H1B, H4 Visa

Dear Forum members,

First of all I want to thank this great forum, admins and all the members to have helped me immensly during last few days in H1B process.

I am glad to share that I got my visa issued @Hyderabad consulate last week on 1st october.

I had initially booked an appointment in Mumbai (I am from Pune) for 7/8 Oct but client asked for early joining so we rescheduled it to Hyd consulate on 30 Sept OFC and 1st Oct visa interview.
Tip- You can schedule your interview at any consulate within India as you like and can use same DS-160 for other consulates as well. In my case I used Mumbai filled DS-160 to attend stamping in Hyd.

OFC-
Its a breeze of a process. I was out in 30 mins. Go there 30 mins early. Carry photographs for children (in required format i.e 2"x 2" or 50mm x 50mm). All the Indian staff managing this process and they are very helpful. They will ask simple questions like which visa type and why are you going there. They will take your fingerprints and click a photo for visa. Only Passport, DS-160 confirmation page and visa appointment confirmation page is required.

Visa interview-
I was extremely nervous on this day. Had an appointment scheduled at 10.30 am but I reached there by 9.45 am. They let us in after waiting for 5 mins. Few security checks like airport. Then they let us sit in waiting area before sending to actual interview counters. We were waiting for like 15 mins in there before they told us go to a counter where our fingerprints were scanned again for verfication. After this we moved another short queue to get counter number assignment.

Dont worry, this is all is managed by indian staff again and they co-ordinate it very well.

Queue was moving fast and we (me, wife and kid) got counter-16 token after 5 mins of waiting. Its at the far end. by then I was observing other counters and could see one family being grilled by an VO. It gav me a little scare but I tried to ignore it. Dont look at the counters too much as it doesnt help at all instead adds to your tension. Rather I was looking at the facial expressions of people coming out. Few were smiling, few were expression-less and some worried/disappointed faces.

So we moved to the counter and there were 3-4 applicants before us waiting for their turn. In here we could hear everything clearly and to be honest we were lucky that both the VOs from these counters were little cool(read not grilling anyone). Our Vo was asking a lot of questions but everyone ahead of me got approvals. VO at counter 15 was amazing as he was finishing withing 2-3 questions and his queue was really moving fast.

Finally my turn-
Me- Good morning, how are you?
VO- I am good, how are you?
Me- Good, thanks.
He asked us for passports which were passed to him by the assistant lady standing next to the counter.

By then my kid wanted to sit on the counter so I couldnt hear next question clearly and yet guessed that he is asking me if I am travelling to US for work. I said Yes. Not the right thing to do. I shoulve asked him to repeat but dint and luckily he also let it go.
VO- Why are you going there
Me- To work for YYYY (my employer)
VO- What will you do there?
Me- Started with job role, responsibilties non-stop. he got taken back coz I was really loud :P
I felt he had enough so stopped after 5-6 lines of non-stop jabber.
VO- Do you have a Client
Me- yes, yyy
VO- Oh yyy (its a well known IB)
VO- what will you do for them
Me- Again same jabber and stopped after 3-4 lines this time.
VO- where will you stay
Me- NY
VO- How long are you working for ZZZ
Me- 5 years
VO-How long are you working for YYY (client)
Me- 1.5 years (He must have asked this based on my resume coz thats the only place he could verify it)
VO- How much will you earn?
Me- exact number from LCA and I-129 which matches in my case (Please use number from I-129)
VO- How long will you stay there
Me- 1 year (as per petition validity)
VO- paused for a sec and asked whats your highest qualification
Me- Bachelor of Engg in Mechanical
VO- When did u do that
Me- 2005
VO- Turing to my wife
Mam, what will you do there
my wife- I am homemaker here and same will be there. I will take care of my family.
VO - smiling, yes that sounds good.
VO- pointing towards US rights etc pamplet stuck on the glass, Did you get this?
Me- By now i was sure that i made it thru. I said no, and before I could say anyhting the same assistant lady passed it to us.
VO- please read the instructions carefully and if you have any doubts call on that number printed below.
Me- yes, sure.
And finally the best moment of the last few months in my life or the "Golden Words" as they say-
VO- Your visa has been issued Sir, you will get the passports in 2-3 working days.
Me- Smiling, Thank you very much and have a nice day
Vo- You too, thanks.

Left from the counter with great happiness and put everyting in the carrybag I had brought. i put the token also in the carrybag in the excitement which was asked by staff on my way of return :P

I left at 10.30 am which was my appointment time. no documents were asked apart from passports.

All the best guys.

Cheers.