Husband with H1-B 221g....going for H4 Visa interview at Chennai consulate

[taskeen21]

Hi All,

I am a husband of an H1-B Visa holder in the US. I was working in the US as a software consultant. I came to India in OCT' 11' for my H1-B Visa stamping. I was issued a 221G blue slip. After 7 months chennai consulate replied with a green slip asking me for client letter and client-vendor-employer contracts. But, the project was over while I was stuck here.
Now, I am going for my H4 interview at the Chennai consulate on Monday, 23rd July. I have a few questions in my mind that I would really appreciate if you guys can answer:

1. Will the VO ask me about the previously received 221g? If so, how should I answer the question?
2. Will the VO ask me what I have been doing from past 9 months in India? If so, how should I answer the question? FYI - I have not been working in India for all these months
3. Will the VO ask me what are my plans in the near future after I go to the US? If so, how should I answer the question?
4. Our wedding album is huge (over 1000 photos digitally printed on the album). It weighs over 12 kgs. Should I carry the entire album? FYI - I printed 40 important photos out of the album and want to carry it along with a DVD of the all the photos. Will this be allowed?

Lastly, please share your knowledge and experience about an Husband's H4 Visa Interview. Especially, if there is anyone who was in my situation. All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Syed.

[shervin143]

1. Will the VO ask me about the previously received 221g? If so, how should I answer the question?
>> It depends on the VO. they may or may not. If asked answer the truth.

2. Will the VO ask me what I have been doing from past 9 months in India? If so, how should I answer the question? FYI - I have not been working in India for all these months
>>> They don't care about it for H4 stamping. If asked, you can say that you were not working.

3. Will the VO ask me what are my plans in the near future after I go to the US? If so, how should I answer the question?
>>> Well, they may or may not ask. Again, it depends on the VO. If you enter U.S in H4, you should be a dependent. If you want to work, you will have to file a COS from H4 to H1B and it should get approved. So answer according to what your actual intentions are after entering U.S.

4. Our wedding album is huge (over 1000 photos digitally printed on the album). It weighs over 12 kgs. Should I carry the entire album? FYI - I printed 40 important photos out of the album and want to carry it along with a DVD of the all the photos. Will this be allowed?
>>> The entire album is not required. Few pictures showing the important moments of the wedding ceremony are enough.

Lastly, please share your knowledge and experience about an Husband's H4 Visa Interview.
>>> How does it different from a wife attending the H4 interview. There is no gender bias at the U.S consulate.

[taskeen21]

Thanks a lot, Shervin143. I really appreciate your detailed reply. I just hope the interview goes smoothly and I manage to get the visa stamped. One more question. Can I pick up the stamped visa from chennai consulate the same evening?

[shervin143]

If there is no 221g, then the passport will either be available the same evening (if you attend the visa interview in the morning) or it will be available in the immediate next day. Check with VFS helpdesk.

Thanks a lot, Shervin143. I really appreciate your detailed reply. I just hope the interview goes smoothly and I manage to get the visa stamped. One more question. Can I pick up the stamped visa from chennai consulate the same evening?

[taskeen21]

Thanks again.

[taskeen21]

Sorry. Another question.
I had filled the DS-160 with the consulate as Hyderabad. I then booked the interview in Hyderabad. But, due to some problem I had to cancel that appointment and book another one using the same HDFC receipt at Chennai. Now, my DS-160 says Hyderabad consulate but my actual appointment is at Chennai consulate. Is this OK? or I have to fill a new DS-160 ?

[shervin143]

You need to fill a new DS160.

Sorry. Another question.
I had filled the DS-160 with the consulate as Hyderabad. I then booked the interview in Hyderabad. But, due to some problem I had to cancel that appointment and book another one using the same HDFC receipt at Chennai. Now, my DS-160 says Hyderabad consulate but my actual appointment is at Chennai consulate. Is this OK? or I have to fill a new DS-160 ?

[h1bblue12]

@ taskeen21

Did you submit the documents in 221g Green?.Did the consulate replied?.Also did the consulate asked for only client letter and contract ? did they also ask for the Petetion documents that were sent back to you?

Hi All,

I am a husband of an H1-B Visa holder in the US. I was working in the US as a software consultant. I came to India in OCT' 11' for my H1-B Visa stamping. I was issued a 221G blue slip. After 7 months chennai consulate replied with a green slip asking me for client letter and client-vendor-employer contracts. But, the project was over while I was stuck here
Now, I am going for my H4 interview at the Chennaiti consulate on Monday, 23rd July. I have a few questions in my mind that I would really appreciate if you guys can answer:

1. Will the VO ask me about the previously received 221g? If so, how should I answer the question?
2. Will the VO ask me what I have been doing from past 9 months in India? If so, how should I answer the question? FYI - I have not been working in India for all these months
3. Will the VO ask me what are my plans in the near future after I go to the US? If so, how should I answer the question?
4. Our wedding album is huge (over 1000 photos digitally printed on the album). It weighs over 12 kgs. Should I carry the entire album? FYI - I printed 40 important photos out of the album and want to carry it along with a DVD of the all the photos. Will this be allowed?

Lastly, please share your knowledge and experience about an Husband's H4 Visa Interview. Especially, if there is anyone who was in my situation. All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Syed.

[taskeen21]

Did you submit the documents in 221g Green?.Did the consulate replied?.Also did the consulate asked for only client letter and contract ? did they also ask for the Petetion documents that were sent back to you?

