H1B, H4 Visa

This was my 3rd interview for as many visas that I had to get stamped before travelling back to US. Earlier, I was interviewed for B1 and then L1B. I attribute a major part of my tryst with Visas to this community of Users who selflessly, share there experiences with everyone. A big THANK YOU to all of you!

Background: I am with the same company (one of the Tech giants) for almost 7.5 years. I am not on the Technical side but with Finance Team. All my earlier Visas (B1, L1B) were approved while I was working (and I still am) with the same company. Clean records in India as well as in US, ever since I have been there, which is more than a year now.

Visa Biometric and Interview Location: Chennai, India

Current Visa Type: H1B (L1B to H1B, petition approved with COS – same company)

Biometric: 15:15 PM IST, 18th Jan, 2018 - Only eventful thing worth mentioning is that I was asked to remove my smart watch and keep it in the paid locker facility available downstairs. They, funnily enough, allow cell phones in switched off mode but not switched off smart watch. Also, it’s advisable not to be there sooner than 30 minutes before your scheduled time.

Documents checked – passport, DS 160 confirmation page and appointment confirmation page.

Interview: 10:15 AM IST, 19th Jan, 2018. Reached outside consulate around 09:45 AM (again, 30 minutes before my scheduled time) and waited in queue until my scheduled time. After reaching inside the main premise where interview was supposed to happen (this was after security check of documents and people), I was asked to join the queue outside Counter 16. Once the passport was scanned, the kind lady asked me to move to Counter 18. Again, passport was scanned and left 4 finger prints were scanned, too. I was then asked to join the group of people waiting patiently in queue for their turn of interview. All the processes until joining the queue took roughly 20 minutes.

When my turn came, I approached the counter that I was guided to. With smile on my face, I wished “Morning” to VO. He courteously acknowledged it with a smile and wished me back. That certainly did the trick and it did help me in getting rid of the initial anxiety that I had, in anticipation.

VO asked for my passport which he scanned.

VO: Who is you petitioner?
ME: YYYY America.

VO: Where will you be working from?
ME: I currently work and will continue to work at the company’s HQ in XX City in XX state.

The above answers led us to some informal exchanges (in which he seemed very interested and enthusiastic) for couple of minutes around my company’s Chairman, his hobby, if I had met anyone from Exe. Mgt. (as I work out of same building), etc. Totally unanticipated but I wasn’t complaining.

After couple of minutes, he said let’s finish the interview.

VO: What’s your highest educational qualification?
ME: MBA with specialization in Finance.

VO: Have you ever studied in US?
ME: No, never. Always in India.

VO: What’s your annual salary in US?
ME: $ YYYY XX

VO: Congratulations! Your visa is approved. You should get your passport sometime next week. Good Day to you!
 
I thanked him for his time and wished him well. By 11:05 AM IST, I was out of the Consulate.

I was NOT asked for any documents (incl. DS160 confirmation, I797A) other than my current passport.

Documents I carried (based on inputs from various websites) – not in any particular order:

1. H Petition approval (original)
2. H petition copy (entire set). This includes supporting letter, LCA, G-28, I-129, H Classification
        supplement, H1B and H1B1 data collection, Evaluation of Academic Credentials, etc.
3. Employment verification letter
4. Offer letter
5. 6 months pay stubs
6. 1 year Bank statements (all Bank accounts I hold in US)
7. Visa fee payment receipt
8. Resume
9. Old Passport
10. DS 160 confirmation page
11. Appointment confirmation page
12. Org. chart
13. Utilities Bill (PG&E – Electric & Gas and Comcast – Internet service) along with payment reference
        letter showing my payment history in last 1 year.
14. ID Card
15. W2 (IRS Tax Form)
16. Form 1040 (tax Return)
17. Social Security
18. Driving License
19. All original Marks Sheets of my education
20. I94 Most recent as well as History

The documents might be different for people with different cases (E.g. going there for first time, working for client and not direct employer, etc.)

I would suggest to carry each and every document that you anticipate you can be asked for. It’s better to carry all documents and not being asked for any as against not carrying the docs and being asked for something. That can cause unnecessary delay in visa processing,

Thanks for reading and Good Luck!