H1B, H4 Visa

Above all, with Gods grace and immi help and a bit of preparation and confidence and planning I am through with my HIB on 1st Nov.

Ist Nov was holiday in BNG, so I booked my date on 1st so that I don't need to apply leave at my current company. I am going through my personal HIB and not through company. I have already B1 on my passport so not really worried about stamping initially. Also not aware of immihelp site. One week before my interveiew my friend asked me to go through this and to my surprise I really came to know that I was not really prepared well.

Went through each and every post in this site and prepared answers my self for all the qustions. Got my papers from the employer on this monday only. It is a real big bundle of documents. But went through each and every document.

started from Bangalore on 31st night and got down at spencers plaza. thanks to immi help again, got some hotel names which are really near to the embacy. Started walking towards LIC building. Opposite to taht there is Nirmala Dakshin. Got a room (for 700 + 70 tax). My interview time was at 11:15AM. So slept for some time and got ready by 9:30. Came out and had breakfast. got an Auto for 30Rs and was at embasy by 10:15. Stood in the queue and the x, y, z are over and inside the embasy office for finger printing.

Point to note:

Watch the T.V and know how to do finger printing. I saw people are very much confused even with such a silly thing and showing right hand, some body doesn't know what is index finger.

Every thing was done by 10:30AM and waiting for the security person to call me so that I can stand in the HIB queue.

Point to note:

Please sit in the First row so that he will call you first.

Finally I was in the que by around 11:30AM. The queue was really long and there were only 2 VO taking interviews. So it is moving very slow.

Point to Note:

If you are married and have a kid, then go with them. That will help you to reduce your waiting time.

Also that will be a plus point at the Visa Officer as I observed he was asking less questions.

Observe the VO who is issueing more HIBs and who is taking more time for each interview. Both the VO were really strict and almost they were issueing 221g blue form to every body. so I am mentally prepared to receive 221g.

waited....waited...waited.... till 1:20.

Both the Visa officers went for lunch. The counters were closed for 5-10 mins. Even I was feeling hungry, some what tired also by carrying such a big bundle of documents.

After 10 mins 4 new counters are oppend and new VO came. Then again started observing them who is issueing more HIBs. One VO is really cool and issue 3 H1Bs in a row. I wanted to go in that queue but the security guard asked me to stand in the queue next to that. This VO is rally a tough guy. He has been interviewing the person before me from 20 mins and I was witing to go next.

Suddenly.... the next queue was empty (where I wanted to go) and I asked to securty guy that I will go in that queue as I have been waiting in this fromm 20 mins. He said OK.

Thank GOD.

took a long breath. It was around 1:35 - 40 PM

ME: Good afternoon Sir. (passed the folder)
VO : Good after noon.
VO: What is your highest degree.
ME: told him.

Point to note: don't say BE, ME, MCA etc. Elobarate and tell him. That will give good impression.

VO: can you give me your Offer letter:

Point to note:

I have filed all the documents I got from the employer in a big file with proper index.

so what ever he is asking I am going through the index and taking from the file and giving him.

ME: took out from the file and passed it to him.

VO: Can I have tax returns of this company.

ME: Wenn through the index and passed the documens..

VO: saw that I have a index and giving the docuemnts he asked me to pass that index to him.

ME: passed the index.

VO: He ticked all that documents he wanted and said it is a very well organized list.

ME: I passed all the documents he ticked in the index.

Point to note:

Friends this is very important. It shows how well you are organized and gives a good impression. I saw people dumping all the documents in some carry bag, and facing hard time in finding documents. Waiting takes out anybodies patience and you will start shivering as you take time to find documents. So organize them properly and easy to find way.

VO: So on what what project you are going to work?
ME: Project name and what does in do. Only 2 sentences I replied.

VO: Any clients for this?
ME: This project documnet has been already reviewed by xyz company and they are interested in this. After the prototype is ready they may end up in contact. ( I already passed the supporting document from the proposed client, stating the same).

VO: Thank you I am issuuing..... after that my ears are filled with happyness and I really didn't listen what he told.
ME: Thank you sir

VO: He again said that thank yo very much for that well organized documents.

ME: Thank you sir.

--------------------------------------------

List of documents I took from the employer:

1. HIB pitition copy
2. Employee offer letter/ contract
3. Federal incometax returns
4. List of employees
5. Payroll summery
6. Form 941 ( Quarterly federal tax returns )
7. Quarterly wage reports
8. Prospective client letter
9. Itinery of service
10. Project description
11. Job announcements
12 Business lease
13. Business plan
14. Bank Statement of the company
15. Certificate of incorporation
16. Organization Chart of the employer
17. Sales journal
18. Aging reports
19. I797 (most important)
20. Request letter from the employee to the consulate.

--------------

My education certificates
Current employee offer letter
this year (10) montly salary statement
Last 6 years Saral forms (Tax return)
My 6 months bank statements
My resume
2 additional photos (in case of any problem)

--------------------------

other documents

Form 156
Form 157
Interview letter
(additional copy of 156, 157 in case of emergency)

------------------

Some more documents to help

Chennai city map
Near by hotels list and phone numbers
VFS office address (in case if you want to collect passport)

thats all my dear friends.

Be confident.
Keep observing VO who is issuing more HIBs and try to be in that queue.
Be patient.
Have as much as possible before going in to the embasy.
Be prepared to stand and wait for atleast 3 hours.

some more observations:

The guy before me got 221g because he has breaks in his education and he didn't convince the VO (the same VO who interviewed me) so he got 221g.

Another guy who came with his family and some blabla blabla happend and he got 221g and he was asking the VO " If you don't mind can I know what is the problem?. Why did I get 221g?". Don't do such things.

After coming back to the hotel, I was relaxing in the lobby, some body sitting next to me asked me wether I came for HIB, and I said yes.

He shared his exp.

He didn't sign on the contract (which is very important) and the VO issued 221g to him.



Thats all from my side.

thank you very much to immi help. I thought I can contribute to immihelp by sharing my exp.

good luck to all the HIB people who are going to Chennai. Be ready for the battle.