H1B, H4 Visa

Background:

Well, I am an employee from one of those so called BIG 5 MNCs. I have had close to 9 years of experience now and have been trying for a US visa since 2012. In 2012, I had a L1B visa rejection and in 2013 I had a H1B petition rejection (post RFE response). Unfortunately I never knew the reason why my H1B petition was rejected (submitted all docs including client letter and what not) till date. There is an open position for me at my clients place since the last couple of years and I never got a VISA approved till yesterday?. Please find my VISA stamping experience below and let me know if you have any specific questions. I would be happy to help.

OFC - Biometrics - Hyderabad:

On August 4th, we went for the bio-metrics at OFC center. I had along with me my wife for her H4 stamping. The time slot given to us was 4:00 PM. We reached the venue at around 2:40 PM. In fact we were too early and it is enough for anyone to reach the center 30 minutes prior to your appointment.

Documents required for OFC:

1) Appointment Letter.
2) DS 160 Confirmation Page [Carry the new DS160 confirmation page in case you made any corrections]
3) Passport. Only the new passport is needed but you should carry the old one as well in case they want to see.

Your biometrics will be collected along with your photo. You need not come in formals as long as you wear decent casuals.

**** *If you need to get your DS160 form updated, let the officer at the reception know about it in advance. He will scan the new DS 160 form and stick an updated label on your passport.

H1B Visa Interview Day

The visa interview was on 5th August at 8:30 AM. We reached 30 minutes in advance and were allowed inside immediately.

Documents required (mandatory) for H1B Visa Stamping
1. Appointment letter [The same copy that you carried on Day 1]
2. DS 160 forms [Do not carry the old one in case you got a new one updated]
3. Passport
4. Approved petition original I797
5. All supporting documents provided by your company
6. ID Card

Optional documents (Carry these docs in a separate folder. 99.9% of the times, these docs will not be asked for):
1. All degree certificate and mark sheets (originals)
2. I129, LCA copies, org charts, resume and last 3 months offshore payslips.
3. Marriage Certificate
4. Photo album of your marriage

Steps once you enter Hyderabad US Consular office:
1. You get a token labeled on the Primary applicant passport
2. Security screening
3. Interview

H1B Visa Interview with Visa Officer

I greeted saying Good Morning. The officer greeted back and asked for the passports and nothing else.

VO: Who is your employer?
Me: Answered

VO: Who is Your client?
Me: Answered

VO: What’s your highest education?
Me: Answered

VO: What’s your salary?
Me: Answered (in $)

VO: Do you have any kids?
Me: Answered

There was a short pause and he asked me and my wife for finger print verification. That’s it. He placed the passports in a separate folder and said that our VISA was approved.

Note that there are no questions to my wife except for her finger prints. ?

Good luck to everyone attending the interview. Let me know if you have any specific question and I shall try to answer them for you in the comments section below.