Business Visa - B1

Good morning, i have to share the interview experience with US Embassy.
Me: Good Morning (with smile)
VO: GM (smiled)
VO: Why are you going to US?
Me: I was invited by a President of company to attend meetings regrading his plan in putting up a business here in my country.
VO: who are you going to meet?
Me: i mentioned his name
VO: what city in US?
Me: i told the city
VO: what do you do?
Me: i own a business
VO: what kind of business?
Me: doing a laundry business
VO: have you been in other country?
Me: yes
VO: where?
Me: HK, SG, MY
Vo: you have laundry business and yet you are having a meeting in a different kind of business. I cant understand.
Me: its another form of business, i believe not to put all eggs in just one basket. So i have to diversify my business.
VO: are you married?
Me: No but in common law marriage
VO: do you child?
Me: yes
VO: how many?
Me: 1
VO: sorry but i cannot give you a visa this time
Me: its okay (with smile)

In my realization, i really don't know the basis of the visa officers in granting and refusing visas. I am not mad at the VO who made a decision, but i am mad at the people who got a privelege in getting a visa and yet used it in a different way. For us, who have no plans in hiding in US especially business people who are making all efforts inorder to succeed in a country where they belong. Maybe i better luck next time.

I want also to share some of people i witnessed in getting a visa
A single, young lady, a student, who will going to attend a religious conference granted a visa.

A single young lady who is employed who wants to go to US only for a visit purposes, also granted a visa.

A 50 years old woman who will attend a conference for realty business also granted a visa.

This made me think what was the real basis for the strong ties in the country where you belong?

Anyone?

First things first: Thanks to Immihelp. This is not the first time I have used this forum as earlier I had B1 and H1 visas and followed Immihelp experiences and guidelines which helped.

The ASC Experience:
Appointment booking was on 30-Sep at 8.30 AM. Two days before went to that place at Kodambakkam High Road and got myself familiarized. So on D-Day it was bit easy.

After 3 to 4 minutes in line, I was asked to go inside. Went inside and they checked DS form and appointment. A sticker was placed on passport. This sticker is important as it carries the DS160 CODE. From now onwards, at ASC and later at Consulate they will scan this barcode on sticker. So be careful to protect it on your passport back cover.

Photo was taken and fingerprints given. 30 seconds work. Thats it.

The Consulate Experience:
Interview date is today i.e. 7-Oct at 10.30 AM. Started 1 hour before, but surprisingly Chennai traffic suddenly caused problems and arrived at consulate only 15 minutes before. No queue outside. They check your passport, appointment confirmation, one round of frisking and you go inside.

There again one more round of scanning - this time electronically. These desi ladies there really behave roughly with your documents trying to bend them and see if you have hidden a mobile inside. So tell them to handle your docs softly.

On my interview day, there were not tokens. Fingerprints verified (as I wrote earlier, Barcode on Passport scanned). Green markers are used to mark on the barcode. It is like a small tick mark on the barcode sticker with green marker.

I joined a que that was around 6 lines long. We could see counters 21 to 26 and VOs interviewing aspirants. Questions could be clearly heard as they use a Microphone.

Some Questions I overheard are:
1. How many employees in your company
2. What is your project
3. Can you show me your agenda
4. What is your salary - this is almost a constant question
5. Where you are going

There was one family which was grilled for about 30 minutes. It seems that guy travelled to many countries such as Germany, France and Slovakia. The VO was repeatedly asking why you went to Slovakia, which cities you visited, what you did there. These questions were asked at least 3 times one after another mixed with other questions. Don't know whether that family got visa or not, but might be Slovakia could be a block. No idea. Anyway, thought sharing on this forum for others benefit.

My turn came.

Me: Hello Officer, Good Morning.
VO: Good Morning, passport please.
I handed over the Passport.

VO: What is your Project?
Me: We won an RFP and it is for XX Client. VO Interrupted saying Congrats.
Me: The application is G YYYY YYYY . I am the Project Manager.

VO: XX Your client?
Me: Yes.

VO: Which city you are visiting:
Me: Detroit.

VO: How long is your stay:
Me: 3 weeks. I do requirement gathering and come back to India to finish development, it is onsite offshore model.

VO: When is the last time you visited US on H1B?
Me: I didnt expect this question so told him: 2006 or 2007. I dont remember. Later I remembered it was in 2006.

