Business Visa - B1

I had applied for Business visa (B1) at Chennai consulate. My schedule was on January 30th for biometric process. Try to reach just 15 minutes early to your scheduled time as you will not be let inside until your time slots. Interview was scheduled on 31st at 8AM. I reached the consulate at 7:30 AM.

After all the security screening and authentication process, I was in the interview queue by 8AM. There was a huge line inside the office also. Different categories of visa applicants will be segregated respectively. You will see the interview process and you could hear the conversation also. Try not to pay your attention to any of such conversation.

Key points before you approach the Visa Officer (VO).
• Be confident: This is the key – your confidence can get you the Visa (which is 100% true in my case).
• Keep smiling
• Dress in formal
• Answers should be short and simple but to the point.
• Be calm and have the eye to eye conversation with the VO.
• Stand near to the microphone and speak loudly
• Don’t jump in to the desperation stage to get the Visa.

The guy before me got his Visa rejected. I guess he had applied for B2 with his own expense. VO was in his 30s. He waved at me to come forward. I waited till he does that.

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning (with smile)
VO: Passport please
Me: Sure (Gave my passport)
VO: Why are you going to US?
Me: I am going to attend the planning sessions with the business stakeholder and the technical discussions with the onshore IT team
VO: Which company are you working for?
Me: Told the company name
VO: For how long?
Me: 2+ years
VO: What is your designation?
Me: Told the designation
VO: Which city are you travelling to?
Me: Told the city name and state

He was continuously typing in between

VO: For how long you travelling?
Me: 4 weeks
VO: What will you do in 4 weeks?
Me: Told the travel plan (Planning sessions, requirement gathering, knowledge transfer, planning, design analysis)
VO: Where is the meeting happening?
Me: In my company main office
VO: Which state of the city you said?
Me: Told the city and state name again.
VO: Where were you working earlier?
Me: Told the previous company name
VO: For how long?
ME: 1 year
VO: What is your current package?
Me: Told the package LPA
VO: Have you ever been outside India?
Me: No
VO: Are you married:
Me: No
VO: Alright, your Visa is approved. Have a safe journey.(He kept my passport)
Me: Thank you so much.

Big thanks to immihelp. So much in depth information and previous experiences which would help everyone to understand the visa interview process and crack the interview. If you are going to attend the visa interview then remember one thing, your confidence is your key. Even if you are nervous never show that in your face. Keep smiling.

I have received an email 2 days after my interview stating that my passport has been delivered to the collection center. I have collected the passport with US Visa which has 10 years validity and multiple entries. All the best!!