Business Visa - B1

I had the OFC appointment & interview for B1 visa earlier this week in Chennai.

OFC appointment Tips:

* I noticed that almost everyone who came for the OFC appointment had all the supporting documents with them. This is not required and you just have to bring the Appointment confirmation page, DS-160 application confirmation page and your passport. The supporting documents are meant for the interview day at the consulate only.

* You can bring your mobile phones inside the building but it has to be switched off. Its not allowed at the consulate building for the interview day though.

* When submitting the bio-metric fingerprints you might be asked to apply extra pressure. Use your other hand fingers to press them and if its proper then it will display on the small LCD screen attached to the machine.

Interview at Consulate:

My interview appointment was scheduled at 9:30 AM but it started only after 11:30 AM. We had to wait for 1.5 hours outside and about 30 minutes inside the building. I reached at 8:30 AM, so I had to wait for 3 hours in total! Now to the interview questions...

VO: Good morning, how are you doing?
Me: Good morning sir, I'm good, thank you

VO: Passport please..
Me: Sure (Handed over the passport)

VO: Where are you heading to?
Me: Miami

VO: What's up in Miami?
Me: I want to attend a conference and expo

VO: What is this conference about?
Me: (Answered)

VO: Do you have an invitation letter from the conference?
Me: Yes (handed over the letter and he read it for a few seconds)

VO: What is your designation?
Me: (Answered)

VO: For how long have you been working with this company?
Me: 5 years

VO: Will you be meeting any clients at the conference?
Me: No

VO: How many days will you be in the US?
Me: 5 days

VO: I think you have some brother in the US, are you going to visit him?
Me: It is a cousin. I'm not visiting them since they are in Maryland. (I'm not sure why he said "brother" as the name & address was mentioned under Relatives and not under Immediate Family. Maybe he was testing me or maybe the same middle name made him think so)

VO: What does your company do?
Me: (Answered)

VO: OK sir, I'm approving your visa now
Me: Thank you

I received the passport with B1/B2 visa (10 years multiple entry) at BlueDart within 2 days.

Tips:

* I think a decision will be taken before the interview itself based on your DS-160. As per the status shown on ceac.state.gov website, my case was created 1 working day before the appointment date. The decision may have been taken on that day and the final decision left to the visa officer in the interview.

* Hotel Savera (4 star) at R.K. Salai is a good option is you are looking for accommodation near the OFC building and consulate. It is 15 minutes drive from the OFC building and 15 minutes drive to the other side for the consulate. Auto rickshaws will always be available in front of the hotel though they will charge you no less than 100 bucks for one side.

* There is a locker in front of the consulate premises on the footpath.

* After getting the visa approval, Blue Dart will receive the passport courier before the tracking website is updated. They will call you when it is received there.

Hi Friends… this kind of sharing experiences is very much helpful to others.
  My scheduled date is 15 and 16th of April my first day appointment is at 4:00PM I reached there at 3:45 PM exactly they will take u inside at the scheduled time they will verify ur passport with the DS160 and they will take ur photo and fingerprints.
After document verification, second is ur importance day…. Next day morning 8:AM is my scheduled timings I reached there around 7:30 AM after physical security check they will send you for interview with the token . There are more than 10 counters with US people taking interview. U will have to ready with passport and other supporting documents. Here is my conversation.
Me: Good Morning Mam..
VO: Very good morning!! Give me ur Passport (Gave my PP to her)
VO: Why ur travelling?
Me: Business meeting and factory visit.
VO: For how long?
Me: 15 Days (always tell... very less days)
VO: u really need 15 days for meetings and factory visit?
ME: Yes I will be meeting people in different locations and factories in different states.
VO: where ur going?
Me: Orlando
VO: State
Me: Florida
VO : Ur married?
Me: NO
VO: who is depending on u in india?
Me: My mother
VO: how old is she?
Me:70
VO: where and does she owns a property in India?
Me: Bangalore and yes she owns a property.
VO: What is that meeting is all about?
Me: explained the purpose of the meeting and importance of my presence in that meeting. (this is where u can impress them)
VO: Give me the invite letter from the company
Me: Gave the letter.
VO: She read the letter and how can I trust that u will come back?
Me: I have my old age mother and next month I’m getting married, after coming back I will have to share and explain the MOM to other team members because we are trying to make some changes to our current process.
VO: then B1 is okay … Y u need B2?
ME: I have plans to visit US may be after 2-3 years with my wife…
VO: That’s good!!!Your visa is approved sir… have a nice flying.
Me: Thanks a lot…. By bye..
They just need confirmation that u will be back soon and your purpose of visited is very much true.

Hi All,,

My interview is scheduled for 21st and 22nd of this month. I heard that visa rejection rate is higher.

Considering my profile please provide your valuable comments.

Age - 24 yrs 1 months
Education - PG
Experience - 2 yrs + 1 yr onsite training (MS)
Package - above 8 lpa
International travel exp - China (last yr) for 2 times
Exp in current company - 2 months

what are the chances of getting visa

My interview was at 7.30AM. I was there around 6.45AM(already 50 people are waiting in queue).While standing in the queue, they're verifying the Ds160 serial number then security check then waiting for 15mins in queue to verify fingerprints.And then directed towards the interview window.

me: Good Morning Mam
VO: Good Morning, passport pls
VO: purpose?
me: Business meetings and trainings(exact words) - VO typed something
VO: Invite letter pls.
While reading invite letter, she asked me the marital status
me: Married
VO:Your visa has approved
me: I said, Thank you Mam and disappeared(She kept the passport with her)

Within 30 secs interview was over.

VO was very polite.

