H1B, H4 Visa

Dear All,
First of all I would like to thank the people behind Immihelp.com for creating such an useful site and helping the US visa aspirants with so much detailed and precise information. The content of this site helps the first timers to know the process as a "dummies guide to US visa" !! :-)

I am a first timer "lucikly" qualified for H1B this year. The next step of H1B interview was the biggest hurdle after hearing and reading several experiences from several people.

Here is our experience @ Chennai:::

After reading the information from Immihelp.com, we have decided to stay in a hotel that is walking distance from the US Consulate. So, we have decided to book Hotel Palmgrove that is around 5 mins (max) walking distance from US Consulate. The rooms we have booked (A/c delux family suite) was spacious, though the hotel has an old look.

We had our interview scheduled on 15th Nov '07 at half past eight in the morning. We arrived in Chennai on 14th night and had a good night's sleep before the day of interview. (This is very important to keep ourselves afresh in front of the VO ... my personal opinion)

On 15th we started at 7:45 am to US consulate as most of my the readers has suggested to be there before 30 mins. This is more than sufficient as the VFS volunteers inside the consulate send the people based on the interview time.

We went to the entrance of the US Consulate. The security gaurds asked for the Passport and interview letter (so keep them handy .... as per suggestion from Immihelp). They verified the passport details and asked us to stand in a Q to enter the consulate. Since we had a 3 year old kid the security people had asked us to proceed first. (I was amazed to see the priority given to families with kids and elderly people right from the entrance till the interview. I was lucky in that sense :-)

Then inside the consulate, first step is the Security check. Please follow the guidelines given in Immihelp as what and what not to take to the US Consulate. After the check we were sent to next room that was filled with people. I was terrified to see so many people at the VFS counters, but to my luck the VFS volunteer had asked us to proceed to a counter that helps families with kids and elders.

The Person inside the VFS was very helpful and had engaged me, my wife and kid in a conversation and this reduced a lot of tension I was feeling ;-) At the VFS counter the person asked the I797, LCA, DS156, 157 forms and arranged them in a file and snapped our photographs. This took most of our time inside consulate around 10 mins.

After this we were directly sent to another building where the Finger prints are taken and interview will be conducted. This took around 3 mins. After the finger scanning we were sent immediately to next counter and before I could realize that this counter person was the actual VO who will be interviewing me, I was asked to give the file that was arranged by VFS at the first building of the Consulate.

Here is what happened at the interview,

Me: Good Morning Sir.
VO: Hi
(waited for 1 min and was typing and checking something in the computer.)
VO: File please.
Me: (Gave the file that has my petioner's documents and our passports.
VO: Is your current employer and your petioner same?
Me: (Actually it took me few seconds to understand what he was saying as he was a bit away from the mic and the voice was low.) I said No sir.
(All through this conversation the VO wasn't looking at me but rather typing something in the PC and checking the information) After few moments,
VO: What is your highest degree?
ME: Master's in Computer Applications, MCA sir.
(few moments passed)
VO: Do you know what you are going to do in your Petioner's place of work?
Me: Yes sir, it is an In-house project and my petioner has briefed me the responsibilities I would be performing .... (started to explain the role and responsibilities in 2-3 lines max 20 ~ 40 seconds)
Few moments passed ....
VO: Your visa is granted Sir, your passports will be couriered in a week's time !!!!

Before I could hear and realize what he actually said he has passed me back my I797 original document set and said "That's it".

I took the documents and said "Thank you very much, Sir" !!!

That's it !!! No more docs asked for verification and no more questions as well. It happened as a Baba's miracle and we are greatful to the God!! Well, frankly it all happened so fast that we were inside the US Consulate for only 15 ~ 20 mins ;)

First of all I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the people behind the Immihelp.com for creating such an helpful site and also all the readers and members who have posted their experiences that helped me a lot to gain confidence, get an overview of the H1B interview process and getting ourselves prepared for the day !!!

My personal suggestion to all those who will be appearing for the interview,
1) Have all the docs (pakka) and do not give any chance for a query.
2) Prepare well in advance for the interview and read ALL the pages of the user's experience from the IMMIHELP.COM.
3) Believe in yourself and talk with audibility and confidence.
4) Be very brief in your answers and also prepare them like an exam!!! (Probably a bit exaggerated .. but this really helps)
5) And finally, Believe in GOD !!!

Thank you dear readers and members of IMMIHELP.COM for consolidating the information and reading my experience.

I would be glad to answer the queries for people who need help on H1B interview process. (The knowledge gained by reading the IMMIHELP and discussions with my friends had graduated me in this process !!! ;)

Have a great day !!!

Best Wishes to ALL,
Blore_techie.