H1B, H4 Visa

OFC appointment: 19th November in Mumbai at 8.30 AM
Reached at 8.00 AM. This was the earliest time that could be availed.

This is just a simple process where they capture our finger prints and digital photos. I was done in around 20 minutes.
In this process, they also stick something at the back of our passport and a stamp on DS-160 form.

Points to remember:
1. The entries in passport and that of in DS-160 form should exactly match (Like name, passport number, etc). I noticed they scrutinize these entries.
2. Mobiles aren't allowed.
3. Even they were checking if watches are digital. So avoid digital watches.
4. Documents to carry are Appointment Confirmation, Original Visa Fee Receipt (Though this was never asked), DS-160 form and of course Passport.
5. Reaching 30 minutes early is enough.

Consulate appointment: 20th November in Mumbai at 11.00 AM

Reached 45 minutes early. As per my observation, reaching 1 hour is pretty good as even after reaching 45 minutes early, I was in the end in my 11.00 AM queue. Don't reach 2-3 hours early as I noticed many such people sitting on the road in heat and were sweating.

FIRST CHECK: Few guys standing outside check our passport and appointment letter and let us in through the main gate.
Entering, we are asked to sit under a shed, that contains many chairs in series. They let in approximately 20-25 in every 15 minutes. So we keep moving ahead until we get into the actual interview hall. It took me 1 hour here.
NOTE: Carrying drinking water is allowed. It's recommended you do so as we tend to get drained out waiting approximately for an hour over here. Although there are washrooms and drinking water available, don't rely on it as we keep moving ahead in this area.

SECOND SECURITY CHECK: Entering the actual interview hall, there is strict security check. We are asked to put all the documents, wallets, etc (most of the stuffs we carry) in a basket that are scanned in a machine. If everything is fine, we collect our belongings and move ahead.
Next, we are into actual interview hall and we can see visa aspirants getting interviewed. There is a separate counter where we head and here we are asked to validate ourselves by finger print scan. They will also stick an appointment number at back of our passport. Now we are asked to take a seat and wait for our turn.

My number was N662 and the ongoing number was approximately 600. There were 5 counters. Above each counter, there is a screen display showing the current number being processed and next 2 in queue. There is also a big screen that shows numbers that are queue in each window and to which counter it belongs. So keep watching for your number. Everything moves fast and in approximately 20 minutes my number appeared.

Ahead of me was a guy. He was a tourist visa aspirant, wanted to meet friends in US.
VO said they can't issue him visa. Asked him to try again.
I thought what a cruel lady I am going to deal with. Now it was my turn.

VO: Good Morning.
ME: Good Morning (Although I was aware it was already noon)

VO: Passport please
ME: (Provided the passport. She noticed my I-797 in other hand, hence following question)

VO: Oh, please pass the I-797 too
ME: Provided I-797

VO: Who are you currently working with?
ME:

VO: So you aren't working with ?
ME: It's a new employment

VO: How long you been working with ?
ME: It's been almost XYZ years

VO: What do you do for ?
ME: Answer appropriately

VO: Where did you find about this job?
ME: Answer appropriately

VO: So… you will be working for or … a client?
ME: Client

VO: Who is the client?
ME: .

VO: Sorry… ?
ME: (She didn't seem to recognize the client. Hence the following question)

VO: Please show me the client letter
ME: Sure (Provided the contract agreement copy. She went through the copy and following questions I guess came based on it)

VO: What is your educational qualification?
ME: Highest educational qualification is Bachelor's of Engineering in Information Technology

VO: How many employees are there in ?
ME: XYZ+ worldwide

VO: What will be your pay?
ME: XYZ per annum

VO: Your visa is approved. Kindly collect your passport in 3-5 days. Have a great day.
ME: Thank you. Have a great day.

Points to Remember:
1. Reach 1 hour early.

2. Carry all documents including originals.

3. Don't think wearing Tie or a Suit will get you visa. There were only few who were on suit or a Tie. Almost everyone were in simple formals, including me.

4. Don't get distracted by what's happening with other's interview and their results. Everyone's case is different. For example - the guy ahead of me wasn't issued visa as he wanted to visit friends in US. Most of who were getting rejected were not for H1B. So, Be confident and cool. I was playing my favorite songs in my mind to stay cool.

5. This is an important point: The VO people are humans, like us. We shouldn't get nervous. They are very polite and expressive while communicating. They will never make you nervous. Even for rejecting visa, they say it politely.

6. This is a very important point: After every question that is asked, they do something on their computer. This gives us time to relax. It's not like they throw a series of question continuously on us. We get enough time between every question and this helps us a lot. But, keep watching at the VO. Don't watch at any other place when they are using their computer.

7. This is the most important point: The interview is all about "SHORT QUESTIONS and SHORT ANSWERS". Keep your answers as short as possible.
For example - If question asked is - What will be your pay in US? Just say - 50k per annum (Fifty K per annum, or whatever it is). Don't say - Fifty thousand US Dollars Per Annum.
Common, you are getting paid in US so obviously it will be in US Dollars. Similarly for current salary.
Same goes for what are your job responsibilities? What does your US employer do? etc. Just prepare short answers to all the questions.