Business Visa - B1

I am sharing my interview experience in Mumbai consulate with the VO. Can anyone please explain why the visa got rejected?

VO: Hi, can you please pass the passport.
ME: Yeah, sure.

VO: What is your purpose of visit?
ME: CDS user training meeting

VO: When do you intend to travel?
ME: I will start on 25th from here and reach there by 26th of Nov. (also told her the return dates which is within a month)

VO: For how long have you been working with your employer?
ME: 4 months

VO: What you will be doing going there?
ME: I will be getting training on the design practices in US factory, also need to learn their manufacturing limitations and practices

VO: Have you been trained earlier?
ME: NO, not about the design systems their in US factory. I need to learn and come back to support the factory from here in India.

VO: What is your annual salary?
ME: xxx lpa.

VO: I am sorry, your intend of activities doesnt fall into the category of visa you applied.
(gave back the passport with 214(b) letter)

ME: (baffled) But i have the detailed schedule of training and invitation letter from US.
VO: Sorry, no bargaining.

ME: What to do now?
VO: Tell your employer that it looks like you are going there to work.

I then left the counter with no clue.
To add a few notes about my application,

1. I have total 3 years of experience.
2. I visited china two months back in business visa, and Japan earlier with my previous employer.
3. I've liked a few FB pages that may post controversial sociopolitical memes and pictures, does that affect anyhow?

My employer asked me to apply again in same category, and I about to schedule my interview. Any idea how to overcome or where I lacked? (sometimes I fumbled and lost eye contact)

Questions:

What is the purpose?
To have business meetings with the client

Which company?
X

Which client?
X

Which role?
Senior Business Analyst

How long?
2 weeks

Have you traveled before anywhere outside India?
No

What is your salary?
Xl per annum

Any family, husband or kids?
My family stays in Kolkata, I am unmarried

Given 214(b)

Can anyone say what went wrong

Hi,

MY B1 VISA REjected twice one in year 2013 and one is today. I am not able to understand what mistake i have made. My company is also planning to apply for third time as the project is little crucial.

here is what the VO asked
VO: Do i work for YYYY company.
Me: No that is my last company
VO: Why you are travelling to US?
Me: I said my client has brought new data feed which we need to ingest into our system. So for that i need to attend business meeting and technical meeting and once i have all the information ill be coming back to India and guide my team to work on the same.
VO: For how long ill be staying in US
Me: 2 Weeks
VO: How long i am working with this company.
Me: I told him i have rejoined this firm 9 months back, prior to this i have worked for this company for almost 4 years 10 months.
VO: Do i manage a team
Me: I said i manage a team of 8 People and my designation is Senior Technical Lead.
VO: Who is your client
Me: YYYY company
VO: What type of training you are going to get
Me: I told i am not going to attend any training, I am going to take the understanding from business users how they are going to use the new data, summary is requirements gathering trip.

and then he gave me 214(b) second time. Can someone please help what was the reason first time in 2013 i applied the visa from the same company and now company again wants me to reapply after 15 days as the project is crucial for both On shore and Off shore.

thanks in advance
Vineet

Hi

As usual story like.....
1. Two days appointment
2. First day just Photo and Fingerprints at counter with passport, DS 160 Confirmation, Appointment docs.
3. Second day is scheduled at 9.00 am at Chennai US

He asked me only few questions and even he did not ask any document.

Here is the conversation after giving passport to him.
=============================================================================
Q: Why do you want to go to US ?
Ans :- To attend product training and knowledge transfer session of YYYY product.
Q: What is your designation ?
Ans :- Team leader in Testing.
Q: Salary per Annum ?
Ans :- YYYY Lakhs(good)
Q: Where you want to go in US ?
Ans :- Santha Clara, CA
Q: Does it client Company ?
Ans :- No, its internal, my company office located in Santha Clara, CA.
Q:- He again asked What is intend of the trip ?
Ans :- To get product training and knowledge about features of product, after return back to India YYYY office to guide our team members within same company to deliver software support service for xxxx product. (I just followed what was written on Invite later)
================================================================================
After a 10 sec, he said that sorry this time we could not process, we need 214(b) form ,like that he gave a paper and passport.

Can you please let me know, what are possibiliteis to reject...

Hello Everyone,

This website is great and thanx everyone to sharing their views, it really helped

I have given my first interview from Delhi in Jan 2017 but it was rejected. Now we tried to have the interview from Chennai

I had my Biometric from Delhi and then I went to Chennai for my Interview

I was wearing Black suite with Tie.. There was long queue and people and children were there for interview

My interview was at 10:30 am and I was on queue inside the consulate by 10:30

I have seen very less rejection from Chennai, only one what I have seen

I was asked to go at counter 19, here is the question:

VO: Good morning, please give me your passport

Me: Morning, passport given (Stand near the mic & speaker & hand on the counter, so that VO can hear you clearly without asking to speak louder. It was happening for many of applicants as he was not getting the voice clearly)

VO: Why you are going to USA?

