Business Visa - B1

Thanks a lot immihelp, this is really a wonderful and helpful forum. Now it’s my turn to share my experience with others

Today on 30 January 2014, I appeared for my B1 interview for second time at New Delhi US embassy. This time also they have kept my passport and given one slip stating that further administrative processing under section 221(g) for my visa application is required and I need to submit supporting documents such as invitation letter, resume-work history, accommodation details, travel itinerary etc.

I had visited US earlier on B1/B2 visa which was expired in year 2012 because embassy have issued visa for one year duration only, that time also they have kept my passport for administrative processing for approx one month under same clause 221(g) before issuing visa.

I know I have given my best shot (as I have past experience at same embassy), I have prepared well, dressed in formal with tie, had good confidence on voice, matched eye contact, given honest answers.

I am listing down the following conversation between myself and VO which may beneficial to others for their interview preparation. VO was American lady aged between 30-40 years.

VO: Good Morning, give me ur passport
Me: Good Morning, Yeah sure (given the passport)

{She opened my passport little bit seen my previous visa and closed the passport immediately and started typing on the computer keyboard}

VO: why u want to go to US?
ME: To attend business meeting and discussions with group leaders

VO: Which company you are working for?
ME: answered

{She continued hear search on her computer for 20-30 secs (may be going through my DS-160 or company profile)}

VO: Which company you are working for? (same question again)
ME: answered same

{Again She continued her search on her computer, for further 20-30 secs}

VO: since how long u r with xxxxx
ME: I joined xxxxx recently two months before but I have total 7.5 years of work experience

VO: for how many days u r going?
ME: 3 weeks

VO: How much do you earn annually?
Me: xxx Lakhs per annum

That’s it, then she returned my passport and advised that to go to extreme end corner window counter (I knew from inside that something is not going smooth this time also because during my last visa application also they advised to go to the same window)

No one was there at that window so I waited at some distance from the window, after waiting for 4-5 minutes at that window one Indian VO lady came to the seat and called me

Indian VO: So u r advised to come to this window
Me: Yes

Then she scanned my passport details, searched something on computer went back to some ones desk and come back after 2-3 minutes

Indian VO: (handed over one white form with some reference no with clause 221(g) mentioned on it) Sir we are keeping ur passport for further administrative processing, however, you please submit the mentioned documents (invitation letter, resume-work history, accommodation details, travel itinerary etc.) on given e-mail id at the earliest, further processing of your visa application will start only after receipt of these documents on mentioned e-mail address.
Me: OK Thank you (collected the form and left the window)

I have carried all the relevant documents with me such as Invitation letter, tour sponsorship letter by employer, employment details, company balance sheets, bank details, ITRs, home loan agreement papers, exp certificates, educational qualifications even marriage certificate also but they didn’t ask for the same.

Now Hoping for good, I do not understand how they are evaluating applications as they have given same clause this time also even though I have changed my last company, have different job profile, better salary.
May be your luck factor also matters to some extent because every genuine applicant going to US on B1/B2 has a specific purpose, does his home work, carries all relevant documents, though few got visa approvals and few got denials

All the best !!!!

First of all I would like say GIG thanks to immihelp. I had my visa interview today Jan 28, 2014. Here is my experience..

VO: Good morning sir
Me: Very Good morning sir, How are you?

VO: May I have your passport please..
Me: Yeah Sure..

VO. I am great, Thanks... So Why do you want to go US?
Me: To attend meetings and knowledge transfer from offshore team.

VO: Where do you work and who is your client?
Me: Relevant answer Given

VO: Duration of stay in US?
Me: 4 weeks

VO: Which city in US you will stay?
Me:given relevant answer.

VO: I am approving your visa...Have a great day ahead..
Me: have a great day to you too...Thanks you sir..

He didn't even ask me any other docs except passport.
My suggestion is that whenever you go for an interview wear formal & be confident and keep your answer precise.

All the Best ..

Thanks a lot Immi. today i attended the interview in Chennai and my B1 is approved.

Purpose : To attend Expo/Conference
Profile : Age 28, Business Owner

VO: Good Morning

ME : Good Morning

VO: So whats is your purpose of visit?

ME: To attend **** * expo and conference

VO: **** ** Expo? What do you do?

Me: I have a company and where we manufacture equipments for **** *** Industries

VO: Oh Good.. You are the owner of the company ? you look so young..

Me: I 'm being with this industry for past 6 years..

VO: How Long?

