H1B, H4 Visa

I got my H-1B visa approved today. My questions include.
VO - Gudmorning Pass on your Documents.
Me- Gudmorning..How r u?
VO - Did u graduate from **** * university.
Me- yes
VO - Do u work for **** company.
Me - Yes
VO - your pay
Me - Answered.
VO - you are all set.
Me - Thank u.

But I have a question. The Visa officer did not return my Original I-797 after the interview which was retained to my passport. Do i get it with my passport? or Do i have to contact embassy for this? Anybody with similar experience reagrding I-797?

Hi all,

I had my interview today for H4 at Mumbai (alone) and OFC yesterday.
Here is my experience:-

OFC
It is just a 5 minute process (Passport, DS-160 confirmation and appointment sheet check, followed by security check, taking fingerprints and photograph). It is best to reach not more than 15 mins before the scheduled time as it is too hot to stand in a queue since there is no covered waiting area. They will put an ink stamp on your DS-160 confirmation page and a barcode sticker at the back of your passport.
Please note that Trade Center is a different building and not the Mumbai Consulate,and phone isn't allowed inside.

Mumbai Consulate
Landmark : Hotel Trident. There are no on-road directions to the Consulate. So, it is best to reach Hotel Trident and then ask for the Consulate (which is just diagonally opposite).
Appointment time was 7:45am. Reached at 7:15. There was a really long queue but moved pretty fast.
The first thing that happens inside is getting the token number (a sticker which they stick on the front of your passport, but is removable).
Then your fingerprints are checked, and the barcode from OFC appointment.
You then sit in the hall and watch out for your token number (An alphabet followed by 2-3 digits) displayed on LCDs and the corresponding window number where your interview will take place.

Questions asked:

When did you get married?
Marriage location?
Checked Husband's I-797 and his visa page
How many people attended the wedding?
Can i see some wedding photographs? (I had a small album having 40-50 photos, which i handed over)
Handed over a sheet containing Helpline numbers for Women protection in US, and told me that the visa has been approved. :)
Was out by 9:15am.

Note : You can avail Premium Services of passport delivery via courier by paying Rs 300. Their desk is at the exit.

Hope this is helpful to fellow H4 applicants, who are not accompanying their spouse for the interview.
Good luck, guys!

I attended on Nov 6th. I got 221(g) query. VO issued 2 papers(221(g)) . One is white and another is green. Is it problem for my visa approval? And 2 papers are asking same documents. In white 221(g) document asking employers current project and employee details and status of the project. Please help me on this.

My case was very complicated. I asked one question earlier which have pasted below for ref.

Today I got my visa approved.

I was asked very basic questions (not even worth mentioning).

But after I came home I received a call asking for petition information and start/end date.

hope this helps someone.








++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++\
My L1B visa with employer "A" and I-94 expired on 25-Apr-2012
"A" filed L1B I-94 extension early in Apr.
Employer "B" applied for my Fresh H1B with CoS request.- Apr-2012
Received RFE on L1B - Jul-2012
Received RFE on H1B asking for project details - Sep-2012
RFE response sent and Changed H1B to PP -Sep-2012
Received another RFE on H1B as there was RFE on L1B - 15-Oct-2012
Response sent for RFE on L1B - 20-Oct-2012
Response sent for RFE on H1B - 03-Nov-2012
On 16-Nov-2012 L1B Extension denied and H1B visa approved with consulate processing (CoS denied)
I left USA on 25-Nov.
I am planning to go for visa stamping. I am worried as this is fresh employment with small employer. I have a letter from employer and details of in house project.

=================================================================

Thanks a lot to all the people who have posted their experience. This forum has truly helped me to get my H1B stamped with ease.

Background information - I am full time employee already working in United States. I work directly for my Employer.

Here is my experience:
Day 1: (OFC) – 9th December, 2012
OFC was very smooth. The overall OFC process just took around 20 minutes. At OFC, they take your photograph, fingerprints of left four fingers, right four fingers and finally fingerprints of two thumbs. That’s it! You are all set for big day :). One more thing, they stick barcode at the back of your passport.

Day 2: (Interview) – 14th December, 2012
- Reached Consulate an hour before the scheduled appointment
- The representative asked us to keep Passport, H1 Petition and DS 160 ready for verification when i was waiting in the queue. After verification, I was asked to enter US premises. At the gate, they scan your barcode on the back of your passport.
- Got the token no. after waiting for half an hour.
- Finger prints were verified by one of the VO after waiting for 15 mins in another queue.
- Waited again for 40 mins for my turn for the interview. Just FYI, at Mumbai consulate, they have screens which displays token number and its respective window. You have to watch the screen to find out at what windows your interview is going to take place. Once your token number appears on screens, you join the queue of that particular window.

VO was lady. Ahead of me was a family, who applied for Visitors visa. Unfortunately, their visitor’s visa was denied. I kept my cool. I was damn sure that I am going to get my visa approved today. No doubt in my head. The family left and I was awaiting for my turn. She appeared to busy with computer, so I waited. It was bit awkward. It almost took her 5 minutes and I was still awaiting for her signal to come forward for interview. I patiently waited with smiling face and then she called me.

Questions:

Before asking any question, I handed my passport to VO.

