H1B, H4 Visa

Hello All… Here is my stamping experience. (Bit lengthy write-up)
Location: Hyderabad – 19th and 20th Oct 2015
Background: B.Sc (MPC) with 9+ IT & BPO experience (all with one MNC). Was very tensed since I heard some cases of rejections for candidates with 15 year education.

19th Oct: OFC, nothing to talk about this. Very simple process. No need of formals. You can reach 45 min before your schedule. They will allow inside and the formalities will be done within 15 min.
20th Oct: Now, this is what I was waiting for. Appointment was at 10:30. Reached the Consulate by 9 AM. Entered the main gate after showing passports by 9:15 AM. I have read people saying not to reach 15 min prior the appointment. However, out of my experience I can say its OK to reach 1 hour prior as well. Once we (myself and my spouse) entered inside there was a seating place where we had to wait for 20 min. After security scan, we were let inside and were asked to sit in a corridor. Later was in a queue to have finger prints verified. Once done, we were asked to wait in the Waiting Area for them to call. It was after about 15 min, we were asked to stand in another queue. On your turn they gave a token (something like placard with counter number). Again we stood in that counter queue (!!!). But the officer in my counter was clearing off his queue very quick! Couple of F1 and B1 cases were asked more questions. But he seemed good (and young too!). Our turn came in couple of minutes and here is the conversation.

(The interview area is way different than what I thought it would be! Its like a counter at railways, have to stand and there is a glass separating you and officer with speakers outside. The passports were taken by an attendant just before my turn and the officer made a signal to come towards counter after scanning the passports.)

Me: Good Morning Officer. (After a split second pause) How are you doing?
Officer: Good Morning (The voice was very low, I did not hear him answering my question)
(I had to keep all my ears wide open as the voice was not audible at all, its very low!)

Officer: who is your employer?
Me: YYYY

Officer: What is your role?
Me: (I did not understand if he asked for onsite role or offshore role. For me both are same anyway)
Answered after a brief pause.

Officer: What is your qualification?
Me: Bachelors

Officer: What are the subjects sir?
Me:(woh! I did not expect this. May be as I just told Bachelors he asked this question. I was **** scared about the subjects)
Maths, Physics and Chemistry Sir.

Officer: (Turned towards my wife) Is he your husband?
My Wife: (I was bit surprised at this question. She too paused for a moment. We both did not expect this question!)
Yes Sir.

Officer: What is your marriage date?
My Wife: YYYY

Officer: Do you think he is a nice Guy! (well, at this moment I was sure its approved)
We: We both looked at each other with a smile. She said “Yes Sir, he is.”
I took over and added “Its a love marriage Sir (with a smile)”.
Officer: Oh that’s great! (with a hearty smile).
Then came the golden words.
“Your Visa is approved Sir. Have a nice day”.
We wished him back and got out of there.

We were shell shocked as it went pretty smooth. No documents asked. Not even Approval notice. Appointment was at 10:30. Interview done by 10:15! Interview lasted hardly 30 seconds.

Tips: Dress sharp. Be confident. Have a smile on your face all the time.
Do not try to overhear other conversations. They are of no use to you. BTW, you can carry a zipped document folder. I carried many documents, however was very lucky to have the interview done in seconds.
Checked the status once I came home, it was “Administrative Processing”.
Next day it changed to “Issued”.

Waiting for Passports now!

Note: If you are travelling by your own car, park it in a building behind the passport office. They charge you rs. 30 per hour. Its walkable distance to consulate. A parking near consulate will cost you 50 per hour. None will give you a Token/Slip.