Me: 5 days

VO: Where?

ME: Atlanta, Georgia

VO: So your are going to get some ideas from there and develop your company when you come back..?.

ME: Yes

VO: Have a great trip...

Me: Thanks a lot ...

Finally guys all i can say is be confident,
Feel like your are going to meet a new friend and just talk casually and be true with them.
All VO's i see were so nice
I was there for 30 mins inside and i didn't see any one got rejected ...

Good Luck

First of all thanks to immihelp. I had my Visa interview on 22nd of January 2014. Here is my experience..

After waiting for around half an hour i got my number at specified counter.

Me: Good Morning
VO: Good Morning. May i have your passport please...

Me: Yeh sure. (I given him my passport, Make sure to keep your BEP, Passport, Call letter, training schedule handy)
VO:( After seeing passport.. )Where are you going?
Me: YYYY , XX

VO: What is the purpose(he was looking at the computer screen)
Me: I'm going to attend technical training.

VO: Where are you working?
Me: YYYY

VO: How long you are working with YYYY ?
Me: Its been X months.

VO: Before this organization where you worked?
Me: YYYY.

VO: How long?
Me: X years and Y months.

VO: why you switched your job?
Me: (Didn't expect this question.. but i speak very confidently) The technology on which i was working is now saturated so i switched my job to learn new technologies.

VO: How long is yoru training?
Me: X weeks.

VO: Ok, I'm approving your Visa, please collect the same after 3-5 working days.
Me: Thank you and have a nice day..

He didn't ask me even a single document apart from passport, but i would suggest to take all the relavant documents with you and arrange them as per the priority.
There is nothing to fear.. its like a general discussion between two persons. Be straight to your words, give to the point answers and be confident. All the very best....

First of all thanks to IMMIHELP for providing Visa interview experiences and Valuable inputs.

 My first attempt rejected on 28/02/2013. Scheduled @ 08:30 AM and had lot of process in the 2nd also.
interview goes like this...

Me: Good Morning Maam
VO: (young 25 years old lady) can i have your passport
me: Given.
VO: Where you are Going?
me: LA, California
VO: why you are going?
me: to attend training and meetings
Vo: how many weeks?
Me: 4 weeks
VO: whats your salary?
me: YYYY LPA
VO: whats your designation?
me: Associate consultant
VO: Roles and responsibilities:
me: working as a offshore ETL Developer. responsible for Gather the data and loading it into database.
VO: are you a developer?
me: Yes
VO: again.. Are you a developer
Me: Yes
V O: Again.. are you a developer?
Me: yes
VO: Again... Are you a developer?
Me: Yes
VO: given blue slip and told . sorry we cannot process your visa this time.

now i applied 2nd time... scheduled time @8:30 AM. This time simple procedure
 i am in front of VO @9:00 AM
VO: Good morning . How are you?
me: Good morning sir. dong good. how are you?
VO: can i have your passport
 me: Given
VO: Where you are goinh?
Me: Los Angles, California
VO: what you will do there?
Me: To attend corporate training and Technical discussion with on-site team and Client..... (Interrupted)
Vo... wait... wait...
Me: Sorry Sir...
VO: How many days?
me: 3 weeks
VO: which company you work for?
Me: YYYY XX
VO: who is your client?
Me: YYYY XX
VO: what you will do in 3 weeks?
Me: first 2 weeks training and last week meetings.
VO: your visa approved. have a nice journey.
Me: Thank you sir. have a pleasant stay in chennai...

rejections wont consider.... he didnt ask me single document except passport. of course luck also ply key role.
All the best...

Thanks to immihelp

My interview held on 24-Jan-2014 at 9:30 A.M @ Chennai . i was there little early around 8:30 A.M. and joined the Que , through with all Security check . I was at Consulate Hall around 9:00 A.M , I have got my Token # and here goes

VO : Good Morning sir
me : Good Morning Sir , How are you

VO: I'm Good Sir , how are you
Me : Good

VO : Whom do you work for
Me; Said YYYY X Inc

VO : What's profile
Me : Said YYYY X

VO : Whats your Salary ?
Me : Said

VO : Are you Married
Me: Yes I'm Married

VO; Thank you sir, You will get confirmation SMS and pickup your Passport at Bangalore Office and have Great Day Sir :)
Me; Thank you and have a pleasant day for your too. I finished and came out 9:15 A.M.

That's it they didnt even check any Documents Not even Invitation letter expect Passport. But i advice be specific in your words and they should trust your words . I suggest to go in Formal , Since I am country head I dressed with White Shirt , Tie and Blazer .

