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Visa
H1B, H4 Visa
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F1 to H1 visa stamping experience in Chennai
I was on F1 from 2012 to 2016; CPT/OPT for 4 months, and continued with H1B. Did not appear for stamping for two years until now. Direct employer. Materials Science field. Working as Scientist/Chemist.
I was at Chennai consulate. Interview was smooth and I was asked following questions (order slightly changed, as I don't remember)
VO: What is your purpose of travel?
Me: I am here for my H1B stamping.
VO: Who is your employer?
Me: Told
VO: Where is your location?
Me: Told
VO: What is your position title?
Me: Told
VO: What is your salary?
Me: Told
VO: What do you do for the company?
Me: Explained my duties for a minute
VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: MS - Master of Science
VO: Which university and when did you graduate?
Me: Told
VO: Do you have prior experience with this nature of work?
Me: Explained that I have similar work done during my Masters.
VO: Have you been on OPT?
Me: Yes mam.
VO: Have you ever been out of status?
Me: No mam.
Takes out 221g blue slip, notes down case number, and says something to the effect of "this is a common procedure these days to put applications for administrative processing. Universities don't update us when students graduate".
I asked how long it would take, for which VO said 2 business days. I asked when I can expect my passport or I repeated similar question, for which VO said 5-7 business days. I was thinking in mind, why 2 different answers for similar questions.
She points out h1b visa worker rights brochure and asked if I have one. I replied that I already have an electronic copy.
I asked if she needs my i-797 approval notice, for which she said that she already has electronic copy and wouldn't require one from me. VO told me that I will receive notification once my administrative processing is complete.
She may have asked for my employer letter, and I might have given her. I don't remember properly.
She took my passport and I left. No additional documents asked.
Timeline:
Dec 9th Sun - Fingerprinting
Dec 10th Mon - Interview
Dec 12th Wed - Status changed/updated
Dec 13th Thurs - Status changed to "Issued". Passport tracking said that Passport received from consular section and currently processed for delivery
Dec 14th Fri - Received my passport at my residence. (premium delivery)
Additional points that can be of help:
If you are returning from US for visa stamping, make visa appointment as your priority to allow additional time for processing. As soon as you land, take shower and appear for interview. Lol.
Strange thing is, I did not receive any email/sms notification about anything. I kept tracking the status online myself. Had I not done it, I might have been in for a surprise visit from the delivery person on Friday with my passport. So do not worry about notifications. Track status yourself online.
If you are in Chennai consulate, don't be surprised about the long queue outside the consulate. Reach 15 mins before your appointment time. Go directly to talk with consulate representatives/security to let you in. People are let in, in batches according to the appointment time. You don't have to be in common line. Also, don't try to come too early unless you enjoy watching traffic, and it is NOT necessary to come in too early.
DO NOT bring any electronic items including remote control car keys. A person in front of me waited all the way in the line to be sent back for having car keys after reaching the security point inside the consulate. I felt bad for him. You will go through a hassle, unless you can have someone waiting outside to carry all your electronics. Wallet is fine. Carry all the documents in a plastic file folder.
Once you are done with the interview, you can call your loved ones for Rs.5 or Rs.10 in the corner of the street next to the tea shop.
Do not carry backpack unless you are ready to shell out few hundred Rs for a stranger outside the consulate.
Don't worry too much about attire. I appeared in round neck t-shirt and a jean. I was pretty sure VOs do not offer visa for my attire. It is your convenience.
I initially had a question whether i-140 filing will anyway affect the stamping process. I did not find proper information online. I had my i-140 filed last month, and I did mention “yes” in the DS-160 form. This did not affect the VO decision.
Let me know if you have any questions. Sorry to make you read a long post.
I was at Chennai consulate. Interview was smooth and I was asked following questions (order slightly changed, as I don't remember)
VO: What is your purpose of travel?
Me: I am here for my H1B stamping.
VO: Who is your employer?
Me: Told
VO: Where is your location?
Me: Told
VO: What is your position title?
Me: Told
VO: What is your salary?
Me: Told
VO: What do you do for the company?
Me: Explained my duties for a minute
VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: MS - Master of Science
VO: Which university and when did you graduate?
Me: Told
VO: Do you have prior experience with this nature of work?
Me: Explained that I have similar work done during my Masters.
VO: Have you been on OPT?
Me: Yes mam.
VO: Have you ever been out of status?
Me: No mam.
Takes out 221g blue slip, notes down case number, and says something to the effect of "this is a common procedure these days to put applications for administrative processing. Universities don't update us when students graduate".
I asked how long it would take, for which VO said 2 business days. I asked when I can expect my passport or I repeated similar question, for which VO said 5-7 business days. I was thinking in mind, why 2 different answers for similar questions.
She points out h1b visa worker rights brochure and asked if I have one. I replied that I already have an electronic copy.
I asked if she needs my i-797 approval notice, for which she said that she already has electronic copy and wouldn't require one from me. VO told me that I will receive notification once my administrative processing is complete.
She may have asked for my employer letter, and I might have given her. I don't remember properly.
She took my passport and I left. No additional documents asked.
Timeline:
Dec 9th Sun - Fingerprinting
Dec 10th Mon - Interview
Dec 12th Wed - Status changed/updated
Dec 13th Thurs - Status changed to "Issued". Passport tracking said that Passport received from consular section and currently processed for delivery
Dec 14th Fri - Received my passport at my residence. (premium delivery)
Additional points that can be of help:
If you are returning from US for visa stamping, make visa appointment as your priority to allow additional time for processing. As soon as you land, take shower and appear for interview. Lol.
Strange thing is, I did not receive any email/sms notification about anything. I kept tracking the status online myself. Had I not done it, I might have been in for a surprise visit from the delivery person on Friday with my passport. So do not worry about notifications. Track status yourself online.
If you are in Chennai consulate, don't be surprised about the long queue outside the consulate. Reach 15 mins before your appointment time. Go directly to talk with consulate representatives/security to let you in. People are let in, in batches according to the appointment time. You don't have to be in common line. Also, don't try to come too early unless you enjoy watching traffic, and it is NOT necessary to come in too early.
DO NOT bring any electronic items including remote control car keys. A person in front of me waited all the way in the line to be sent back for having car keys after reaching the security point inside the consulate. I felt bad for him. You will go through a hassle, unless you can have someone waiting outside to carry all your electronics. Wallet is fine. Carry all the documents in a plastic file folder.
Once you are done with the interview, you can call your loved ones for Rs.5 or Rs.10 in the corner of the street next to the tea shop.
Do not carry backpack unless you are ready to shell out few hundred Rs for a stranger outside the consulate.
Don't worry too much about attire. I appeared in round neck t-shirt and a jean. I was pretty sure VOs do not offer visa for my attire. It is your convenience.
I initially had a question whether i-140 filing will anyway affect the stamping process. I did not find proper information online. I had my i-140 filed last month, and I did mention “yes” in the DS-160 form. This did not affect the VO decision.
Let me know if you have any questions. Sorry to make you read a long post.
All Replies (5)
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