H1B, H4 Visa

Hello all,

I am here to submit my experience of H1B visa interview. It is not mandatory that whatever experience i have had, you would also undergo the same. But it is a good practise to be prepared before appearing for the interview.

First appointment was with the Visa OFC (Offsite Facilitation Center) where they would ask only for the Passport, DS-160 confirmation copy, Embassy appointment letter. They will check if all of them matches and then send you inside. They will assign a token number to you. Keep checking the monitor for your turn and counter number. On appearing at the counter they will take the above mentioned documents and ask you to read the "Declaration of Truth"(attached to the right of the wall) in your comfortable language. They will also ask the purpose of your visit to US. After that they will take your fingerprints, face picture. They will handover the documents back to you and ask you to appear with all the supporting documents for the main interview at US Consulate. That is all for the first day.

Second appointment was with the Consulate. Do appear a 15-30 mins before the scheduled interview. If you appear before that, you may have to wait for a very long time. There will be a queue. Join it. At the gate entrance, they will validate the barcode(on your appointment copy) to see whether you have paid the appointment fees or not. After that you will be allowed inside. There will be a series of shelters with rows of seats. Basically this means that you will be put in queue a max of 3 times from here.

First they will ask you form a queue and give you a tray. You need to empty your pockets into that tray. Place your documents, passport, keychain, purse, belt, pen etc here. The items in the tray will undergo a x-ray check and you will be thoroughly checked through a scanning door. Once checked, you will be handed over all your items. Get back your belt, keychains, purse, etc and get prepared again. Now carry your documents and join another queue. This queue will be directed to a separate counter one by one to validate the fingerprints you provided at OFC the day before. Once the validation is done, you will be directed to another queue. This queue will be directed to another series of counters, one by one. A maximum of 2 applicants will be allowed to stand in front of the queue one after another. The minimum distance between 2 candidates should be 5 feet. Now this is the counter where the actual interview will take place. So be prepared.

- Dress well with a decent light color shirt and dark trousers(complete business formals). Avoid funky dress up if you are going for a H1B visa.
- Shoes also should be formal.
- Carry all your documents in a neat transparent harmonium folder. Its easy to pull and push the documents whenever needed.
- Following is the link where you can get a series of possible interview questions.
Reference 1 - http://www. **** *.com/h1b-visa-guide/interview-questions
Reference 2 - http://www.immihelp.com/visas/h1b/h1-visa-interview-sample-questions-answers.html

- The interviewer will try to see if you possess the basic requirements for this visa i.e.
a) confidence
b) command over language and fluency
c) minimal educational qualification for the job i.e. Graduation in Specialized Occupation(which is Computers generally) and Post Graduation in the same field will be a big plus.
d) willing to work under mentioned contract without fail
e) willing to return back to India after your work is finished

- Following are the documents required for the verification.
a) Embassy Appointment Letter
b) DS-160 copy
c) Passports
d) I-797 original
e) Client Letter(optional) - If you have the client letter with you, things become much more easy,since it is clearly mentioned in that letter that your services are required at the client workplace. Even if you don't have the client letter, its not a big issue. Client letters are not disclosed to some of the employees. Hence you can mention(if asked) that "my HR and client communicate with one another internally and it is not disclosed to the employees as part of company policy. If need be, i can ask my HR to forward the client letter to US Consulte office."
f) Master service agreement - An agreement copy made between your employer and the client for continuous consultation of services.
g) US Offer letter
h) Indian Company Office Photos
i) Company Letter to Embassy Officer - mentioning about your purpose of visit to US and thereby assistance in approval of the same.
j) Company brochure
k) Resume
l) Payslips of last 6 months
m) Bank statements of last 6 months
n) Form 16 of all financial years
o) Current Company offer letter, official confirmation letter, salary appraisal letters
p) Past company offer and service letters
q) Educational certificates
r) Marriage certificate and marriage photos - in case you are appearing with your family
s) Child's birth certificates original
t) Child's passport sized photographs (dimensions of the photograph should match the specifications mentioned in the US consulate website).

 
Hope all goes well with you too!!
Good luck

Regards,
Kartik