H1B, H4 Visa

Hey guys,

I got my H1B approved from Mumbai Consulate on 23rd Feb. It was really easy but before getting to that let me mention the things that happen before the interview since most people here have mentioned those things for other consulates.

The time given to me was 8:15 am, I reached there at 8:00 am and there was a long line. Once they started allowing people inside, they asked the people who were alone to come forward and asked the people who had come in groups for interviews to stand behind...dunno why they did this. Anyway's you walk up the stairs and you have your security check. You need to remove your belt, watch and wallet and place it alongwith your documents on the table. The security guy will quickly go through your folder and ask you some stuff to make sure you're not carrying any eatables, cigarettes, etc. You then pass the metal detector and if it doesn't beep he'll give you your stuff alongwith a small wooden block (to signify that you have passed the security check) which you need to return while leaving.

After that you enter the main hall. Just to the right you'll find a desk with 2 people with all the yellow envelopes. You need to give your passport, I797, I129, HDFC receipts and show your appointment letter to them (this is for locating your envelope). Ok, well at this point things started going wrong for me since I had applied for this interview in October and had paid 4400 + 2200 but now they've made it 4400 + 2300. Briliiant really!!, they should have atleast pardoned the people who had registered earlier (it's not about the money...I wasted 1 hour and this got me really frustrated). But no, I had to now leave the consulate and get a draft for 100 bucks and since most banks open only after 9 I was stuck (it was around 8:30 at that time). Well at 9 am I got a draft made from Indian overseas bank and the only god thing was that I could go and stand ahead. We'll once again I had to undergo security check and reached the counter where I was previously turned back from.

After this counter takes your documents and arranges them for you, you have to stand in queue for counter 1 where they'll scan your index fingers and you also hand over all the documents you got from the earlier counter at counter number 1. You'll just have a pink token with your number on it and obviously your supporting documents in your file/folder, etc.

Now wait your turn. Do pay proper attention since sometimes it's hard to hear the numbers. At around 9:50 am my number was called. There were 2 people ahead of me and the guy took a long time with the first person. He went in to check some thing as well ...didn't look like the girl would get her visa, but he finally granted it. The guy before me...his interview seemed cool since he took barely 2-3 mins. Next came my turn...

After greeting each other -

(order of conversation might not be exactly as he asked me the questions)

VO: Reads out the company name from the I797
Me: Can't do much but say yes sir.

VO: How did I learn about the company?
Me: Uploaded my resume on dice and they found me there, etc

VO: C/C++ - which one's better (I don't know where he found that, might be on the questionnaire we had to fill out while registering for appointment)?
Me: cooked up some stuff and told him

VO: What will be your salary?
Me: $abc per annum

VO: (goes through my passport) So I see you've been to USA before
Me: Yes sir, in YY as visitor and ZZ on F1.

VO: Tell me something about your family - what are your brother sister doing?
Me: Bro is doing aaaa at bbbb (studying at US University) and my father works for cccc

That was pretty much it as far as relevant stuff went. In between he told me that he too was from the same state where I'll be going and so he's generous towards those people :P. Then he sees my b'day and says "my brother is born on the same day....seems like today is your lucky day". He was a really nice person and he told me he'll grant my visa only if I went to one of his favorite eat-outs (obviously just joking).
The interview lasted just 2-3 mins just like the previous interview and I didn't feel nervous at all (I was scared that I might screw up when I actually stand in front of the VO)... may be it was me or may be it was his jovial nature that put me at ease.

I collected my passport the same evening from VFS (between 5 and 6 pm). While they charge rs 56 for it, on this ocassion they didn't but do make sure you carry extra money if you want to collect your passport at VFS.