H1B, H4 Visa

10 AM
OFC: Try to be just 10 minutes early. No use coming an hour before.
You'll be asked to stand at the end of the queue.
If you are late, please go to the gate and tell them. They will let you
in if your not super late.

Documents to carry:
1) DS-160 confirmation
2) Appointment Confirmation
3) Passport

If you want to build some amazing Trapezoid muscles, please carry
some more non essential documents.

When your batch is called, they will let you in the gate.
At the check point they look at your documents and passport
and tick off your name in their list.
One guy had jumbled up his first name, middle name, last name
on the DS-160 and his passport was had some other sequence of
name. He was asked to leave. So make sure you have that in
order.

Walk around the OFC building and enter it. Ask the guards
if you need help. At the door, place all the documents in
a tray and they will run the magic wand around you.
Walk through another door and find another small queue.
The guard there will put some sticker behind your
passport and give you a token number on a small
peice of paper.

There will be multiple windows with actual people behind
them. Go to the window as suggested by the usher.
They will check the details and ask you your DOB and
name, for I don't know what. After you answer that
correctly and I hope you do, smile for the cameras.
They will ask you to look up/down/straight till they
get it right. Please try to look good for once already.
Ladies with make up please don't bother, Chennai humidity
will make it run down.

Once you are told "Sir, you are done for the day", please
try to fill the feedback at the kiosk. Ask for the courier
form if you need one, for the passport to be delivered at
your doorstep.

Next day 04 Oct Chennai consulate.

Come there half and hour before and brace yourself
for 2 huge queues facing each other. One under/near the
Gemini flyover bridge and the other in the opposite
direction which runs through a bus stop near an
underpass. Join the latter queue.

Once you progress in the queue the guard will
check your DS-160, confirmation and passport and
enter it in his PDA and ask you to move forward.
You think this is it, nah! Right when you want to
enter the main door, the guard will ask you to join
the other queue near the flyover. Enjoy counting the
number of vehicles that passby. Don't dig your nose,
there is a camera right ahead of you.

As you apporach the main door, there is another
check point window. There they will ask for the
DS 160, confirmation and passport.
They will scan the barcode and return the passport.

Go through the main door and place all the items
in a tray airport style. They will look into all
the packets and envelopes you carry. If they find
something which is not permitted, you'll be asked to
leave it outside. There is a counter outside on the
street where you can keep your undesired stuff.

Once you are cleared, they will ask you to
enter a huge, heavy, black metal door.
After that you have reached a point of no return.
You will be ushered to a window for left hand finger
prints (no thumb). Please return the pleasantaries
to the lady who greets you. Try to smile even if
your cheeks hurt. She will sticker you passport
and ask you to sit on an available chair.
The sticker has low quality gum (intentional)
on it so please make sure you don't lose it.
It has your sequence number (alphanumeric)

Once all the chairs are full you will be
asked to enter another buliding. This is where
the real fun begins.
Enter through the door which DOES NOT SAY 'EXIT'
Please don't make the guards angry, as it is the
doors are heavy.

Once you are in, you will see a lot of people,
lines, and display monitors. Don't worry.
There will be a lot of people looking like
their fate depends on a sticker on their passport.
Don't be disheartened. If you have an L1B
petition then you will be asked to pull out a
few documents along with the DD. Sit in a chair,
and watch the display which will have your
sequence number and a corresponding window number.
The numbers will be moving at a steady pace, but
don't miss it. I helped a perspiring northeastern
looking guy and told him his number had aleady been
flashed. He confirmed on the next refresh on the
display and thanked me profusely. I also
wished the guy on my left.
When it was my turn I went to my window and stood
in a short queue. I have a huge beard and marks
on my forehead and people were like "sure mate,
you'll make it" (just kidding)

Just as my number came, an elderly couple were
wheelchaired in front of me. They were visiting
their son I suppose. The VO was on a break point
as he was not able to hear them and the couple
were not able to comprehend what the VO was saying.
Great, this is what I wanted. A pissed VO.

Anyhoo, when they were being ushered back, the VO
looked at me and called me with his hand Bruce Lee
style. I smiled and waited for the elderly couple
to clear the area.

VO: GM, how are you.
Me: GM, good thanks, how are you ?
VO: Good, passport please.
VO: I can't see your sequence number on my screen
Me: Thats because the elderly couple were let
    through first.
VO: Oh! Thats ok.
VO: Whom are you working for ?
Me: Currently (US major)
VO: Whom are you going to work with in the States
Me: YYYY company.
VO: Who will be the client.
Me: The petioner itself.
VO: Oh ok. Where are they located.
Me: City,State.
VO: What do they do ?
Me: Do stuff for the big three (GM , Ford, Chrysler)
VO: What are they paying you?
Me: (say the right digits as in your petition)
VO: Where will you be working ?
Me: Same city, State as them
VO: Position?
Me: Senior Blah blah.
VO: Ok please pass me your I-129.
He checked all the details I mentioned.
VO: My God they are huge.
Me: Yes they are among the fortune 500.
VO: Ok I am approving your VISA. Please read this.
    (White booklet, know your rights)
VO: Have a nice day
Me: Thank you. Same to you.

I de-queued myself. Asked the guard for the courier.
He asked me to go to the previous building.
Went to the counter and showed them the pre-filled
form I collected at the OFC. He asked me to wait
after taking the form. I sat for 15 mins before
my name was called out. He checked the pin code
and asked me for 300 bucks. I paid him. Asked him
the TOT. He said 2-3 days max. I booted myself out
of the bulding. The auto guys were pestering me.
I said no, and walked past the queue flaunting
my 'Know my rights booklet'
I reached the hotel to let mum and pa know
that my fate on a lottery was accepeted by the
Almightly and they were pleased. Checked out
for Marina beach. Took my flight, and landed
home. 05-Oct I received a call saying my passport
has reached and where the hell was I ?
I reached home and took the delivery. Checked
for any blue/white etc. papers, there were none.
(suggesting no admin processing). Took out the
passport and voila, a sticker for which I went
through what I went through for 6 agonizing months.

Checked the details on the Visa and went about the
day.
Be straight forward. Don't look like its going to
be end of the world if you don't get the VISA.
Always remember "Mulk badalne se muqaddar nahin badalta"

Bye!