Here confident only works..luck matters also(Person in front of me is not answered properly..still his visa has approved)

First of all thanks to this site and the people who helped me with there experiences.

This process was for 2 days.
First day my interview was at OFC center by 2.30 pm. I went there by 2.00 pm. First got my name in Passport and DS160 Form verified. Then they stick a sticker on back side of passport, and i was given a token. Within 2 mins my token was displayed on screen. I went at counter. The OFC person at the counter took my passport, asked me my name and DOB. Then took my finger prints of both hands and then my photo. I was done with this all process in just 5-10 mins. Quiet Fast :)

Second day my interview was at 10.00 am. I went there by 9.00 am. Within 5 mins they asked to join in queue. Then there was a strict security check. Then by 9.20 i was in the area where actual interview was taken. Here also there about 20+ windows which take interview parallely. It looked like tourist VISA windows were different and Business/Study windows were different. Then i went at the window and then interview started

VO lady : Good Morning and Passport Please
Me : Good Morning Mam and then handed my passport.

VO lady: Why are you going ?
Me: XX reasons.

VO lady: For how long you would be in US ? (In short duration of stay in US)
Me: xx weeks

VO lady: She smiled and said Your VISA is approved :) and said have a nice day.
Me: I thanked here and also wished here the same :)

Within 40-50 secs interview done and got it approved. I think fastest interview :)

SOME NOTES - Be at consulate much before desired time. You may get a chance to get in early and finish early. I have seen at OFC people were late but still they were entertained. If you are not from Mumbai I will advise to come in way early if incase the taxi/rickshaw driver doesn't know exactly where it is. Don't panic looking at others who haven't got VISA. Stay calm, be confident and not over confident, don't mug up the answers, be yourself and give your best.

Best of luck !!!

My Interview was on 3rd April and 4th April

First day my interview was 13:00 at OFC center. I went one hour before. First at the security point they verified my name in Passport and DS160 form. Then they stick one sticker on the back side of passport. then in the toke counter they given token I was waiting for 30 min for my turn. OFC person took my passport asked me date of birth and passport number. Then took finger prints and photo. And passport given back.

Second day my interview was 7:30 at Chennai consulate. I was in the Q by 7:00. First the security check and then waiting for 5 min in the queue, Then they took finger prints again to verify my profile. Then I was waiting the window for my appointment.

Me: Good morning
VO: Your passport please (Given passport)

VO: Which company you are working for
Me: I told company name

VO: How many years your are working in this company
Me: since 4 years

VO: what is the purpose of visit
Me: to attend business meetings

VO: How many days you are going to stay in US
Me: 13 days

That’s it, she said Your VISA has been approved with smile. I told Thank you so much and disappeared from there :)

The passport office was really polite.

Here confident only works. do not show over confidence. Answerer only to the question no extra.

It was nice experience.

New process is good and it is stress free. Day 1 for photo and thumbprints.

My Interview was at 10.30 slot . I was there around 9.40. First the Security check and then waiting for 10 mins in the queue. Then they took finger prints again to verify the profile. And then waiting at the window for my appointment.

VO : Hi, GoodMorning . Passport please.
Ans : V GM and gave passport.
VO : What is the purpose.?
Ans: Business Meetings.
VO : What you will be doing in the meeting.?
Ans: told the real reason..[This part is more important than anything.]
VO : who is your employer in India?
Ans : ZZZ
VO: How long it will be ?
Ans:1 week
VO: What you do in india?
Ans: I am Product engineer at YYYY and i am part of YYYY project.

That's it the golden words came..Your visa has been approved....

In short: They verify the candidate's profile with their database and they look at past travels (for me i have past travels for very short duration) that helped me .

Big thanks to immihelp and it's members. Now it's my turn to share the experience.

I'd appointment today (08/04/2014) at Mumbai by 10.30am but I was in queue by 9.15am. And guess what I'm done by 10.05am

The VO was in such hurry that he approved everybody's visa those were beyond me in queue. Well, following is manuscript of my interview.

VO: GM, your passport pl.
Me: GM (and handed over my passport)
VO: So why would you like to go to USA?
Me: told the reason (but he interrupted me and asked next question)
VO: Who is your employer?
Me: Told
VO: How much time you are in current job?
Me: Told

Then he typed something and asked me next question.

VO: Why was you L-1 got rejected?
Me: Told the reason but again he interrupted and asked next question.
VO: Who was your employer at that time?
Me: Told the name of previous employer.
VO: (looked some pages of passport), ok your VISA GOT APPROVED, you can collect your passport in next 3-4 days.
Me: Thank you.
VO: Welcome (with smiling face)

Tips:
1. Be confident while answering (it will be better if you speak loudly)
2. If possible wear formals with at least tie.
3. Be prepared to all question shared on immihelp under FAQ. Those are really helpful. Bcoz my other colleague bombarded with almost all questions mentioned in FAQ but he was prepared so he also got the approval.

Rest is your luck..!!!

Best of luck..!!!!

Hello Senior Members of this forum

I am going for B1 Visa interview on 10th April. My situation is as follows.

Designation: Owner of Software Company
Earning: 12 Lakhs per Annum
Purpose: Business meetings and to attend Convention
Duration of Stay: 2 weeks

My B2 Visa was denied two years ago. What are my chances this time for B1 Visa?

Specially seeking advice from "peace999" but other suggestions are also welcome :-)

Thanks in advance.

My OFC held on 4th of April and after took my photograph and fingerprints he asked me to bring 1 photograph to your B1 interview as US Embassy. I asked him why, is this new process which is introduced he replied yes. I want to know is really the process changed and every one need to bring 1 photograph also at interview or is this for me only. Please reply my Visa interview is on 7th of April.