Business Visa - B1

Many thanks to this forum. It really helped me to find most common questions which can be asked in the interview. Below is my VISA interview experience:

Me: Good Morning Ma'm
VO: GM

VO: Can I have your passport?
Me: Passport given

VO: Why do you want to go to US?
Me: For Business meetings and technical discussion

VO: In which organization you work?
Me: told my current company name

VO: How long you have been working here?
Me: 3 years 4 months

VO: Where you were working before?
Me: I replied by giving the name of my earlier company.

VO: Are you married?
ME: Yes

VO: How many kids?
Me: 1

VO: What will be the duration of visit?
Me: 2 weeks

VO: Your salary?
Me: YYYY USD per annum

Then golden words came
VO: Your VISA is approved. Have a safe journey.

First of all, thanks a ton to this forum which helped me a lot in my interview preparation and making me realize the importance of giving short and crisp answers instead of big explanations (that I did in my first attempt). My visa was declined in Jan 2014 and I reapplied after 1 year. The only major change in my life between last time and this time is that I got married in between and I think this helped me in a big way in securing a visa because the VO asked me 3 to 4 questions regarding this. Below is my visa interview experience in detail:

VO: How are you?
Me: I am good and hope the same for you

VO: Can I have your passport
Me: Given

VO: What do you do?
Me: I work in XYZ company as a "designation"

VO: Why do you want to go to the States?
Me: To attend business meetings on the project I am working on (it's really important to be very crisp while giving this answer. Give additional details only if you are asked about it in a follow up question)

VO: Tell me about your family?
Me: My parents are in ABC city and I live in New Delhi with my wife

VO: What does your wife do?
Me: She works in the same company as I do

VO: Did you meet her there?
Me: Yes, we joined the company together

VO: Did you go there to work or do all this (this question was asked jokingly post which the VO and I started laughing loudly. Everyone waiting nearby started staring at us)
Me: I guess troubles can find you anywhere (did not know how to react)

VO: Where do you want to go
Me: Raleigh, NC

VO: what would be the duration
Me: 2 weeks

and then came the golden words "Your visa is approved. Have a safe trip." I thanked him and came out

Some pointers from my experience:
Be calm in your tone. Do not sound rushed
Give crisp and short answers only, elaborate only if you are asked too
do not get nervous due to rejections around you (I saw 10 people getting declined a visa and I was pretty nervous)
Dress formally
Sound casual. Do not make it sound like an interview but a conversation between 2 adults.

Thank you very much immihelp and its users. I hope this helps someone. Good luck to all

Its my 2nd attempt
My interview time is 11 am reached there 9:30 but me lucky guard send me to interview at 10 am
 
Vo in good mood
Me saw her
Me my god last time she refused my visa under 214b

Vo smile password please
Me given

Vo purpose
Me I told in one line B meeting

Vo y they select you
Me I was explain
I m subject matter expert
I have expert knowledge with existing system

Vo your experience
Me 2 year

Vo before you travel
Me no

What is the name of your previous company
Me told xyz

Vo your visa approved
I thanks to Goa
Really but it was good experience both the time the interviewer is same

Guys be confident there is no challenge
Simple question

First of all, thanks to all the members and immihelp for this wonderful forum. This is a perfect place for someone who has applied and appearing for the consulate interview for the very first time. It was indeed helpful and before attending the interview i had a thought in back of my mind that i would also be posting my experience and prayed that it would be a positive one.

I had gone through most of the experiences posted in this forum and I almost (thought that i) had an idea of what questions can be asked by the consulate officer for my profile. I am 3.5 year experienced and had applied for a B1 visa to attend a business conference.

Biometrics: 28th January 2015
Scheduled Time : 5:30 PM
Nothing new here....... have your DS-160 photocopy, appointment photocopy and your passport with couple of visa size photographs if required. I will be over even before you realize.
I reached by 4:50 at BKC Trade center, Mumbai and joined the queue. At 5:30 sharp they guards allowed me in and I was out of the building by 5:40 PM.