Cheers and all the best for all who is attending Interview .

First of all ,thanks to immihelp and all who posted their experience .

I got my Business visa approved on 22/01/2014 from

Vo:- Good morning
me:- Good morning mam !

Vo:- Can i see your passport
Me:- sure

VO:- why you want to go US
me:- I am going to release XYZ product on XX date so there is a confrence/meeting and I have to atttend that.

VO:- Why you
ME:- because i work as a YYYY position.

VO:- what you company do ?
Me:- YYYY YYYY YYYY YYYY YYYY X

VO:- I did't get you
me:- I repeat again

VO:- again I did't get you
Me :- I repeat again

Vo:- ok tell me what you will do first day
me:- xxxx

Vo:- second day , third day... fourth day till sixth day
me:- xxxx

VO:- what is you monthly salary
me:- YYYY

VO:- since how long you are working with the company
me :- X months but i have prior experience in same domain

VO:- start typing
me:- waiting .....

VO:- your visa has been approved.
me:- thanks mam
 

First of all, hats of to all the guys who took their time and posted on immihelp. We only refer this site for preparation but don't even think of posting it here once our visa is approved.

I got my Business visa approved today on 22/1/2014. Visa officer was pretty and cheerful lady. She rejected another person's visa while i was waiting for my turn in line so i was scared initially.

VO : Good morning
Me : Good morning Mam !

VO : May i see your passport please
Me : There you go !

VO : Why are you going to U.S ?
Me : For attending business meetings with our client

VO : Who do you work for ?
Me : YYYY

VO : oh YYYY ! , Which client ?
Me : YYY

than she was confused and coudn't recognize the client so i said the full name of the client rather than abbreviation

Me : YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

VO : Oh OK. For how long you have been working ?
Me : ZZZ Years and ZZ days

VO : What is your role at ZZZ
Me : Bla bla bla

VO : For how long you're travelling ?
Me : 1 Week

VO : May i see your invitation letter ?
Me : Sure ! ( I gave the invitation letter to her)

VO: OK your visa is approved, you will get your passport in 5 working days !
Me: Thanks Mam and Bye :)

Be confident and good luck to all

Hi All,

This forum helped me alot to get B1 visa in first attempt :)

Thought to share my experience as well.

Consulate Office - Mumbai
Date - 21 January 2014
Visa Type - B1

Questions -

VO - Good morning
ME- Good morning

VO- Why are you travelling?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- How long you're planning to stay?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- Tell me about client's application ?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- Have you travelled before outside of India?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- Who is going to pay for your expenses?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- Are you married?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- How long you're married?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- Do you have children?
ME- Relevant answer

VO- for few minutes started typing.
ME- waited positively.

VO - "I am approving your VISA, you can collect Password in 2-5 days".
ME- Thank you, have a nice day.

Thank you and Best wishes friends.

Hi,

I had my B1 VISA Interview on 15th January 2014 at Mumbai.

immihelp was a massive help in the preparation. I thank everyone who took time out to share their experience.
It does help a lot, and it is even more helpful (psychologically, at least) if the experience you are reading about is very recent and you have an impending interview.

Firstly my appointment was at 1100 hours but just to beat the traffic I reached a lot early ... at 0900 hours.

I asked the Consulate people, who were standing outside and checking the Appointment letter for people going in,
If I should come over half an hour before my appointment. He said you can join in now.
So I joined in at 0915.

Remember they do not allow you to carry anything electronic (Mobile Phones, Digital Watches, pen drives etc.), keys, bags. Just take your folder which has all your documents in it. (This goes for both the Biometrics and The actual Interview)

Once I got through the security, I was asked for finger prints again.
And then they let you go in to the line, which will lead to the Window where the VO is.
There are no separate enclosed rooms, like there were in the earlier center at Mahalaxmi.
This is completely open and there is a lot of noise around, so give your complete attention to the VO.

At the window:

VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning

VO: Can I have your Passport, please.
Me: Sure

VO: So what brings you here today
Me: Meetings with Company A in xxxx

VO: How long will you stay.
Me: xxx

VO: What is the purpose of the meeting
Me: xxx

VO: Your VISA has been approved.

Do prepare a lot, they may ask you anything.
Make sure all the homework is done and answers to the general questions are well rehearsed and CONCISE.
No extra information. Only TO THE POINT answers.

Thank you
All the best.