Me: As I am leading the QA team in India, my manager "Name" who is working in "Project", have invited me for the internal meetings and to talk more on QA process. And also I will be meeting with IT team including QA & Developers as I am working with them from past 4 years

VO: What's your client name in USA?

Me: Said

VO: And what’s your company name?

Me: Said

VO: For how long you are working with your company?

Me: 4 years 10 months, it will be 5 years in Jan 2018

VO: Where are you going in USA?

Me: Palo Alto, California

VO: Is your client is in the same city?

Me: Yes

VO: For how long you will be there?

Me: For weeks , tops 2 weeks

VO: What exactly you will be doing there in USA?

Me: As my manager have invited me for the internal meetings, so I will be attending meetings and also will be talking about the QA process enhancement. Along with this I will be meeting different team members of the company

VO: What exactly your role in your company?

Me: As I am leading my QA team in India, so I am responsible to make sure that guys who are under me are testing the application correctly as per my clients expectation and also coordinating with US team

VO: In which city you are working?

Me: My office in Noida

Vo: So why you have applied this interview from Chennai?

Me: As my intended date of travel is in between 26th Nov-6th Dec, so I was not getting early appointments from Delhi, so I have taken the appointments from Chennai as my client wanted to meet me as early as possible

Vo: Who is paying for your trip ?

Me: My company, "Name"

VO: Are any of your team members are also travelling with you ?

Me: As I am the leader of my team, so I am only one who will be travelling

VO: Started typing for 5 min’s and started comparing my pic in his machine

VO: Sir, may be this question sound awkward to you, but have you travel to Syria?

Me: No Sir, I am travelling abroad for the first time ( I am guessing that, he asked this question to get my expression and body language on the view of Syria, as he already know that there is no stamping on my passport)

Vo: Sir, your Visa has been approved.

Me: Thanks Sir, you made my day.

The reviews from this forum helped me a lot, I went through all of them before attending, thought of sharing mine so it could be helpful to someone.
I attended the US B1 Visa Interview at Chennai Consolute.

On the first day, it was biometric which gets over within 5-10 min so no worries here. Mine was around 2:45 PM but I reached by 2:15 PM and they let me in right away and I was out by 2:30 I guess.
You just need to carry Passport, DS-160 confirmation and Interview confirmation. They will take a photo and fingerprints and they will also put a sticker behind your passport.

On the second day, My interview was scheduled at 9:00 AM and I reached there around 8:15 and there will be multiple checkpoints where they verify your passport, fingerprints etc.
After waiting for about 30-40 min my chance came for the interview.

It was counter number 23 or 24 I am not very sure and it was a lady who took my interview she looked Indian but not sure.

VO: Good Morning.
ME: Hi, Good Morning.

VO: Passport Please.
ME: Sure (Handover the passport)
Then she checked something in the system.

VO: Purpose of your travel?
ME: To attend multiple business discussion regarding our project.

VO: Which Company?
ME: QWERT

VO: Your Experience?
ME:1Y 5Months with current organization (Total of 2Year 7 Months)
She checked her system and maybe she didn't hear my answer properly

VO: Did you say 5 Months?
ME: No, 1 Year 5 Months

VO: Your Package?
ME: QWERT Lacs/Annum (Pretty good salary for a 3 year experienced guy but not great though).

VO: What exactly are these meetings about?
ME: To discuss on the future plans and how to expand the project to more client(I work for the product based company) and also there are some of the issues we are facing currently how to tackle it, these are few of the things which we will be discussing.

VO: How many people are there on your team?
ME: 5

VO: Whats your designation?
ME: Software Engineer

VO: Why they are sending you not someone senior?
ME: I have been part of this project ever since it started and with my knowledge on the project I will be able to provide some of my inputs during the discussion which could lead to the betterment of the project.

VO: Which City you will be traveling to?
ME: Sorry (I could not head the question properly)

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

Then the golden words.
VO: Your Visa has been approved, Enjoy the stay (She kept the passport with herself)
ME: Gave a smile and said Thanks a lot.

My Advice:
* I have read my reviews here where people said the Visa depends on the work experience(Years) and Salary. I do agree it depends but not completely. In my case, it was only 1Y 5M. its all about how you project.

* Be confident and have a smile. I know it is very difficult, even I was very nervous but at least answer confidently. Do not stammer/pause/Think of answer there. Prepare answer well ahead and be ready for all kind of cross question which might come up based on your answer.

* For B1 dress bit professionally. Don't have to wear suit/tie/id card etc. I was wearing sports shoe, white full sleeve shirt and jeans pant (Our company allows business casuals).

* The big help was this forum, I went through each and every review present here. I used to read the question and answer by myself.
Rehearse by standing in front of the mirror.

* Don't keep listening to the questions while you are in the queue which might make you more nervous then you are already. Be confident in what you have prepared already.