Consulate Interview : 5th February 2015
Scheduled Time : 11:00 AM
After initial security checkup and fingerprints, they ask you maintain a queue and the security officer will guide you to the interview counters as they are available.
My turn came, I was bit nervous thinking about the worst possible scenario but somehow tried(pretended) to keep myself calm and composed.
The security officer asked me to join the first counter, i went ahead with his instructions. (but soon realized that the VO had some personal work and he asked me to wait for a moment)
In the meanwhile, i gathered (in fact tried to gather) all the confidence i could and started waiting for him to come to his desk. Right then i could hear the security person asking me to leave that counter and join another available counter instead. I collected my file folder with the document and marched towards the appropriate counter. The VO was a middle aged man (in 30's may be) and he was courageous enough to greet my with a Good Morning. (The interview was over in a minute, joined the queue at 10:25 and was out of the embassy at 11:02)

VO : Good Morning.
Me : Good Morning Sir.

VO: Purpose of you visit
Me: Answered appropriately in small sentence.

VO: Do you have the invite letter? (I am supposed to attend a business conference)
Me: I handed over my organization’s application, conference invite and a copy of flight itinerary (it had details of my flight tickets back to India)

VO: So you work for YYYY company?
Me: Yes, I work for YYYY which is a subsidiary of an US firm ABC.

VO: Designation
Me: Answered appropriately by giving a one liner about the responsibilities for the position.

VO: Educational Qualification?
Me: Answered appropriately.

VO: Have you ever travelled to any other countries?
Me: No

VO: Are you married?
No: No

VO: Who is going to pay for the visit.
Me: My organization will take care of all the funds.

VO: What ties you have with India?
Me: My entire family is in India.

VO: Do you have any relatives in USA?
Me: No, I don't have any relatives in USA.

VO: Duration of your visit.
Me: One week.

VO: Your visa is approved, you can collect your passport in 3-4 days.
Me: Thank you so much Sir. (Collected my documents and started walking towards the EXIT with feeling of great excitement and joy as this was the first time I had applied)

I reached office and checked the visa status at 2:30 PM in the afternoon, the status was ISSUED...On 6th, checked the passport status. The website responded "The current status of your passport is Ready For Pickup."
Took an office cab in the afternoon and by 3:55 PM I got my passport with B1 visa stamping and 10 year validity. :)

1. Prepare for the worst case scenario and with the all appropriate Q&A's for your application.
2. Maintain eye contact with VO and be confident with your answers.
3. Have all the documents arranged appropriately.
3. Carry originals (only if requested) and a photocopy of government photo ID (preferably PANCARD) and OFC appointment letter while collecting your passport.

Thannks and all the best.......... !!

Bio metric interview is very simple. there was a moving queue... passport, DS160 confirmation page and interview page were verified, 10 finger prints and a photo was taken.

on my interview day, had a pretty long queue. depending on our interview time, people were standing in parellel queues. At teh entrance of building, DS160 form got sealed by a security officer. if you carry any bag, mobile, it need to be deposited at a counter with a cost of 10 Rs. Post a complete security check, I was directed to proceed inside teh building. I was given a token at teh front desk. I was waiting inside the hall wherein multiple counters were there and american officers were sitting inside each counter and interviewing applicants. I was listening to few conversations happening to make sure that I understand their style of talking. it was not that difficult to follow them. finally my turn came.
I wished teh officer. he too wished me and asekd for my passport.
here is the conversation.
officer: Where are u travelling
Myself: ABC city
Officer: what is the purpose
Myself: To take part in business presentation and client meeting
Officer: Who is your client
Myself: ABC client
Officer: How long is your travel plan
Myself: 2 weeks
Officer: Are you working for ABC company
Myself: Yes
Officer: How long you are there with this company
Myself: xx years
Officer: what is your annual CTC
Myself: xx Rs per annum

He said, I am approving your visa and have a good day. I thanked him and moved away.

Thanks all members for sharing their experience that made a lot difference...

I had OFC on 20th January at 3.30 PM at Mumbai.
I reached around 2 pm, they allowed to get in around 2.45 within 15 minutes my OFC was completed.

They just took finger prints, apply sticker on passport and one photo click.

Second day , I reached consulate around 10.15 AM and my interview scheduled was at 11:00 AM.

Around 10.30 AM they allowed to get in queue and then entered consulate, while entering they check the sticker applied on passport.