No, I didn't submit any documents after receiving the Green 221g. Simply because I don't have them. The project was over while I was stuck in India. So, client-vendor-employer relationship was over. VO only asked for client letter and contracts. No other documents were asked for.

[taskeen21]

You need to fill a new DS160.

shervin143, I really appreciate your reply. However, here is what I found on VFS' FAQ section:

Q.14 What happens to my DS-160 if I select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate where I will be applying for my visa, but end up making an interview appointment instead at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

Ans The Embassy or Consulate at which you actually apply should be able to access your form using the barcode on your DS-160 confirmation page, which you must bring to the visa interview. For example, a business traveler intends to apply for his visa at the U.S. Embassy in City X, so he selects City X as the location where he will submit his application when he completes his DS-160. He then has an urgent reason to travel to City Y on business. Because there is a U.S. Consulate in City Y, he schedules an appointment for a visa interview there, using the barcode from his completed DS-160 application for appointment scheduling. The U.S. Consulate in City Y is able to accept his DS-160 even though it lists the U.S. Embassy in City X as the location where he originally intended to submit his application.


Thanks.

[shervin143]

IMO, if you have booked the appointment and cancelled it, then it is advisable to redo the DS160, get a new confirmation code and schedule a new interview.

[taskeen21]

H4 Visa Interview Experience

H4 Visa Interview Experience:

First Counter: White Lady
VO: is your wife already in the US
me: Yes
VO: Which company does she work for?
me: xyz
VO: Was it an arranged marriage or love marriage?
me: Love
VO: Where did you meet your wife
me: High-school
VO: How many years is that?
me: 13 years
VO: That's a long time! How long have you been married?
me: 4 years
VO: Can I see your wedding album?
me: handed over the album
VO: returned the album. Can I see your wife's paystub?
me: handed over the paystub
VO: "Everything looks approvable". "But your case needs additional processing". handed me a pink slip with a blank case number. "Please be seated. And your number will be called again".
I waited for 30 minutes and my number appeared on the screen. Went to another counter at the back of the office.

Second counter: Indian lady

VO: Your case needs additional processing. I will now be asking you some more questions.
me: Sure
VO: Did you work in the US before?
me: Yes
VO: Where all?
me: 2 companies?
VO: names and places of the employers?
me: gave the names and cities where the employers are located
VO: start and end dates of your employment with each employer?
me: gave the details
VO: designations?
me: gave the details
VO: How many siblings?
me: 2 brothers and no sisters
VO: name of 1st brother
me: xyz
VO: his age?
me: xyz
VO: where does he live?
me: UK
VO: name of 2nd brother?
me: xyz
VO: his age?
me: xyz
VO: where does he live?
me: bangalore
VO: "stand close to the side-wall"......Next to the height measurement scale
me: stood there
VO: noted my height on her system
VO: handed me the pink slip. with a case number written on it. and the URL: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov highlighted.
VO: your application needs additional administrative processing. it will take 8 to 12 weeks for this. and you will receive your passport after that. please go to the above URL and check the status of your case regularly.
me: Sure. But, is everything alright? Should I assume that my visa has been approved?
VO: You will receive your stamped passport in 8 to 12 weeks time.
me: Thanks.

This is my story.

[amit mulls]

Taskeen21

H4 Visa Interview Experience:

First Counter: White Lady
VO: is your wife already in the US
me: Yes
VO: Which company does she work for?
me: xyz
VO: Was it an arranged marriage or love marriage?
me: Love
VO: Where did you meet your wife
me: High-school
VO: How many years is that?
me: 13 years
VO: That's a long time! How long have you been married?
me: 4 years
VO: Can I see your wedding album?
me: handed over the album
VO: returned the album. Can I see your wife's paystub?
me: handed over the paystub
VO: "Everything looks approvable". "But your case needs additional processing". handed me a pink slip with a blank case number. "Please be seated. And your number will be called again".
I waited for 30 minutes and my number appeared on the screen. Went to another counter at the back of the office.

Second counter: Indian lady

VO: Your case needs additional processing. I will now be asking you some more questions.
me: Sure
VO: Did you work in the US before?
me: Yes
VO: Where all?
me: 2 companies?
VO: names and places of the employers?
me: gave the names and cities where the employers are located
VO: start and end dates of your employment with each employer?
me: gave the details
VO: designations?
me: gave the details
VO: How many siblings?
me: 2 brothers and no sisters
VO: name of 1st brother
me: xyz
VO: his age?
me: xyz
VO: where does he live?
me: UK
VO: name of 2nd brother?
me: xyz
VO: his age?
me: xyz
VO: where does he live?
me: bangalore
VO: "stand close to the side-wall"......Next to the height measurement scale
me: stood there
VO: noted my height on her system
VO: handed me the pink slip. with a case number written on it. and the URL: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov highlighted.
VO: your application needs additional administrative processing. it will take 8 to 12 weeks for this. and you will receive your passport after that. please go to the above URL and check the status of your case regularly.
me: Sure. But, is everything alright? Should I assume that my visa has been approved?
VO: You will receive your stamped passport in 8 to 12 weeks time.
me: Thanks.

This is my story.

Did you get the passports back ?

[taskeen21]

Did you get the passports back ?

Yes, I did. And I am back in the US.

[amit mulls]

Great news !! Could you tell me exactly how many days it took? My wife is in a similar situation.

Yes, I did. And I am back in the US.

- - - Updated - - -

Great news !! Could you tell me exactly how many days it took? My wife is in a similar situation.

Yes, I did. And I am back in the US.