Business Visa - B1

Hi Friends

This is my first post. My L1B visa was rejected on March 2012. Now I joined a different company couple of months back and they decided to send me Houston for business meeting. Here is my experience.

I went Chennai VAC on 9th March for biometric and it was fast and very simple. I came back Bangalore and again went on 11th March because my interview was on 12th March.

I went to consulate little early (my appointment was at 10:15 and I reached at 9). Waited in hot weather of Chennai. I was allowed to go inside at 10:20. I did not carry mobile, wallet etc. Only passport and documents.

After security check, I was allowed to go inside. There was a hall and my passport was scanned and I was asked to stand in a queue. After waiting for 10 mins, I was asked to go to counter no 21. VO was a guy.

Me: GM sir
VO: No reply, passport please.
I handed over the passport.
VO: Purpose of your visit.
Me: Business meeting and workshop with xxx leads in Houston.
VO: Since how long in this company?
Me: 2 Months
VO: Before xxx, which company?
Me: xxx company
VO: For how long?
Me: 4 years
VO: Salary?
Me: xxx lakhs per annum (pretty decent).
VO: Designation?
Me: xxx Manager
VO: For how many days you are going?
Me: 10 days.
VO: Where in US?
Me: Houston.
VO: Have you travelled outside India before?
Me: Yes, UK in 2012.
VO : Your visa is approved.

I was in formal, no tie or coat. I was nervous but when I went to counter, I answered flawlessly.

All the best.

Hi All,

I have taken B1 visa interview on 08-03-18, below are details

Here is my Case:

B1 visa applicant,
IT Business Professional since past 7 years
Qualification: MBA and MCA
Marital Status: Single
Age: 30 - Male
Travel: 1st time International traveller

Below is the interview conversation

VO: Good Morning.
Me: Good Morning, How are you doing today?
VO: I am doing good.
Me: How was your day so far?
VO: Good, enjoying Happy Womens Day (VO being a Female)
Me: Happy Womens Day to you...

VO: What is the purpose of the Visit?
Me: Meeting with Business Stakeholders like Customers, Partners and Product Managers.
VO: Looks convinced (started typing something on Computer)

VO: Where are you planning to Visit in US?
Me: Seattle
VO: Looks convinced (started typing something on Computer)

VO: What is your Designation in your organization?
Me: Business Analyst
VO: Checks something on computer looks convinced and started typing something

VO: Are you going to work on New product or Existing one?
Me: I will heling in existing and new product, explained exactly what I would be doing.
VO: Checks something on computer looks convinced and started typing something

VO: What is your Salary per Annum?
Me: xx,xx,xxx per annum
Note: I find my salary to very less compared to US, based on recent research
VO: Types something on the computer

Sorry, you have not qualified for Non-immigriant visa under section 214(b). Hands over a paper with
details to section and law details. If you wish you may apply again sometime later. Thank you.

Queries:
1. What is your view on my interview, why do you think I would have been rejected B1 visa?
2. What does section 214(b) actually mean? Shall I re-apply and by when?
3. What should I change in my DS-160
3. Can I re-apply for B2 Visa for tourist purpose and will B1 Visa rejection have any impact?
4. If in future I plan to visit USA for Business purpose can I use my B2 visa or will I have to
   re-apply for B1 visa?
5. I planning to apply for Schengen Visa, just to avoid rejection for 1st time Visa applier for
   Foreign country? Do you have any thoughts?
   I plan to ONLY apply for visit and not taking any visit for Europe.

Looking for replies and suggestion from this forum.

Thanks in advance!

Hello All.

Firstly, I would like to thank this website and all of you guys for helping me out in my VISA interview.

So let's get started !!!!

I was scheduled at 10:15 AM slot. I reached there by 9:45 AM and straight away got in.

After their usual security checks I was allotted first window. Here is my conversation and hopefully someone will suggest me my rejection reason.

VO: Good Morning!!! Your passport please.
Me: Good Morning Sir (with a smile). Here it is.

VO: What is the purpose of your travel?
Me: I need to attend business meetings with our client.

VO: What is the duration of your visit??
Me: 2 Weeks.

VO: So, since when you are working with YYYY Company?
Me: In total, I have XX years of experience and with YYYY company I have 3 years of experience.

VO did not ask me anything else and he gave me 214 (b). I was in shock that I was asked/judged only on 3 questions. He was also rude while calling the next participant. He was waving his hand to call the next person in queue(which I did not find okay). I was also called up in the same way. I walked out thinking where did I mess up??

I am not sure if this could be the reason (just wondering) but before me he approved 2 VISAs. Both of the VISA applicants were senior citizens and they were going to meet their grandchildren in the US.

As per me nothing went wrong from my side and today has just not been good for me!!! I was judged only on 3 close-ended questions.

Can someone help me in understanding what went wrong.

Regards,

Hello, I have been going through this forum for a while now. I recently had the B1 Visa interview and had to face the rejection even though I had Previous L1 B Visa approved and i stayed in US back in 2014-15. I have also traveled to other Countries( Schengen and Ireland) on Business Visa from same company. Here is how my Interview went :

VO: Why you are travelling to US?
ME: I am travelling to attend Business Discussions and Meetings with Business Stakeholders.
VO: People coming in meetings are of same/parent company:
ME: Yes we have internal meetings where various YYYY location Representative are joining this.
VO: Designation?
ME: Senior Consultant
VO: Looking at all the visas I had in past at my passport. What is Exp with YYYY company?
ME- 7 years now.
VO: What is package?
ME- YYYY LPA. I have good package with respect to Industry standards.
VO: Looking at her computer monitor , why have you overstayed in Ireland during your business visit.
ME- I never did that mam.
VO: You did, that is what it shows , give me the reason:
ME- I never did that, if that would have been the case I would have got the red stamp on my passport. I can show my passport with all the exit stamps within time limits.
VO: I am not asking if Immigration allowed or not or they gave permissions. I am asking reason why you overstayed.
ME: Since I never did this overstay I have no reason to give.
VO: How long you were staying with Ireland in business visits.
ME: 2 to 3 Weeks.
VO: Continuously typing something on screen and said visa not approved.

