H1B, H4 Visa

hi all...thanks to all immihelp contributors for their experiences..
i had appointment on nov 20,2pm...
myself and my wife have reached chennai on the same day by train at 7.30 in the morning...went directly to hotel blue diamond..which was booked by one of my friend in chennai...its around 3 kms away from the consulate...in poonamalee high road...the deluxe room was not worth for 1800 bucks..
had breakfast was same hotel...did a final round of preparations..and reached consulate by 1.15 pm.

auto guys r cheaters..and they would always ask for 3 times the actual...they wont evn mind if we walk away...depends on how u settle down for some amt..which is always profitable to him..we dont have choices..

at 1.20 pm..the consulate front gate had a 200 mts queue..i was shocked to c this...also the entrance was crowded by policemen,security,auto wallas..an auto guy approached me and told just pay 500 bucks and u will be in the front of the queue..i just said sorry and he pointed me to the end of the queue in a sarcastic way...myself and my wife waited in the long queue...finally by 2.15 we reached the entrance point...
vfs star and stripes facility was bringing candidates who have availed facility in their van..and those people need not stand in the queue..they r directly taken inside...its all sort of corruption...u give 200 bucks to vfs...they take u inside...u give 250 rs to security/auto wallas..they too take u inside without the trouble of standing in the queue..felt very bad with the overall conditions...
also thought that i was late..because people who were standing in front of me were having appointment only by 3 and all..
finally by gods grace entered the consulate somehow..had...security checks..and then was directed to a counter where vfs guys r arranging docs,,taking photo etc...
i had to wait again for an hour..there..donno what the vfs guy was doing with just 2 persons in front of me...
finally by 3.45..i was asked to go to the next builduing for the actual visa interview...
when we proceeded..the g4 security asked us to wait..and showed us the big queue which was waiting to enter that builduing..
was wondering why theres lot of rush on nov 20th..or is it like this every day???

we waited again for 20 mins..finally i approached and told security that i have appointments at 2...

i donno what prompted her..but she asked me to go directly thru another door..without standing in the long queue to the builduing..i wasted no time...i was in complete formals..with tie and tag..i think she mistook me for a BEP..

again in the visa hall...i was shocked to c ..another 500 candidates..some on seats...some 3 queues...the room was clogged..

a vfs guy approached me and asked me what time ur appointment is..i said 2 ..he said y so much late..and asked me to proceed to a queue for finger printing..

while waiting in the queue..an american guy..seems he is the general..came and said that they r going to shut down all counters and are going to have a team meeting for 30 mins..so we need to wait..

finally by 4.45..our finger printing got over and was asked to stand in another big queue for visa interview..


there were 5 counters..with 3 guys and 2 ladies..all americans.taking interviews...the queue is so close to the counter that everyone can hear whats being told and asked..its quite embarassing..we heard 2 f1's desperately pleading...one thing i found was the visa officers r quite understanding..they do give visas to genuine people...

meanwhile the american who came earlier .appeared again took our attention and told...visa issuance has 0% luck, say hello to the officer..speak to him clearly..listen what they r asking...dont say iam fine,when they ask u for ur degree..and lastly pls dont bring any fake docs..i think some people have clearly taken it for granted...

finally it was nearing my turn,the lady officer asked us to move onto the guy officers if we r of h1b category...got lil relieved..because the guy VO's where a lil liberal in issuing visas..so a no of people gettin ...also saw many being given blue forms..because they din have many docs which the vo asked..i saw a couple right in front of me getting rejected...after answering that she does not have info on which proj...and which client they r going to work...the vo earnestly asked they have any other docs from the employer ...she said only job offer,i 797,lca,i 129..the vo din have any other option..

the guy in front of me was asked which degree...be in electronice..
exp?? 2 years...any certification???he produced many certs..the vo examined and told him..he have 2 options..either quit..or admit that these r fakes...the candidate din say a word...suddenly to his luck...another officer came with a paper and the vo got busy speakin to him...once he got finished..he just took a blue form and issued him a 221 g...

now it was our turn to the same officer..he just waived me to come forward..i went there and said hello...how r u..
he smiled at me nicely and said iam fine how r u doing.
i said great...

VO: was busy in computer with the older candidate i suppose
me: slided the blue file..and waited lookin at him...

after a few seconds

VO:sorryfor keepin u waiting
Me: No probs sir

VO: whats ur degree
me : btech in cse...expanded the whole thing clearly.

VO: how much professional exp u have??
me..almost 5 years sir,4 years and 9 months

VO: he was just repeating what i said..and was typing them onto the pc..

VO: so what will u be doing there...
me: i will be mainly onto programmimg...but i will also be working in diff phases of s/w dev lif cycle.

Vo: u have a proj,
me: yes sir..explained 2 lines abt the proj which my employer has sent me..(had design doc and marketing analysis)

VO: turned towards my wife and asked..when did u get married maam..
she: said the date.in a polite way..

VO: congragulations on ur wedding maam..
she: thank u sir..

VO: turning towards me..so u have clients??
me: the application is currently in the development phase..once its stable,we will be marketing it to diff clients...

the vo got satisfied..
he took both our passports and said..ur visa is approved..will courier to u in 2 to 3 days..

we both said thank u very much sir..
he said have a nice and safe journey..collected i797 etc..and left counters..i cudnt believe my ears..we got down fom the consulate at 5.55...phew...just 1 min of interview...
NOT A SINGLE DOCS ASKED

i had a big compartment/indexed file...with all docs
i just opened the file and kept in my arms..

Some observations: Dont rest yourself too much on the ledge at the counter,the VO will get a bad feeling ,,i suppose..also dont keep ur file on the ledge ..many does this...let it be handy on ur arms..
keep eye contact...speak with confidence...and clearly...listen carefully...dress in a professional way..

docs i carried:

all mandatory docs: i797,i129,lca,passport,hdfc receipts,appointment letter

from employer: he sent me all files in an indexed way..was greatly organised...thanks to the company..

job offer letter, letter to consulate requesting visa issuance, letter explaining my resp, letter sent at the time of filing, credential evaluation of my degree, company registration docs, list of clients,work agreements copies from around 30 clients,audited financial statements and tax returns for the past 2 years.
Unemployment wage reports of last 2 quarters for around 6 states...where the employer has consultants working,
FOrm 941-federal tax returns for last 2 quarters..

iternirerary of services,
proj to whih iam assigened to,
design doc(detailed), market analysis
lease agreement letter of the company premises
15 photos of the company..at us..

my exp:appointment letter,all appraisal letters,last 6 months pay slip,employment certificate,last 1 year bank statement,
degree certificate,all marklist for engineering,10th 12th
20 photos from my current employer

Marriage certificate,30 marriage photos

i think if u have the reqd docs u shud be confident...and ..again..it all depends on god..i have seen people with 100 percent docs and getting refused...

sorry for posting a very big one...hope its helpful for atleast some..\
thanks a lot..pray well before ur interviews..he will take care..