Business Visa - B1

I am intending to travel to california for conference paper presentation.
Here is my first visa experience (4 jan 2018)

VO : Why are you going
Me : To present a paper in IEEE conference
VO : Who do you work for ?
Me : Pitney Bowes
VO : Why only your are going from your company?
Me : 1) I did central work in product release . 2) I have rare skill of AI and machine learning and the confernece is about that and i am the only person on my team for it 3) Company wants to expand name in ML space
VO: Do you have invitation letter ?
Me : Yes handed over. The covering letter was also attached. He read both for quite some time
VO: Did you write the paper?
Me : Yes. I did much of the work and also wrote the paper
VO : sorry cant accept your visa application. Handed me 214(g)

Please advice on what went wrong. I have booked appointment again within a week
If they ask me what has changed i will say following :

1) Earlier my covering letter said confernce starts on 28 and invitiation said it starts on 31, this time i have corrected the typo
2) Earlier was not feeling well, so could not answer properly. This time i am well
3) I was handed 214 (b) so i assume i was not able to prove home ties but today i have documents to show that i have my mother here and i have no intention to settle in USA

I would like to share my experience of B1/B2 visa held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 18th of Dec,17…that was my first chance and Alhamdulliah I am succeeded to get visa along with my whole family…wife and 3 kids..
First of all I would like to say thanks to this forum for helping me as this was my first chance and I with this help of all those people who shared their experience over here I got a visa very easily…
VO: Hello Sir, your passports plz,..
Me: Good morning,, handed over a passports.
VO: can you speak English? (We had chosen Native language Urdu for family)
Me: Yes..
VO: Mam aap agay ain (Mam you come forward) I was surprised when an American spoke in Urdu…
VO: why do you want to go USA?
Wife: to enjoy holidays with kids..
VO: Where do you want to go in USA?
Wife: Houston..
VO: Why only Houston?
Wife: Because sister of my husband lives there…
VO: Have you ever visited any other country as a family?
Wife: Yes we went to Qatar 3 years back and recently me and my Husband went to Saudia along with our son and mother in law..
Vo: Don’t you do any work?
Wife: I do work as executive controller in a school which owned by my husband…
Vo: what is your monthly income?
Wife: 60k
V0: How long you have been married?
Wife: Since last 10 years..
VO: How many kids you both have?
Wife: We have 3 kids.. 2 girls and a son…
Vo: To me..Why do u want to go USA?
Me: For tourism..and to enjoy a holidays with Kids..
Vo: So you are an Engineer? Which Engineer?
Me: Yes sir,, I am telecom Engineer..
Vo: What do you do?
Me: I work in a Telecom sector as I ______
Vo: Since when you have been working in this company?
Me: Almost last 13 years…
Vo: What is your monthly income?
Me: don’t know why by I got confused and said 25….he looked at me and said what 25…I again gave a wrong answer by saying 25 lac…He again steered me..then I told a deep breath and said Sir my monthly income is two hundred fifty thousand….:)
Vo: where you have travelled before?
Me: Qatar, Saudia, Kuwait, UAE
Vo: Why didn’t you go to Europe?
Me: We will make a plan next year…
Vo: Why USA?
Me: At least we know someone over there who can travel with us and show us a places…
Vo: Since how long your sister is there?
Me: She is there since last 2 years..
VO: What she do?
Me: She is a Housewife/
Vo: What her husband do there?
Me: He is a senior Manager in _____ Company…
Vo: What his company do?
Me: don’t know sir…
Vo: What is his Last name?
Me: told…then he confirm me a spelling….Type something on system…and said I could not find him on system….
Vo: What is a date of birth of your sister?
Me: told.. He then again typed and said sorry I cant find them on system…
Vo: do you have there passport or visa copy ?
Me: Sorry sir.. I don’t have but they are on L1 A and L1 B visas… he again said sorry I system is not showing any information of them…
Me: Sir I got his letter and he has mentioned his contact number there… you may call them and ask him…
Vo: No..we cant do that….
Then one lady came behind him and start talking to him…he switched off his mic and started talking with her….After sometime he came back to us and without turning his mic On asked me something..i said sorry sir your forgot to turn on your mic… I cant hear you….He then switched it on and asked…
Vo: have you ever gone to Afghanistan?
Me: never and don’t even want to go there…
Vo: You have been refused a visa in Saudia?
Me: yes in 1995 when I was there for study purpose…
Then he asked a names of school of my kids…and then turned towards us and picked a blue paper and passed it towards us and said your visa is approved….My wife and me said thanks to him....and came out very happy…..

