Visitor Visa - B2

We have lot of posts here regarding experiences in India, especially for parents. We had renewed our B2 visa through post. Our daughter was not 10 printed during her earlier visa issue as she was only seven. Hence, she had to attend the in person interview. DS160 form was created in July 2024 and the original visa interview was in Nov 2025. In Aug 2024, we got an email from CEAC saying that we are eligible for expedited appointment and slots were available from Feb 2025. We chose 24 April 2025 slot considering my daughter school and entrance examinations. Our visa interview was with Abu Dhabi embassy. We were self-sponsored and had invitation from my brother-in-law. We are planning for summer vacation in USA.

Few points which can be useful to those applying from Abu Dhabi
1. Finger printing is done on the same day as that of visa interview. No separate appointment for the same. We did not book our flight tickets. We did not go through tour operators.
2. Process is well organized and it takes 4 hours to complete. Be patient to stand in the queue for most of the time.
3. Parking is available opposite to embassy and it is bit crowded during morning.
4. No bags are allowed. Mobiles and car key with auto lock to be deposited.
5. For below 18 interview, only one of the parents are allowed to accompany the child.
6. Abu Dhabi also can have traffic issues in the morning, so start with sufficient margin. Security guard at the entrance told that they allow early entry and do not stick to exact appointment time. Also, if you are late they are accommodative.
7. Take your original passport with US visa as well as the old passports with US visa for your child.

After security screening at security office, applicants are allowed in batches to the embassy. After entering embassy our DS160, passport details are checked and finger printing is completed. The document checking person asked for my US visa, expired visa for my daughter and entered the visa number in the system. No other supporting documents are checked.

Visa interview is conducted in the counter located in the waiting room i.e. in the same hall. We could hear the questions asked and there were quite a few refusals as well. There were only two VOs (both men) taking interviews. Majority of the cases where there was prior travel history abroad, clear intent of travel as tourism and proper job were given the approvals. For B2, when there is no prior abroad travel history, there were refusals, saying apply again.

We: Good morning, Sir.
VO: Good morning. Who is applying for the visa.
Me: My daughter, I have already US visa.
VO: Can I see your visa
Me: I am taking my passport with visa. Meanwhile, VO continues
VO: Have you been to US before?
My Daughter: Yes, in 2015.
VO: Why are you going to US?
My Daughter: We are going for tourism.
Meanwhile, I give my passport with B2 visa.
VO: Took my passport and checked the visa.
Have you travelled abroad before ?.
My Daughter: Yes, I have travelled to UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Georgia and Oman.
VO: What are you doing now?
My Daughter: I just graduated from 12th grade and planning to go to college.
VO: How about college?
My Daughter: I am already admitted to XXXX, Delhi, with 100 % tuition waiver and will be joining in July 2025.
Me: We have already paid the registration fees of 2100 USD.
(My Daughter had already offer of admission from different US universities and we were not planning to go to US for undergrad. We did not mention anything about this, as per plan.)
VO: Oh, that’s a good one. Have you been to Delhi ?
My Daughter : Yes, that time I was a child and I don’t remember much.
VO: New Delhi is a big city and you will have a nice time there.
VO: Where did you graduate from
My Daughter: XXX international private school, Ruwais.
VO: Typed the school name or something ………
After this the VO, gave my passport back and gave the white slip (approved), kept my daughter’s passport.

Enjoy your trip, you will get an email in 2-3 days about passport collection. We said Thank you and left.

VO did not ask for any of the supporting documents. We were prepared with Salary certificate, Bank statement for 6 months, Marriage certificate, Birth certificate, Degree certificate, Old US, Schengen visas, Invitation letter from my brother-in-law, my brother-in-law’s identification documents & address proof.
Checked status in CEAC site same day. it was showing approved. Next day mine changed to ISSUED in the afternoon. She got 10 year multiple entry B1/B2 visa with the new golden gate bridge design visa stamp.

Overall it was a pleasant experience.