H1B, H4 Visa

Hi,
Finally I got through the ordeal.
On the day at the consulate I was asked to provide them with a I-129 petition documents which I have not received. These papers are supposed to be with the I-129 petition it self.
These are must and God knows how I managed to scrap through. So I request you to kindly arrange to send me those docs now.
Well this is how the interview went. The interviewer seemed like a Latin American lady in late twenties. She saw me open my folder and place it on the counter. It was neatly tagged with colorful Post-its. She smiled at me and started:
Visa Officer (VO): Hi, Good Morning
We: GM, How are you…?
VO: fine thank you, how about you…?
We: good thank you.
VO: (to me) who is this pretty lady with you…?
Me: (smiled) my wife.
VO: When did u get married
Me: dd/mm/yy
VO: Love marriage..or arranged…?
Me: Love marriage.
VO: (to my wife) Why did you choose him?
Wife: blah..blaah…
VO: How come you have never been to US with him (seeing my earlier B1-B2 Visa)
Wife: we were not married them.. (laughs)
VO: so what it was love marriage…!!
We: (just smiled back)
VO: (to my wife) you know where u will be staying in US…?
Wife: XX (US State)
VO: you know how much he is going to earn..?
Wife: YYYY amount
VO: What’s your mother-in-law’s name..?
Wife: ZZZ
All this time she was shuffling through DS-156, Stamping my and wife’s passport with some stamp.
VO: (to me) so do you have “abc” (My existing Company’s product) in here
Me: No. we haven’t launched that yet. But we recently launched “xyz”
VO: What is that…?
Me: Blah…blah… (about the product)…!!
She knew about it.
VO: is it like xyz…?
Me: yes. But I like “PQR” (another product).
VO: Yeah.
Me: Have you tried YYYY (My existing company’s) products…?
VO: Its not possible that you grow up in US and not eat XX products. I am granting you the visa. It shall be couriered to your place. Good bye have a nice day.
We: Thanks & Good bye.

What I personally feel is that US VISA consulate in Mumbai is cool. In my case they did not ask me 1 single document. That’s luck, but I was well prepared. There is no issue at all if you are bold, confident & establish a very good impression first on. Also other countries visas help if you have them, but it is not a vital citeria.
I wore a brown shirt, black silk tie and black trousers. My wife wore a punjabi. Wives applying for H4 need not look like brides on that day. Ideally wives should apply at the same time when husband is filing for visa. It becomes easier.
Also I feel these things are also essential:
1. Carry all documents. You never know which one might be needed. Keep all of them well tagged or handy.
2. Keep cool, its very very critical. Your fear of failure will reflect on your face and might unnecessarily invoke VO’s suspicion. Try to divert your mind, don’t discuss with anyone, listening to music is a good option.
3. Try to gain the VO’s confidence through your statements as well as documents that you have.
And finally, have faith in Him. If your destiny has it in you it will happen. I was rejected F1 visa in year 2001 not once but twice. Try hard, be honest and faithful. If you don’t have a certain document make sure you have a genuine excuse for it. Visa officers are there to grant you the visa.

Please feel free to mail me on
[email protected]

Prasad