Some questions which they didn't ask me but I was prepared were:

1. Why can't you have meetings over Conference calls from India?
2. From which Port you will be entering the US?
3. Agenda for each and every day (in my case it was 10 days)?
4. Whats my role in these meetings?
5. Why 10 days? Cant, you finish in 2-3 days?
6. How can you guarantee me that you will return?
7. How will you/your company benefit from these meetings?
8. Can’t your manager or senior associates explain these things why do you have to go?
9. Your role in the current organization?
10 Your role in the previous organization? (If you have)
11. About the project?
12 About the Current and Previous company?
13. Be sure on the Business meetings date and your travel date/plan? (I even made a note of my flight details)
14. If you have relatives then their details (Address, work etc.) (In DS-160 I had given Yes to the relative in US)
15. Be sure on what you have given in DS-160 and please tell same or related things in the interview.
16. Anyone else travelling with you?

I know it has been a long review but I hope it will help you.
All the best!!!!

Hello All,

Thought of sharing my experience, which might help others.

Biometric: 15th Nov 2017 2:15PM appointment. Reached 2 hours early. Finished very early 1:30PM.
1. They will capture your face in camera along with fingerprints.
2. Your full name
3. DOB

Note: DS160 should be filled properly as per passport not even a single mistake.

VO: 16th Nov 2017 11:30AM appointment. Reached 2 hours early. Finished at 12:15PM.

First I wished VO with smile “Hello Sir, Good Morning”, he didn't reply anything. Asked my passport.
I handed over.

1. Which company you work for?
2. Designation?
3. Annual Package?
4. Where are you going?
5. How long?

Finally he told me your "VISA approved" and then I said "Thank you sir, Have a great day"
He gave me my old passport.

I was so happy entire day, previous day I was not at all slept.

This Immihelp website helps a lot to everyone.

Key Points:
1. I was wearing white shirt formals.
2. Be confident
3. Wish to VO--Good morning at the beginning and at the end, Thank you sir, have a great day
4. DS160 read it twice before you go for interview.

Regards
NK

Visa interview held on 15th Nov 2017 in Mumbai Embassy. I had invitation letter from big car manufacturing company, sponsorship letter, last 6 months bank statement, savings statements. Interview went as follows
Me: Good Morning mam with smile
VO : Good Morning, Your passport please
Me : Sure
VO : Whats your profile.
Me : I am Sr Application Engineer in *** and have total 3 years experience in this field.
VO : Whats your purpose for this visit?
Me : Explained in detail
VO : Whats your experience in current organisation?
Me : 3 months
VO : Have you travelled to US before
Me : No
VO : Abroad?
Me : No
VO : Sorry i dont find you eligible this time and this letter explains why. handed me 214b letter.

I was confident, no fumbling, maintained eye contact with slight smile. Does my low experience in current company resulted in rejection. She never asked for any of documents. please guide.

I went for biometric on 12th Nov, 2017 and it was done very well. They just asked for my passport, appointment letter and DS160 confirmation letter for it.
Next day (13th Nov, 2017) I went for visa interview at US Embassy but they rejected my visa. Also, they didn't ask for any documents provided by attorney. Please see the below conversation that I had with the Visa Officer while interview.

VO: Please give me your passport
Me: Sure
VO: So what is the purpose of your visit?
Me: I shall be vistinvg Houston, Texas for attending business meetings to gather the requirements for YYYY projects for YYY client.
VO: What is your title.
Me: I am Sr. Application Developer by title
VO: So you are a Software Engineer
Me: Yes
VO: Do you code?
Me: Yes
VO: What languages do you know?
Me: C++, C#
VO: How long you have been with your current company.
Me: Its more than 5.5 years
VO: Ok. You know the rules are very strict for B1 Visa in US, we can't approve your Visa. Handed over me 214(b) form.

I am not sure why they refused my visa. Kindly advice that how I can reapply for it and what needs to be done to make sure that my visa get approve.

Interview scheduled at 10.30 am, i was there at before one hour

Everything went well the process inside the consulate.

Finally, got my counter number 16 i was standing near the counter and before me there was a two persons, one was being interviewed and other was waiting. Both of the guys visa got rejected

Its my turn, she called me through hand sign

i went and in the mean while she scanned my passport as i have been handed over to security lady and she have been passed to here while am in the queue.

Me: Good Morning with slight smile
VO: No reply from her
VO: Whats your purpose of visit
Me: To attend "XYZ: summit being organized by x company
VO: You work for this company?
Me: No, i contribute for that company
VO:How long you will be travelling.
Me: Its been for 7 days
VO:Have you ever been to US?
Me: No
VO:Did you marry?
Me: NO
VO: Whats your salary per annum?
Me: its xxxxx (my package is bit low)

she said sorry and gave me 214(b) form i was shocked for a moment.

But the company which i have invited was sponsoring me everything i mentioned same in Ds160,
she didnt even asked me a single paper from me and even i tried to give her docs while in middle of interview she closed the lid, dont know whyt.

Does really my salary is a negative point for this though everything covered by X company and i have everything (flight, hotel) booked.

Guys, i am planning to reapply as this summit is too important for me to apply.

Please provide your valuable suggestions which can help a a lot.

if i am applying for the same location or any other locations

what can be the expected questions and answers to it.

Thanks in advance.