As I came out I was really shocked to learn that I have overstayed and that too I have never been caught:). I was more concerned with my Travel History rather than B1 Visa. I recently had Schengen Business Visit Last month without any issue nobody mentioned about overstay in Ireland.

Anyways, with the above conversation I was sure my rejection reason was overstay which I never did. So post my interview I reached out to Ireland Immigration office to understand what is the issue here did I ever Overstayed with you guys. If yes, then send me the duration so I can show the proofs. I have been on 2-3 Weeks Business Visits in Ireland for 5 times but never seen any issue.

I have been mentioned by Immigration office that you never overstayed with us. In all your business visits your history is absolutely clean. It depends on USA Visa Authority why they are considering if you overstayed with us.

I am really not sure now what should be done in this case. Is my understanding correct with the above conversation that rejection was due to overstay issue which VO mentioned? As I have the email from embassy mentioning that you never overstayed so shall I re apply with the proof?

Please advise!!

Hi all!

Can anyone help me with questions along with appropriate answer that can be asked if I am applying for B1 US VISA after first rejection.

Thanks!

I had interview this morning it got rejected...My purpose of visit is to open a Business Account in XYZ Bank, I have invitation email from the Bank Vice President..

I have setup a new LLC in Delaware and need to open a Bank account for the Company I am the Founder of the Company.

VO - Purpose of Travel ?
Me - To open a Business Bank Account for my new LLC

VO - Asked me the name of the company?
Me - answered it she looked in to the computer for few seconds and handed over me the 214(b) saying not eligible.

Can some one please suggest what should I do because it is very important to open a Business Bank account for my LLC...please suggest what should I do before I re-apply for the VISA

Hi,

Please reply to my post.. I have my interview tomorrow

Hi All,

I appeared for the interview on 1st March and my visa was not approved.
Below are the questions asked. Please help me to understand why it would have been rejected.?

VO: What is your employer name?
Ans: XX Software

VO: How long have you been associated with it?
Ans: Its been 4 years.

VO: Why do u want to visit US?
Ans: To attend Buisness meetings with the client.

VO: For how long?
Ans: 2 weeks

VO: What is the meeting about?
Ans: The client has an existing system and now they are planning to integrate some more departments like Sales and Marketing. So we will be discussing about the requirements, testing process and challenges that may affect the existing system.

And she gave me 214(b). I was completely shocked and could not understand what went wrong.

Hi all,

I had my 1st B1 visa interview on 15th Feb, 2018. My visa got rejected.

Following is the conversation:
She_VO- What is your purpose of visit?
Me- I am going to discuss the scope and schedule of the project
VO- What does your company do?
Me- My company is into detail designing of oil and gas industries.
Duration of visit - 2 months ( i think i should have said only 4 weeks because 2 months does not come under B1 category. This is where i went wrong)
VO - Will it take 2 months to discuss scope and shedule of the project?
Me-Yes. Since the project is changing its phase from FEP to detail design there are a lot of things that need to be discussed before proceeding with the project. (i think i should have elaborated on - "lot of things")
VO- (unconvinced face)
V)-what is your monthly salary
Me- 36k (actually my ctc is 6 lakhs so monthy should be 50 k, however i mentioned 36k which is my in hand salary. Next time when i apply i will change this to 50k)
VO- What is your highest qualification
Me- Bachelors in Engineering. (Does highest qualification matter)
She started typing something and said you are not eligible for B1 visa.

VO did not ask for any of the documents. i think i should have shown her my invitation letter from US company and said that my company is going to sponsor.

Can someone please help and let me know why was my visa rejected. My company has asked me to apply again in 2nd week of March, 2018. Please let me know what are the points that i should concentrate on. i am planning to mention duration as 4 weeks when i apply next-will this work?

Your valuable inputs would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance

Hi All,

I have second attempt for visa interview on 8th .. I am not sure about the first reason of rejection but would like to know your views on the key questions that i have prepared this time . Could you guys go through this and let me know if any changes required :

1. Why do you want to travel to US?
Ans : I will be travelling to US to attend business meetings with Sales team

2.What are these meetings about?
Ans: these Meetings wll be primarily to discuss presales processes that sales teams follow and how operations team from India can support effectively with them during each stage of these processes

3.What are these Processes?
Ans : These are the presales processes where the sales team understand the client business problem and collaborate with operations to team to provide them a proof of concept

4. Why are you only travelling ?
Ans .As i manage the operations team in India and main point of contact for sales team, it will be beneficial for the business if i attend these meetings with sales teams and optimize the collaboration process between sales & operations

5. Why for 2 weeks and not 2-3 days or 1 week?
Ans . As we have separate sales team for various practice areas and each have their ows et of processes , i will be havig discussions with each of them which will go on for 2 weeks

6.Why it can't be done on Calls?
Ans . As presales is a critical process as it helps business grow , it is critical to have these discusiion face to face which would help us optimize the process

Here is my profile :
1. Designation : Project Manager
2.Overall Experience : 8 Years
3. Current company Experience : 11 months
4.Last visa rejected : Jan-2017 ( with different company)