Hi.
I attended the visa interview on 21st Dec 2017 in Islamabd counslate and it got rejected. This was my first attempt. I would like you to tell me where did I go wrong as the interview went very we just the last question.
VO: hi good Morning
Me: good morning with a smile.
VO: y u want to go to US
Me: to attend the Intl Education Conference in Washington DC
VO: so what do you do?
Me: I am an Education Counsellor and work with foriegn universities for International student recruitment.
VO: What are your other duties as Education consuler?
Me: explained my duties in detail
Vo: alright. With a smile. Looked satisfied with my answer.
VO: have u travelled anywhere else before?
Me: yes. Travelled and lived in the UK for 4 years.
VO: looked at my UK visa on passport and looked satisfied.
VO: how long have u been working as an Education Counsellor?
Me: over 4 years. (Started typing on computer for 2 mins.)
VO: so where exactly is the conference taking place?
Me: University of California Washington DC
VO: looked at me with surprise and eyebrows risen. University of California is not in WashingtonDC. It is in California.
Me: well, according to my knowledge it is in Washington DC aswell. I have the invitation you can have a look at it.
VO: read the complete invitation letter for 2 mins and typed in the computer again for 2 mins.
VO: sorry I cannot issue you a visa and handed me the yellow letter.
Me: was taken by a shock. Couldn’t believe it’s been rejected. Ok thanks and came back.
My interview went very well apart from the last question where he raised his eyebrows. And what I think is that he didn’t knew that the University of California has a Campus in Washington DC aswell. That was the question after which his mood changed and he didn’t looked satisfied. He read the complete invitation letter aswell. Before that he didn’t ask me for any document.
Now I am confused and I want to reapply and convince the visa officer that University of California has a Washington DC Campus aswell. I have obtained a further letter from the university which confirms this further.
I would request you all to give me some advice as I donot know what should i do. I am sure the last question created a doubt in the VO mind. Should I reapply straight away as the conference is in Feb 2018 and I have time to reapply.
Please help and guide me with your experience as what should I do.
Will be waiting to hear from you all experienced people.

Thanks to all reviews posted here. Its really helped me lot. Am sharing mine experience so it could be helpful to others.

In first attempt in (2015) it got Rejected and its approved second in attempt.

I attended the US B1 Visa Interview at Chennai Consolute.

Interview date:- December 18 and 19, 2017

First day, it was biometric which gets over within 5-10 min so no worries here.

Second day, interview was scheduled at 9:30 AM and I reached there around 8:30 and there will be multiple checkpoints where they verify your passport, fingerprints etc.

Tips :

1. I was wearing white shirt formals.
2. Be confident and have a smile.
3. DS160 read it twice before you go for interview.
4. Practice your answers beforehand, especially on the travel purpose part.

VO: Good Morning
ME : Very Good Morning.

VO: Passport Please.
ME: Sure (Handover the passport).

VO: Purpose of your travel?
ME : My X company called me to transfer knowledge for another team to work independently.

VO- Duration of your visit
ME : Not more than 3 weeks.

VO: Which Company?
ME : X company

VO: Your Salary?
ME : X laks.

VO: Your Experience?
ME : Completed 5 years.

VO: Whats your designation?
ME : Software Lead.

VO: Where you stay??
ME : Company guest house.

VO: Which City you will be traveling to?
ME : *** City,*** state

VO- Have you travelled abroad
ME: No its First Time

VO: Are you married?
ME : Yes

VO: Do you have kids?
ME : No yet, we are planning with a smile.

Here comes the golden words, Your visa approved.
And i said thank you so much and left the counter.

First of all, I would like to thanks immihelp and all who have shared their valuable experiences. It really helped me to get through.

Proflie:-
Experience of 1 year 9 months with current organization (total 7 years of experience)
No outside India travel history
Good Salary with experience

Below is the interview :-

VO: How are you?
me: I am doing good. Thank you!

VO: Why do you want to travel?
me: To attend internal meeting followed by technical discussion with client.

VO: which city?
me: YYYY city and client discussion at ZZZ,XX.

VO: which company do you work?
me: YYYY (small size company)

VO: How long are you working with current organization?
me: Since 1 year 9 months

VO: who is your client?
me: YYYY company (Giant company)

VO: what is your designation?
me : Senior YYYY YYYY X

VO: what is your salary?
me: Told xx lacs per annum.. monthly gross x.x lacs

VO: Can you show me your pay slip?
me: Sure, handed over 3 months pay slips . (It took me 15 seconds to search docs in my file)

VO: Have you travelled any other country before ( looking at my passport and checking all pages)?
me: No, This is my first opportunity. (smile )

VO: Are you married?
me: Yes.