VO: Smiled and said: Your visa is approved.
Me: Thank you officer. Have a great day.

That's it. While speaking, I was maintaining eye contact and speaking confidently. He didnot even ask for one paper.

Thanks to Immihelp for providing an opportunity to share my experience.

Hi

I would thank Immihelp forum and contributors for their indirect help. My experience:
Had Visa scheduled on 6th 10:30, got in line @ 10, entered @ 10:20 and my turn came at 11:15, I was out at 11:20. The following questions were asked, not in order.

VO: GM, passport please

VO: Why are you going to US?
Ans: Answered in detail. Answered have to get back and convey to development team into the answer

VO: What do you do?
Ans: Answered

VO: Where are you going?
Ans: Bellevue....

VO: How long?
Ans: 2 weeks

VO: What is your role in your company?
Ans: I am a Consultant. I do *blah blah*. Interacting with clients is my part of the job..

VO: So you dont take care of the development part?
Ans: No I don't

VO: How long are you working?
Ans: 6 months

VO: and before that?
Ans: I did my MBA prior to it. And before that was working with MHRIL for 8 months.

VO: What is your annual income:
Ans: 12L

VO: Have you been abroad before?
Ans: No
VO: Did you say No (eye brow raised)
Ans: No (shaking my head :D )

VO: How did you land up at IGT?
Ans: I had a PPO....explained what it is

VO: Thanks, I am approving your Visa!

I left hurriedly before she gets reasons to changes her mind!

I had gone in business formals and could answer all questions confidently to the point- especially when she realized I have no business travel experience. I guess that worked

Surprisingly no questions were asked on Marriage, Plans, Returning etc.

Interview:

VO: Good morning. May I have your passport please
ME: Good morning. Sure (handed it over to him)

VO: Why you want to go to the US?
ME: I answered.

VO: Who is the client?
ME: Answered
(Typing something)

VO: What do you do for the client?
ME: Answered
(constantly typing)

And the golden words: "YOUR VISA HAS BEEN APPROVED"

take away:

Be confident, look into the eyes of the officer while answering.

Appointment was at 10:00, I reached Mumbai consulate 09:50.

After security check went to waiting area. There were approx 300 people ahead of me in queue. Approximately interval of 15-25 mins they were sending people inside.

11:10 I was inside interview area. Again there was big queue.

Sticker on my passport was scanned at one counter and again I am back in final queue.

11:40 Interview Started
ME: Hi, Good Morning
VO: Passport please

ME: I gave the passport

VO: Where you will be going in US?
ME: New York

VO: Explain in as detail as possible, what you will be doing in US
ME: I will be taking part in business meetings and contract negotiations. I will be gathering requirements and advise on technical feasibility. Will be there for 3 weeks.

VO: What product you’ll be working
ME: ZZZ

VO: You’ll be there for 3 weeks right ?
ME : Yes

VO : Sir , I am approving your visa collect after few days.

11:45 Interview over.

Documents checked by VO : NONE

Thanks to this forum for helping preparing me for this experience.
I guess, it is more smoother than i thot of...
Ppl I met have been scaring me like hell but ppl interviewing were very nice.

As mentioned in this forum, confidence is the key role. I have seen few candidates who have been fumbling and got directly rejected. They were lacking with basic information as well.

Finger printing day were like 10 minute of work. I was scheduled on Saturday 09/27 at 3.30 however, i went at 2.15 and was taken inside. By 2.25 i was out.

Interview day - 09/28
Passport scanned again & fingerprinting happened one more time for verification

I was asked not to keep any documents out except Passport.

I saw lady assigned to me was approving visa for everyone except one F1.

Me:

Hello GM. My B1 Visa was rejected with the ‘Skilled Worker’ reason. Could anyone tell the possible reason by the below is transcription. Usually interview completed in 1-2 mins, but they took 15 mins for taking my interview.

VO: GM
Me: GM, How are you?

VO: Good, Passport Please. What is the purpose of visit?
Me: For Technical discussion and related business meeting, also acquiring knowledge of upcoming project.

