Business Visa - B1

My Name is Sameer and i am from Chandigarh.

I am sharing my experience of B1 visa interview which was held in New Delhi and i cleared the same in my first shot.

As it’s a two day process (Day 1: OFC Round and Day 2: Interview with Consulate), make sure that you reach at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time slot.

Dress Up: I wore a normal formal dress but there were guys too who were wearing suits also. So it’s all your call.

Documents: Make sure that you take all the required documents and their photocopies along with you. Please find below the list of important documents to take along with you. (It is not really mandatory that the consulate will ask you for the documents but to be on the safe side make sure you have it all with you)

1. PASSPORT
2. Interview Appointment Letter
3. DS-160 Confirmation Letter
4. Visa Fees Payment Receipt
5. Invitation Letter from San Diego
6. Health Insurance coverage letter
7. Educational Certificates
8. Joining Letter of Current Employer
9. Experience Letters from Previous Employers
10. Income Tax Returns / Form 16 (If any)
11. Latest 3 Salary Slips
12. Savings (Insurance etc) If any

(Although the consulate just asked me for my PASSPORT only and nothing else. But make sure you have them all)

INTERVIEW

Day 1: OFC (Documents, Photograph, Fingerprints Check)

Day 1 of your interview won’t be taking more than 20-30 minutes. Your DS-160 confirmation form, Appointment letter and Passport will be checked here. Photograph along with fingerprints and other security checks will be done on Day 1.

Day 2: Embassy Interview

Once you reach inside US embassy you will be given a token number after few security checks. On the announcement of your token number you will be required to go to the interview hall.

On the interview counter line up wait for your turn to come. Once the person ahead of you is done with his/her interview, wait for the consulate signal to call you to the window. Do not rush by yourself before the consulate calls you.

Once you reach the window do not forget the wish the consulate with a smile on your face J

REMEMBER YOUR DURATION / ADDRESS OF STAY, POINT OF CONTACT, AND CONTACT NUMBER OF POINT OF CONTACT.

Below is the brief overview of my interview session with an “African Lady Consulate” which lasted for hardly 2-3 minutes

Consulate: What is the purpose of your visit?
Me: I am working with software MNC (Name) and we are into healthcare domain. We provide services (s/w + h/w) and solutions to various hospitals in United States.

We have started new software applications along with new hardware devices which we are going to implement in various hospitals across US that nurses, hospital administrators will be using in coming time. My purpose of visit is to take the training on h/w configuration set up and to understand the new software project requirements to make sure that it is well functional in hospitals.

Consulate: Duration of the visit
Me: 4 Weeks

Consulate: For how long have you been working with this present company?
Me: Answered

Consulate: What exactly are your roles and responsibilities over there during your visit?
Me: As I said earlier about the new software and hardware set up in my company headquarters in United States, my role will be to make sure that the new software meets the user requirements and to take training on the new hardware devices. Our software applications and hardware set up are well functional across the various hospitals so I need to get training on new set up as it is not really possible to bring the huge hardware device here in India and further I will be sharing all my experience and knowledge with my team mates. As these devices are used by nurses, administrators across various hospitals we need to make sure that they don’t face any kind of problems while using the same.

Also I will be meeting few delegates who would be coming from Australia, Singapore etc to understand the upcoming project requirements and customer needs.

Consulate: Are you single or Married
Me: Single

Consulate: What is your annual Package?
Me: Told her my annual package

Consulate: Whenever your company starts a new software project or a new hardware is it really necessary that someone from here has to go and get the training?
Me: (very confidently) Yes

Consulate: Are you planning to visit any Hospitals also?
Me: Yes. But the Hospital names are not yet disclosed to me by the management and are confidential.

(I was not expecting this question from the consulate but to make sure and convince her that I m not only visiting company headquarters but also hospitals also for a good cause, I had to say YES)

Consulate: She then asked for my finger prints and told that my visa has been approved.

That’s it

Please remember CONFIDENCE is the key to get over the interview. DO NOT FUMBLE. Make sure that your voice is clear and well understandable. Just answer what is asked in a polite manner and do not add up detailed information which the consulate is not even seeking. The key is that you have to convince the consulate that your visit to US is very much important. Keep proper eye contact with the consulate. You should sound and look like a professional. And yes, LUCK does matters here J

I hope this will help you all to some extent. Do let me know if you need any other info.

[email protected]
Sameer
Chandigarh
IN