Shortly my turn came to get in and next step was to validate my passport and finger print verification. Once done, the real show begins...

I was tensed as the officer took around 10 minutes for candidate next to me and finally he rejected the visa.

My turn came in....

Me: Good Morning Sir...
VO: Didn't replied

Me: I passed my passport to VO

VO: Who invited you to US?
Me: Client

VO: Where is this client?
Me: xyz city in state of abc.

VO: Who is your client?
Me: SCD corporation.

VO: You work for BBC company?
Me: Yes

VO: What is your salary?
Me: I directly told the salary in USD per annual. Next question came immediately.

VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes

Golden words came up... Your visa is approved, you will get your passport in 3-4 days.... I happily smiled and said Thank you sir...and ran away with joy :)

Be prepared with all possible questions-answer from this forum..convert you salary in USD before hand.I used xe.com converter just before going to consulate to get latest conversion.

There is no reference of older visa while evaluation, I had L1B rejection 2 years back but he didn't asked or referred except while filling in DS160.

Good Luck..and Thank you to all members

Please anyone can shed light on my case: I am working for a US non profit organization based here in UAE and our client which is also US non profit organization invited me to participate in a training.

I appeared for B1 visa interview twice one in the consulate in Abu Dhabi where the VO didn't even checked my documents.

Questions were as follows:

1. Why are you going to the US? I was invited to participate in a training workshop
2. Are you married? Yes
3. Do you have children? Yes
4. How old are they? 8 y/o and 6 y/o
5. Where are they? In the Philippines
6. What does your husband do? He's a nurse at a military facility
7. What do you do? explained in 2 sentences
8. what tests do you promote? answered the specific tests we promote

Then VO says: sorry your visa is not approved handed me refusal letter 214-b

Then my employer who is an American citizen living in the UAE for 20 years asked me to reapply after 1 week. We requested for an expedited appointment which was granted. The earliest schedule I could secure was in the Consulate in Dubai.

I appeared at the Consulate 15 mins earlier. I was very lucky because that day was their admin day and there was no interview schedule. They accommodated me since I have an expedited online schedule which I think was their fault. They had no choice but to accommodate me. The security personnel were friendly. After the biometrics procedure here comes the VO.

VO: Good morning, can I have your passport
Me: Good morning
VO: why are you going t the US?
me: was invited to participate in a training workshop
VO: where is the training taking place?
me: Princeton,NJ VO: do you have invitation? then I showed here the invitation,plane ticket & hotel accommodation she even checked my schengen visa,salary certf and employer's certf.
VO: how long have you lived in Abu Dhabi: me: 9 months
VO: how long have you lived in the Gulf: 2 2/12 years
Have you traveled before for these trainings? me: yes, Amsterdam in July 2014 for a training from same organisation
VO" are you living with your family me: yes my husband is here
VO: how much is your salary me: answered in monthly as she stated then I saw she converted in us dollars
VO: do you have any relatives in the US? me: no
VO: have there been any significant changes in your situation since your last interview? me: in what terms ma'am: VO: job (then I just showed here salary certf and employer's certf.) I couldn't think of any significant change
VO: I am afraid that if there's no significant change I couldn't change the first decision (referring to my first rejection)
then she handed me 214-b then I asked her mam what would change my situation
VO: I'm sorry I can not go into that,I suggest you reapply after 3 months.

Take away: my husband applied for tourist (b2 visa) on a different schedule and was not asked too many questions. He got a 10 year multiple entry visa. The VO even asked him are you travelling with your wife he said no because she's travelling for a different purpose. Then VO asked him again why didn't you go together. Husband explained then VO says congratulations...blah blah!

Could anyone please tell me what happened? Is salary a factor if it is my husband is here and I'm under his visa sponsorship. If length of stay in the company is considered both of us just moved to Abu Dhabi 9months ago the difference is that he makes way a lot more money than I do.

Please help! Thank you.

Thanks everyone in this forum for sharing interview experience, it really helped me.
I am sharing my experience below, hope it helps others.