VO: Kids ?
me: No Sir. (Smile)

me: excuse me sir, I have made some changes in my DS 160, as per my travel plan and sponsorship, Can I hand over to you?
VO: Not required (typing )

VO: That's it .. Have a safe travel :)
me: Thank you Sir.

 
Suggestions:-
Be confident , Be polite, be enough loud that VO can hear you clearly.
Answer should be aligned with DS160.
Be natural, Don't be so serious that could make you panic or nervous.
Read the interviews on immihelp, mock it till you be enough confident with your answers.
Most important Be Honest !

check

Hello:

Yesterday my B1 visa got rejected at Chennai. Please see below questions.
Appointment Time : 8 a.m.

me: Good Morning
VO : Good Morning with Smile

VO: Passport please.
me: sure.

VO: Why do you want to travel?
me: To attend the annual developer conference organized by our client.

VO: For how many days
me: 10 days

VO: which city?
me: YYYY city

VO: Annual income in lpa
me: xxx lpa(good enough)

VO: Experience in current company
me: 7 months

VO: You are from Gujarat. Why did you apply in Chennai?
me: Dates which are suitable to me was not available in Mumbai Embassy.

VO: Why are you selected for that conference. Why not other team members?
me: I am a senior person in my team, based on my knowledge for the product I am selected.

Was typing continuously with smile and at last

VO: Sorry and return my passport.

Can someone please tell me what can be the reason for the rejection?

Hello, Frnds,
I Need an Advice for B1 / B2 Visa from Pakistan.
My Profile is as under,
Age 47 , 
Married ,3 KIDS.
Profession :       Retired  Officer from Armed forces, in 2016, Presently into my own business.
                            Valid Visa: UK 6 Months valid till  APRIL 2018,     Australia 6 Months ( not travelled yet) , valid till 10 Jan 2018. 
                            Previous Visits/Visa : UK 6 months in 2006 ( Stayed in Uk for 24 Days), UK 2 Years in 2007 (Stayed in UK for 25 days ), UK 6 Months in 2010 ( Did not travelled) UK 2013 6 months ( Did not travelled) 
                            Thailand  2017, China 2017  , Dubai 2017 , KSA ( Saudia) 2015.
Income : Receiving Pension Approx. PKR 70,000 P/Month, running my own business, but not registered yet. how ever am into mutal  partnership with a friend in an on going business since last 20 years ( but not registered / verifyable).
Bank balance Approx. 14 Laks in personal account. 
Property ; I have couple of properties in my personal name.

Purpose of visit TO US.
I intend visiting US, for leisure and business purpose, but I cannot precure a business invitation at the moment. How ever I have made a purchase from a buyer in US, and have sent USD 10,000 from to his account from regular banking channel of Pakistan in dec 2017. 
I intend visiting US , and see the more the buyer personally for my business and ensure further secure deals.

Suggestion Required.
Kindly suggest the course of action I should be adopting to obtain the visa, as I don't wanna mess up things by saying only that its just a leisure trip. As in my view what I have gathered after reading the reviews of all, that sole purpose must be very very clear ... so in my view holidays making cannot be the only plea that I may be granted visa...
So kindly advice in your view ,, how to go about .
Regards.

My parents and younger sister had B2 visa interview today and VO issued 221 g today and returned passport for all 3.
VO officer asked my father to provided detailed cv, he did not mention anything about my mother and sister.

My question is do i need to submit documents for all 3 ? as VO did not mention anything about my mother and sister nor did they take the passport

My father is an ex-air force officer ,mother is a housewife and sister is doing bank internship

VO : Hi, can you please pass the passport.
Me : Yeah, sure.
VO : What is your purpose of visit?
Me : Explained in details.
VO : Where are you going to stay in US?
Me : Explained in details.
VO : Annual income/monthly Salary.
Me : YYYY
VO :Are you married?
Me : Yes
VO : Do you have any KIDS?
Me :NO
VO : Your employer name?
Me :ZZZ
VO : Describe whats your roles and responsibilities?
Me : Explained in details.

Then i heard golden words that your VISA is approved...

Then i replied thanks a Mam and have a great day.

Few suggestion:

1) Go with formal.
2) Be confident and positive.
3) Reply with clear and very politely.
4) Please start your answer when VO has finished their questions.Do not start immediately.
5) Eye contact till end of the day.
6) Do prepare with so many questions.
7) Please be on time.
8) Do not find any papers while they are asking to to submit.
9) Please be prepared with your all documents.
10) Concentrate your part only , do not ask anyone or anything , please wait for your turn.

Last word i have to say .....checked twice what you have written in DS-160 form and also all depend on your luck....

Best of luck all of you for your upcoming interview!