H1B, H4 Visa

Hi All,

First of all I would like to thank Immihelp for providing me confidence for facing my H1B visa interview process. If it was not for Immihelp, I would never have known how the process of H1B stamping works.
Below I am sharing my experience of H1B stamping process and I hope it will be useful for all.

Visa Category – H1B
Consulate Office – New Delhi, India

Day 1 – OFC Appointment – 7th July 2014
I had an appointment of 8.30 AM. Reached the OFC centre in Nehru Place at 8 AM. The queuing started at 8.20 AM. In the queue, only DS-160 confirmation, Appointment Letter and Passport were checked and I was let inside the premises. Once inside, there was a thorough security check, a lady checked all the personal details and gave a token and asked me to wait in the waiting area. In no time, I was called for bio-metric and photograph on one of the counters. The guy on the window confirmed few of my personal details, took finger-prints and photograph and the entire process was done in 6-8 mins. I was out by 8.50 AM.

Day 2 – Consulate Appointment – 8th July 2014
I had an appointment of 8.30 AM. I reached consulate by 7.45 AM and was shocked to find there was a huge gathering already. Anyways the queuing started at 8.15 AM. The guards at the consulate asked us to keep Appointment Letter and Passports in our hands. They checked the same and let us inside the embassy. Once inside, there was a rigorous security check and after that went to a counter where a lady checked my Approved I-797 Letter and stapled it along with my passport. After that we sat down in the waiting area. After 10-15 minutes we were called inside the main premises, where again passport was checked, fingerprints were matched and thereafter I was asked to move forward to a window where a Visa Officer (VO) was seated.

VO – Good - Morning. How are you doing?
Me – Good morning, I am doing great.

VO – Can I have your passport and approved I-797 please.
Me – (Forwarded the same to him)

VO – Can I see your I-129 petition?
Me – (Forwarded the same to him)

VO – Tell me something about your employer in USA?
Me – Told him few lines about my employer

VO - Where will you be working – Client Site or employers office?
Me – I will be working at my employer’s office.

VO – Can you show me your cover letter from employer?
Me – (Forwarded the same to him)

VO – What’s your total experience?
Me – Told about my experience

VO – Are you going for an internal project?
Me – Yes

VO - Where will you be working – Client Site or employers office? (asked again)
Me – I will be working at my employer’s office.

VO – Can I see your project letter?
Me – (Forwarded the same to him)

VO – So you will resign from your current company in India and join your employer there?
Me – Yes Sir

VO – Explain me what’s your project all about?
Me – Told him the same.

VO - Where will you be working – Client Site or employers office?(asked for the third time)
Me – I will be working at my employer’s office.

VO – Who paid for your petition?
Me – My employer

VO – Can I see tax documents of your employer?
Me – Sorry sir, I don’t have those right now.

VO kept working on his computer and after 3-4 minutes took out a white sheet of paper better known as 221G form and requested me to submit Tax Documents of the employer for the last two financial years along with my passport.

VO – I am sorry, I cannot approve your visa right now as I am not convinced that you actually have a project for you there.
Me – OK. No Problem. (even though I was shattered inside)

I went to enquiry counter, to know more about the 221G process and he told me that you just have to submit the requested documents at the OFC centre and do not have to come to consulate.

I went back home, and mailed my employer a scanned copy of 221G and asked him to submit the requested documents at the earliest.

I received my documents on 14th July 2014 and took all of those to OFC Center on 15th July 2014 at 10.00 AM. There was no queue for 221G submission.

After security frisking and token handing I was called on a window. I submitted a Xerox of my 221G Letter, 221G submission slip, the requested Tax Documents and passport. She kept all the documents in an envelope and gave me acknowledgement of all the documents she took. The entire process lasted 15 mins at the most.

I checked my case status online every-day and it used to say ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING. On, 22nd July 2014 the status changed to ISSUED and on 25th July 2014, I received a mail that my visa stamped passport was ready for collection.

I went to OFC centre the very same day and received my much coveted H1B VISA. Hurrrrrray !!!!!

Recap –
7th July 2014 – OFC Appointment
8th July 2014 – Consulate Appointment
8th July 2014 – Handed over a 221G slip
15th July 2014 – Submitted the documents requested in 221G slip.
22nd July 2014 – Status changes from ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING to ISSUED
25th July 2014 – Receive mail that visa is ready for collection.

I have written this detailed description to help all of you guys and I hope this might settle your nerves a bit. Thanks.