VO: Smiled. Good Morning, How are you ?
Me: Good Morning. I am doing great. How about you. VO said “Good”

VO: What’s your employer name? She smiled and said it’s confusing
Me: Yes. YYYY DBA YYYY. I explained my company name is YYYY , its business name is YYYY

VO: Where is your company located?
Me: I told full address.

VO: She just verified my company name and asked again for address?
Me: I told full address. (Actually, there are couple of companies with same name in the state. She verified - Out of these companies with same name which one I belong to? )

VO: How many employees work in your company ?
Me: I told we are small company comprising of XX individuals, but we do design and develop great products in field of xxxx

VO: What is your designation ?
Me: Presently I am working as YYYY at YYYY .

VO: How much is your salary ?
Me: YYYY

VO: Did anything changed after your petition was approved ?
Me: Yes. Recently I got raise in my salary :)

VO: How much was your salary before ?
Me: I told my salary was YYYY on H1B petition.

VO: Did you have your paystubs with you ?
Me: Yes. I handed all the paystubs of 2012

VO: Do you have previous years tax returns with you?
Me: Yes. I handed the entire file of tax returns.

VO: Smiled and asked can you just give me just w-2’s of 2011 and 2010?
Me: Yes. I gave her w-2’s of 2011 and 2010.

VO: Your visa is approved. You will receive your passport in 3-5 days.
Me: Thank you mam. Have a great weekend.

VO: You too.

Good luck to all H1B aspirants.

Thanks,
-p

HI,

I had my H1B visa interview on 12-12-12. VO greeted me and asked are you from 'my comp name'? I replied yes. then she asked
who is your client?
which city you are travelling to?
whats your highest qualification?

it took less than 30 secs in the counter. but the overall procedure took ~ 120 mins...
All the best for those who are attending PAI

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday on Dec 13th, I have completed my OFC . Not required to go before 2 hours. Make sure to available before 30 mins. This is very very simple one which will complete in 10 mins.

I had my interview Today Dec 14th 2012 at Hyderabad location. The interview was very very cool. I was bit tense when i reached the interviewer place but its really not required since interview was very very cool and the interviewer was very friendly. Following questions are asked by the young man.

1) How long you have been with your current company?

2) Whats your project name?

3) Which place you are going to work?

 Mention City and State name here

4) What is your client name?

Good luck...

Thank you immi for your help. :)

Hi all..
I had my interview on Dec 13th at Chennai consulate. the interview was very cool.
VO was a young american lady

Following qns were asked.

Are you with "my company name"?
which client?
which place?

thats it. I was at the counter hardly for 30 to 45 secs. She didnt even ask me the documents.
Good luck to all who are going to attend the interview.

Hi All,

I had my OFC on 13th Dec.Make sure you guys reach only half an hour before.We reached almost 1.5 hours before and struggled under hot sun and chennai humidity.Please carry and umbrella in case travellng with Family:) was helpful for me....

OFC will take 2-5 mins...done for the day..

Next day Interview @ 8 am...reached Counsulate @ 7...Since I was travelling with my wife and10 months old baby..they allowed us inside without queue..otherwise make sure you reach only half an hour before to avoid waiting in queue on footpath outside embassy...

Gents wallets are allowed...Mobiles,cosmetics like cream,mirror etc not allowed..

You have a counter to deposit only valuables like mobile on footpath outside embassy...

After all security checks doc verification...reached the second building for interview..

Questions asked by VO:

VO: GM..
Me: GM sir..

VO: DS160 and I797 please
Me: Passed them with passports...

VO: Which Client?
Me: YYYY XX

To my wife:

VO: Madam your highest qualification?
My wife: YYYY ZZZ

Thats all then came the golden words:I am approving your visa..you will get text sms in 7 working days..

Filled the courier form for passport delivery..300 each applicant...

Hope this helps other..

Thanks and All The Best...

Hello All,

I had my OFC appointment on 10th and interview appointment on 11th Dec at Mumbai. My wife accompanied me for her H4 stamping.

OFC:

We carried passports, appointment schedule and DS160 confirmation page. After security check we were given tokens and as per the sequence # we entered into a cubicle and furnished our finger prints and photos were taken.
It took 15-20 minutes in the complete process.

Interview at consulate,

Our interview was scheduled at 10 AM but we reached there by 8:45 am and were allowed to go inside. There was an intense security check (alike airports). No mobile, CD, pendrive and camera are allowed. Its better to carry all the documents in transparent folders.

Thereafter, we were made to sit in a waiting area and co-ordinators checked and arranged our documents in a certain manner. For H1 stamping,they checked I797 and DS160 confirmation page and put them together in a bunch.

After waiting there for around an hour, we were allowed to go inside at around 10 am. There we were given a token and again fingerprints were verified.

Now starts the wait for interview. there are screens put up displaying the current token number being processed. our turn came in an hour's time. Questions asked to me by officer:

1) what's your highest qualification?
2) your specialization in undergraduate course.
3) What's your current salary in India.
4) How much will be your salary in the USA.
5) Which is your client in the USA.
6) When did you get marry.

no questions were asked to my wife.

with this, he told us that our case is approved.

We paid for courier delivery at the exit counter and by 11:15 am we were done with the entire process.

 
This forum helped me a lot for this interview. Thank you all.


Regards,

KKS