Business Visa - B1

Hello All,

First i thank this website and all of them who posted/shared their experience at the Visa interview.

My B1 Visa was approved on 5-Feb-10 in Chennai,

This was the first week after the implementation of new D-160 form, which needs to be filled on the net and also upload a photograph which will be actually used on the Visa stamp!!

In the interview hall, i patiently waited for my turn, during which i had a chance to observe the interviews, some were quick, some even went on for 15 mins, some were approved and others rejected.

I go stand at the counter window,
 
V.O(guy): Hello Sir, good morning, how are u?

Me: I am doing good, how about you?
(while passing him the pacakage which was made by the pre processing lady, a folder containing my passport, Ceac barcode, Blue HDFC receipt and some code scribbled on the paper).

V.O: I am doing good, thank you....lemme see...(started to type somethings on the computer,kept typing..was even humming some song!)

after around 15 seconds.....

V.O: Ok, so what company do you work for?

Me: @!#$

V.0: Sorry, i did'nt get it,

Me: its @!#$, spelt as @ ! # $.

V.O: Oh ok i got it
(started to type again!! was srcolling the page up and down)

V.O: So what does @!#$ do?

Me: ( I explained what our company does, clearly and slowly, he kept nodding, while looking straight into my eyes, as soon as i finished he asked me)

V.O: Why are you going to US?

Me: ( again I explained my trip plan slowly and clearly also mentioning the cities i will be visiting during the process)

V.O: What is your work at the company?

Me: (Yes, again slowly and clearly mentioned my work and was in sync with what i explained the company does)

V.0: How long have you been with the company?

Me : 3 years and 3 months (answered quickly)

V.O: and your salary?

Me : %^ per annum
(be cool and mention the salary in Indian numeric system - Lakhs! he understands!! there was a guy before me who mentioned his salary in dollars and V,O gave the lakh conversion instantly and confirmed with him "u mean 3 lakhs per annum dont you?'")

V.O: kept typing..( i wonder if he was chatting on an gmail or yahoo!! :-) and said )
"I am approving your Visa, you will get it in a week's time, enjoy your trip.

Me: controlled my joy and said "Thank you, have a nice weekend!"

Folks my suggestions/advice,
- I think the guy was checking some thing about my company on the website!! when i was telling about our company he was seeing the monitor at the same time listening to me, after i was finished he was still browsing the screen, i said few keywords about our company which will be readily seen on the company's website..

- Be very careful while entering the D-160 form, at the pre screening area so many people were questioned for around 10 mins!! some of them had entered their gender incorrectly!! they were asked to go out and correct it online!! so be careful

- I carried a kilo of documents right from my birth certificate to the last promotion/increment letter i received, but the V.O officer did not even ask for anything nor was he interested, BUT, BUT, because of the documents i was carrying i had loads of confidence in me while facing the interview, SO PLEASE CARRY AS MANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS YOU CAN.

- you need not be fluent or have an native english accent!! yes, they are really not bothered about the accent or grammar mistake! including me i saw so many people giving their answers in a broken english with lots of errors in grammar but they had their Visa's approved! so dont loose confidence just bcos of your accent/english grammar.

- Take a deep breath just before u go to the counter (ofcourse, dont make it obvious to the V.O) to relax your pounding heart after all Its their nation which will benefit from our visit to theirs!

- Dress appropriately at least till your waist ! (pun intended)

Well thats all folks!

I wish you only the best, as i read somewhere in this website which i always said to myself "getting rejected is not the end of world. You will certainly have more opportunities"

Jai Hind