VO: Are you from Which Company:
Me: xxxxx

VO: From how long you will be there?
Me: 6 Years

VO: Are you married?
Me:Yes

VO: Do you have any child?
Me: Yes

VO: Both are travelling with you?
Me: No

VO: Who is your client?
Me: ZZZ

VO: What is your company do?
Me: YYYY X

VO: What is your Client do?
Me: YYYY

VO: For how long your trip will be?
Me: 3 Months

VO surprised and asked me, if you are going for 3 months then you have some specific plan
I showed him my plan. He take it and put me on hold till 5-7 mins.. He had checked the plan and also discussed with another VO. Then he asked me as per this plan you are going for only meeting. So I told him I have another points which are mentioned in invitation latter. He asked me to show invitation letter. He again takes 5 mins to verified invitation letter with plan. Then he said,

VO: Why you cant do support through conference call?
Me: I told him we have to visit few sites and explore product but I think he has not satisfied with my answer. He told me that means your US Client cant give proper support over there and stop me.

Last he said : Sorry, we cant give you visa this time.
When I asked him the reason so he told me as per your letters, we assume that you are going for Skilled Worker and we are not approve that visa.

Really i am clueless why my visa got rejected. The reason is not valid . could any one please help

 

guys, i need ur advice alot.... in year 2013, i applied for a B1 Visa, which i was given 3mnths visa, unfortunately, i couldnt make it, so i re-applied for the same visa, which i was denied. i also re-applied for the third time, which i was denied again, my worry now is can i re-apply again without not be denied again..... ur urgent response is higly needed.

MY B1 visa interview is on sept13th,Hyderabad consulate.
Here are the Questions posted to me ...

Which company do you work for?
A: YYYY

What is your Experience?
A:14 months mam

What is your salary?
A: 5,00,000 per annum

Which place you are travelling to?
A: xxxxx city

DO you work there?

A:No,To attend meetings and knowledge transfer sessions(If u say u work,You are gone)

How many weeks?

5 Weeks.

Why 5 weeks?

First two weeks we will do xxxx things and in 3,4 weeks we will have discussions on xxx and last week we will discuss xxxxx.

Which projects you have worked on?
x,y,z projects

Then came the golden works..Your visa is approved.

My suggestion is to go in formals and wearing tie is optional (I didn't wear) and the most important thing is to answer the questions in a very polite manner and maintain a bit smile.

I am an engineering graduate and experience doesnt matter ,the way how you give ur interview matters!!!

All the very best !!

I have attended VISA interview at Hyderabad office.

First of all I would love to Thank IMMIHELP team for providing such a nice and helpful information... For the guys who are attending the Visa interview first time, IMMIHELP is really very helpful...
Before attending the interview, I have read many posts and prepared all the related Answers for the Questions and hence I am very confident when I was in front of VO.

Let's start my VISA interview exp:

Fingerprints appointment was scheduled on 4th Sep' 2015 at 11:30 AM and it took only 5 mins as there is no queue.

And the VISA interview was on 8th Sep'2015 at 9AM slot but I have reached the place by 7:45 AM and joined the queue. With in 10 mins they allowed us inside the office long with 8AM, 8:30AM slots... As there is no long queue it took only 20 mins to enter into the final queue.

The total process is very cool and very disciplinary... I reminded my childhood school days when we are going to any excursions in a straight line one behind one... My suggestion is to stay calm while waiting in the queues and be cool.

There will be office staff to guide us everything very politely, so no need to worry if any doubts feel free to take their help.

At last got the token with counter number and went inside and seen there are already 6 people waiting in the queue in front of VO. Little noisy as they are using speakers and very tiny distance between each counters. But don't listen to the other counters. It took almost 10 - 15 mins for the people before me but it took only 1 min for me. Here are the questions:

Just handed over passport and Client invitation letter to the VO.

VO: Hi
Me: Hi, Good Morning Sir

VO: Good Morning, How are you?
Me: i am fine, thanks, How are you

VO: Great!, You are from xxx company right? (Passport already handover-ed to the VO by the staff )
Me: Yes sir

VO: How long you are working with this company?
Me: I am working with this company since 5 years I said (I think here i got more marks i believe)

VO: How long is the trip?
Me: 2 weeks

VO: who is the client?
Me: xxx

took some time and written something in the PC and Finally Golden words came out "You Visa is approved"
Me: Thank you sir, Have a nice day!

The interviewer is very young and the language is understandable... In the next counter the interviewer is a young lady who is also asking questions in Telugu which makes me very proud and happy...

Be very confident in front of VO and that's the main key ...

Best of luck to all the guys who are going to attend the interview... Thanks again to IMMIHELP for providing such a great opportunity to learn and share our experiences...