H1B, H4 Visa

First of all my gratitude towards the entire immihelp family! Both to the website forum and to its members contributing their time and valuable energy in sharing the experiences after the visa interview, which rarely people think of after they get their visas in hand ! Like everyone who after they understand their visa interview date, get nervous and determined to excel, mine condition was not too different! I too was very much in panicky state and the biometrics date arrived! I had to go for my H4 visa interview with my n my children's passports! My husband already is in US on h1B ! I understood children are exempted from coming for the interview, n so was in a dilemma to get them, thinking tht questions won't b asked too much n they would grant my visa too :- p ! I was toying with the idea of taking my twins who turned one last month, however I realised that it wud b difficult to manage both and also the consulate doesn't allow any care taker;( ! Meanwhile, I made my mind to face it myself, and not take them or ruin their schedule unnecessarily! It's a different thing that I too wasn't feeling good to go alone without them, but I still took d challenge:) n it was paid off, evry bit !

My experience:
Biometrics appointment on 16/2/15 at 10.45 am, I reached at 10 ! Thinking I m too early, but the process was very cool, and they completed the formalities, very swiftly!! I completed it by 10.30am ! Must say the place is so small that you don't realise when the things are done !! The security checking u, like in malls, the executives on the tables, like any ordinary bank and most important the biometric counter, it was the coolest! I was tensed before I entered by when I looked around, I felt better ! Anyone who has been to the Thane Passport office, would realise tht the Thane passport office is far more better designed than this office and hence going here is no different! By this time I was over confident n as I reached the counter the lady at the glass counter asked fr our ds160 n passports, later she asked me n my kids birth date ! I did stumble upon my elder daughters birth date when questioned and came out cursing myself, as to how cud I forget my kids birth date?? Trust me, this happens!! I would advice everyone to not take such instances to heart, it's ok if u fumble, don't take it so seriously and don't let it affect ur interview next day!

Interview at Mumbai US consulate office on 17/2/2016, Today :
It was at 10am and I reached at 9.15am, but the process was so slow, that till 10.30am, my turn didn't come! Must say it was testing my patience at evry step. The queue outside was never ending, and I was wondering how so many people are up, at this time in the morning! Even, 9 am people hadn't completed their interview!! The security asked to keep my passport in hand, but I would advise if u are carrying many passports, remember to keep it back in the pouch that u carry!! One person had lost his passport in the queue itself! Later we were asked to sit at the verandah kind of area around the consulate, frm where people were moving slowly to the side area towards the left of the consulate! The security checking was like at the airports, asking to keep our watches, pen etc. We were then directed to a big area ! This area had facility for washrooms and drinking water! I heaved a sigh of relief when I found it, however the happiness was short lived when I returned to see the line had gone ahead, far ahead ! People were rushing to go to washrooms and join the queue for sitting arrangements, thinking they will b taken early, as it was 10 already and still 9 am batch wasn't completed :(! I would advice people not to get excited when they experience such things, it's very normal to get affected, but your turn will also come in time. It was very difficult to keep my Cool, and the line was testing me every moment !! I jolted back to reality when I found that finally I have come in the last queue:)! It took half a hour for me to come here. Meanwhile I could see the light from the glass panes of the consulate, it was of the biometrics counter! Here we had to match our finger prints we had recorded yesterday!

I was finally inside the consulate office, the AC was very strong here! There were total 40 counters for the interview, like train or any ordinary bank enquiry counter ! I tried to see the lady at the counter asking for finger prints, she was having blonde hair and looked so beautiful ! When my turn came, I was nervous again, I wished her good morning ! She didn't reply back and asked me to match my right hand fingers, I did, she frowned and said one moment ! I thought if the match was not proper n was afraid ! She looked at the computer, n later wished me back good morning with the sweetest of smile I could have seen ever ! :))

Finally the interviewe line, I could hear people answering around to the questions asked by officers on the speakers, very clearly! Shifting my focus on my interview, I arranged our passports, i797 n husbands visa photocopy. I saw a VO talking at a high pitch towards the interview lady, and wished I wasn't be interviewed by her! Later understood she was doing her job, and granted the lady her visa too! Both mine and her interview was completed at the same time, when we exited the office ! I was asked to stand at the round sticker on the floor behind the person who was giving his interview ! Finally my turn, n it was with another beautiful ! I tried to rehearse, which I should not have at that moment ! She was asking me to come ahead, which I found difficult for the person ahead of me was still there !

N d final moment came!

Me : Good morning mam, how are you?
VO : Good morning ! I m gud, what about you?
Me : I m ok, having sore throat since yesterday !!
(I wanted to b honest from that very moment :)
VO : Oh sorry to hear that, your passports please?
I handed all the three of our passports, for me and my twins.
VO : How was your marriage arranged?
Me : I was expecting this question, and replied accordingly.
VO : How is your husbands nature?
I pondered thinking this question was not expected, still continued saying about my husband, n before i completed she asked, if I will b travelling with kids?
Yes
VO : Fantastic, ok ur visas approved !!
Thank you Mam, have a nice day!
Before I could thank her completely, she started waving her hands for the next one in the queue, like how she did for the one earlier before me:)

I was still not sure if my interview ended, and was checking if my passports with me, I realised she took it, yay !! That's it!! No documents asked, no questions, nothing, only about my husband, my kids and my marriage, cool isn't it ?? Later I realised the seriousness and intention of her question, she was asking for my safety! There are many fraud cases happening for H4 visa and she was ensuring about well being ! She was a dutiful officer and I could see Indian VOs as well around !

The biometrics were on 16th feb, i.e. Yesterday and today I had my interview I.e.on 17th feb, must say its 12 pm, n m still soaking in the happiness of getting my visa approved !! More than that the responsibility of taking my twins visa too myself, without them !! The key to get H4 visa is to ensure you have all documents with you and to be honest. Every visa officer wants to ensure the spouse stays with the family and they need to ensure that the family is honest.

Tips :

-Try and look at the VO as much as possible while answering the questions.
-When you are asked to stand in the queue, be prepared, and stop memorising!
-Don't hunch or bend while u enter the consulate room, the officers are watching u from that very moment and must say it's very difficult to stand erect!
-Try and look at the VO from the moment u are asked to stand behind the other person answering his/her interview.
-The VOs are very polite and cool, if you are honest! But they are firm n no nonsense people, so keep ur answers short n crisp !
- This interview is like any other viva exam or job interview, so relax!
-Trust your instincts, have faith in God! Remember fear only resides in weak minds, if you have come this far, u will definitely clear this interview :) ! All the best !