H1B, H4 Visa

Hello all,

First of all I would like to say thanks IMMIHELP forum which was of great help during my H1B interview preparations.

I am sharing my H1B visa interview experience of 27th & 28th Aug 2014 @ Mumbai Consulate.

DAY 1 - 27th Aug 2014 - OFC Appointment @ 12:30 PM

This went very smooth. I reached there with my family ( my dependents; wife and kid) around 11:40 AM , and there was a queue for all those who have their

appointment slot for 12:30 PM.

-Docs checked for OFC
1. DS 160 confirmation
2. Appointment confirmation page
3. Original passport for all ( including dependents applied for H4)
If all above 3 docs are ok, VFS staff will mark STAR on your document , to indicate that documents have been verified and correct.

Once verified and you enter the premise, at the first counter they will put BARCODE sticker behind your passport.

Whole process took 20 mins in total. Remember they will stamp your DS160 confirmation page once you are done with fingerprinting and photo.

They did not took any fingerprints for my kid as he is still below 14 yrs. They did fingerprinting for myself and my wife. Photographs clicked for all.

We completed this all around 12:40 PM and it was very smooth.

DAY 2 - 28th Aug 2014 - Consulate interview; Appointment @ 11:00 AM

Reached US consulate @ 9:45 AM. 1 hour and 15 mins earlier than my appointment slot .

As soon as we reached I left all electronic stuff in the car. Mobiles/ TABS/ Laptops , if you are carrying any. Just carry all docs (in folder) with original

passport.

Entered the consulate 9:50 AM. And they allowed us inside 1 hour earlier. At the entrance they checked our DS160 ( which was stamped during biometrics) and

also the appointment confirmation page.

Then we headed towards security check counter which is very much similar to security check at airport. You have to keep all your stuff in tray and they will

scan everything . Once completed security you can proceed to an open waiting area. Here you can sit down in queue and they will let you know your queue as

per your interview slot. Waiting in queue (sitting) for 10 mins and our turn came for finger print validation.

At the counter lady asked for my photo graphs, possibly my photo they click earlier was not good or not uploaded. But she asked photograph of my kid and

myself. I handed over 2 photographs 1 for my self and 1 for kid. She confirmed that she will upload the same and we have to wait for a while.(Better to carry

photographs , good that I carried photographs for me, wife and kid).

We were again waiting at bench for like 10 mins. Then they called me again to check my fingerprints. All set and clear now they give a go ahead and told me

to stand in visa interview queue.

While in queue some VFS staff were telling again and again , to just keep original passport (for all applicants) + original I-797 approval in hand. No

documents outside please.
Take out the documents only if Visa Officer (VO) asks for document during interview.

Then after 5 mins we were assigned to window 34.

My turn came finally

Me : Good Morning officer...
VO : Good Morning...

VO : Give me your Passport and I-797
Me : Hand it over him all 3 passports along with original I-797

VO : Who is your employer ?
Me : <<Answered accordingly>> ( here they are asking about ur employer in US, not ur current employer in INDIA, in case they are not same)

VO : What are you going to do for them ?
Me : I will be working as Programmer Analyst for them , and also added my roles and responsibilities . Answered this question accordingly in like 40

seconds. (VO is entering some details in computer screen as I am answering this question )

VO : How much experience you have as a Programmer Analyst
Me : << Answered accordingly>>

VO : Are your working on client side ?
Me : Yes . << Answered accordingly>> ( told him my client name )

VO : What is your highest degree of qualifications ?
Me : Masters of computer application. MCA

Then VO asks question to my wife
VO : Ma'am, what is your highest degree of qualification ?
Wife : << answered accordingly >>

After every question VO will enter some details in his system . So there is a pause of like 5-10 secs after every question.

Finally he pulled out the while pamphlet and told golden words " Sir your visas are approved ".

Before leaving the counter I also greeted "Thank you officer, have a nice day" . He returned my original I797 and kept all the 3 passports with himself.

Some Tips.

Try to reach at 30-40 mins prior to consulate , if it is really not a busy day for them , may be you can enter early as I did.

Please go through you Client Letter and Company supporting letter and try to remember your client name. Your US employer type of business.

I was out by 10:20 AM. It was a very easy process and I was set to go home even before my interview slot time ( which was 11:00 AM).