My OFC appointment was on 5th Jan at 13:00 and visa interview on 6th Jan at 10:30, @ Chennai:

At OFC:

There is a queue at the footpath outside OFC, there may be multiple queues based on appointment time,.
I was in the queue for around 1 hr, went inside at around 13:20.
Queue may be long, but moves faster when time comes.
Inside OFC multiple people are sitting to check the passport/appointment/DS confirmation.
After entering the room, you get a token number, look for the token number in the display and go to the correct counter.
They will stamp on your DS 160 confirmation and appointment page, and a sticker on the passport.
In the counter, again documents are checked and your photo/finger prints will be taken, then done for the day.
Steps are very fast inside OFC, for me it took only 5 mins.

At Consulate:

After reaching the consulate, there is a person outside checking passport and sticker that was attached in OFC.
Then stand in the queue in the footpath, when your turn comes, go inside.
There will be security check-in, after that you need to go to the main consulate office.

Inside the office, again passport will be checked and a token will be given, after this go inside.
There will be a queue inside for the finger prints again.
Once done with finger prints, stand in the 2nd queue parellel to previous queue.
Then get inside the interview room.
Sit and wait for your turn, look for your token number in the display.
Once token number is displayed, go to the counter, there may be 3/4 people already in the queue for the interview.
While others are giving the interviews, just look at the visa officer, you can hear what questions being asked and what people are answering.

My appointment was at 10:30, reached at 10:00, after all security clearence, went to interview room at 10:30.
Waited for 15-20 mins in the interview room for my turn, my interview took only 5 mins.

Here is my interview experence:

VO(visa officer, a lady): next please

Me: Good morning mam
VO: GM, passport please
Me: given

VO: Where are you working?
Me: XYZ company

VO: What is XYZ comany?
Me: XYZ is...

VO: How long with Current company?
Me: Answered

VO: Will you visit client or your company?
Me: I will visit my company office

VO: Where is it located?
Me: Answered

VO: Purpose of visit?
Me: Technical training and discussins for the project that I am working on.

VO: How long you will be in USA?
Me: 6 weeks

VO: 6 weeks for traning is too long, why you need 6 weeks?
Me: I am working in a complex project, lot of things are new...... (VO was convinced after sometime)

VO: Can you explain your agenda on weekly basis?
Me: I have the agenda doc, can I show it?

VO: I don't need that, just explain
Me: OK, First week, I have training with ABC team, then with BBB team... while talking came the next question

VO: Were you born in India or Pakistan?
Me: In India (btw, my name is similar to Pakistani names, so this question was only for me)

VO: What is your father's & monther's name.
Me: Said, what is mentioned in DS 160 form

VO: Have you ever visited US before?
Me: No mam, this is first time

VO: Will you work in USA?
Me: No mam, only training and design discussions for the project

VO: You will attend training and after coming back you will train your team here, right?
Me: Right mam

VO: Your visa is approved, have safe journey. (kept the passport)
Me: Thank you mam...... just ran away......

Few tips based on personal experience:

- Be confident & polite
- Maintain eye contact with VO
- Answer to the point, short answer
- Speak slow, loud and clear
- Don't speak un-related words, answer only what is asked
- Show documents only if asked for it

Hi All,

 Happy New year..
 this was my Second Attempt for B1/B2

first applied in April 2013 (Rejected)

Second Attempt.
My OFS was on 29th Dec & did.
Interview was today 5th Jan at 10 AM .
I reached little late by 15-20 mins.
Still Queue for 10 AM was going on

then I entered & after Scan sit in waiting Hall for around 40-50 mins
In order to decrease nervousness, I had coffee in 40 rs.

Then entered for finger Scan & queue for interview.

I prepared all questions from this forum

VO asked :- Your comapany name ?
I :- Answered

VO asked :- Why are you going?
I :- For Business meeting & Technical Discussion.

VO:- When are you going ?
I :- Given dates & Duration.

VO :- Duration
VO :- Ok

Then for a while VO typed.

Then he replied you can get your Visa after 2 days.

Thanks immihelp, I preapared all from here only.

The experiences I read from this forum helped me a lot.

Questions asked from me:

Why do you want to go US?
Where do you want to go?
Duration of stay?
Who are you going to meet?
Why were you chosen to go?
Who is your client?
Which company do you work for?
What does your company do?

Thanks again to this forum.