying computer engineering and attending this conference will expand my skillset. Also, I'll get to meet experts and other students who will be visiting from all over the world.
VO: How long do you intend to stay in the US?
Me: 10 days sir, including travel.
VO: What's the nature of this conference?
Me: The conference is about ABC and PQR, the name of the conference is an acronym which stands for so and so.
VO: Who is funding your trip?
Me: My father has paid for my trip now but I will be awarded a reimbursement at the conference.
VO: By the conference organizers?
Me: Yes.
VO: Starts reading the invitation letter.
Me: Sir, I have a separate email regarding my reimbursement scholarship.
VO: Yes, show it to me please.
Me: Passed the email printout.
VO: after reading, "so they're providing $XYZ."
Me: Yes
VO: What does your father do?
Me: He is ABC of PQR at XYZ
VO: (After typing for some time) What is his annual salary?
Me: Sir, he never tells me his salary but he provided his bank statement for this interview (I retrieved the bank statement).
VO: It's okay, I do not need it.
VO: Do you have any siblings?
Me: Yes.
VO: What do they do?
Me: She is a 4th year engineering student pursuing XYZ.
VO: Here in India?
Me: Yes.
VO: Your visa is approved. (the magical words!)
Me: Thank you very much sir, have a great day!
VO: You too!

Just be confident and coherent during your interview, and everything will be fine!

Last time B1 interview(2month back) i got rejected because of my nervousness.

This time i feel enough confident to attend. Can i mention 1 week in DS-160 form instead of 2 weeks....it would helpful?
 

Hi everyone, has anyone applied for the B1 visa in order to attend an exhibition or a trade show?
I am applying for B1 visa in December for travelling in January to attend CES.

If anyone has applied for this purpose or somewhat similar purpose, please reply. I need some help with answers to some questions. I would be grateful.

Thanks in advance!

I have attended VISA Interview on 4th October 2018 at Chennai location. I got rejected.
I am having 5 years of experience in software development.
VO: Good Morning
ME: Good Morning
VO: Passport please
ME: Gave my Passport
VO: Where are you working?
ME: Company name “XYZ”
VO: How long?
ME: 2 Years
VO: What will you do?
ME: I have explained my role as senior software engineer. I have been working in XYZ Project and I will interact with client for technical clarifications.
VO: Who is your client?
ME: Company name “XYZ”
VO: Where are you going?
ME: I have provided client location.
VO: What will you do there?
ME: I will be visiting there to attend project discussion meetings and to know about our client’s product and process and gathering requirements and technical clarifications for new projects.
VO: How long?
ME: 8 weeks
VO: What will you do for 8 weeks?
ME: Already we have delivered X Project. Now they are giving three more projects Y1, Y2, Y3.
I need 2 weeks to understand about their product and process as well. I require 2 weeks for each project to understand the requirement and to clarify technical queries.
Hence for three projects minimum I require 6 weeks and if everything goes well I can come back to India before that.
Then I was waiting for his another question. But he has returned passport and he said he can’t process my visa this time as per 214(b).
Kindly can anyone suggest what mistake I did in this conversation and VO didn’t ask any document. But I am sure I was very confident while answering his questions.
Shall I reapply within this month ?

Free advises: My attempt was not so good and it was rejected.
I had my second attempt for B1/B2 today. It's done.

Do not change the location.
Make some changes in application but should be accurate. Change the look and feel.
Mention the previous Visa rejected/denied if any in application.
Go in time, do not stand in queue. But cannot help if you go to Chennai. Still try to avoid queue. You think.
Stop discussing unnecessary things with neighbors when you are queue. Just go blank, blank, blank.like mute.
Prepare the agenda. For a week.
Practice 5times, stand in front of mirror and ask question and answer.

Q1. Where are you traveling
Tell your location
Q2. What's your role and responsibilities
Give best answer
Q3. Purpose of travel?
" To attend business conference, internal meetings and discuss about capacity planning"
Follow the trick- do not wait for follow-up question, say " I have agenda for that".
They will check your paper for 30sec then they keep quiet.
Q4. Your annual salary.
Q5. What exactly you do in your conference.

I have attended recently for B1 visa interview on sep. 11th. Yes, on that very sensitive day for Americans. I am working in Thiruvananthapuram and I wanted to have the interview in Hyderabad because that is my hometown.
 I don't like to wear formals but I did on that day because everyone was saying in this forum about it.

The Consulate was quite orderly managed even though there are hundreds every day visiting for visa. This was my first time going to US consulate in India. Although I attended twice when I was living in Switzerland and both of the times visa was approved.

The interview happened in this manner.

Me: Good morning.
VO: Good morning.

VO: Where are you visiting in US?
Me: ( I did not hear correctly) San Jose, California.

VO: That is okay, why are you going , I mean what is the purpose?
Me: (This time I heard perfectly) To attend the project discussion meeting.

VO: what is your highest qualification?
Me: PhD.

VO: Have you been to US?
Me: Twice. San Diego for conference and second time to Hilo, Hawaii.

VO: Can I see your visas?
Me: I passed my old two passports having one visa stamped on each.

VO: what were you doing for 1 year in US?
Me: I was working for Gemini observatory as optical engineer.

VO: with what visa?
Me: J1.

VO: I know that you are an optical engineer, can you tell me what exactly is your job in the company now?
Me: I design and develop optics for illumination and image capturing for semiconductor wafers. And I have to present this to the engineers there in US.

Thats it. No more questions. He typed for a minute and said "your visa is approved".
I said" Thank you very much".