H1B, H4 Visa

Dear friends,

I have been reading immi help post since 8 months
and i am thankful to all of u , i was also waiting to add my exp , but unfortunately its not positive

I went for a H1b interview yestarday , as I am from a non IT backgraound but done IT diploma from NIIT and working as programmer with a noida based comapany and was offered a job and hence went for the interview

first think she asked me was my graduation degree which is in commerce 3 years , and she said u need 6 yrs exp for h1

than i told her that no one has anytime told me about this and i have been successfully selected
she saw a few more papers and asked a little bit about my current job

Now the point is she issued me a 221 g which some people consider as rejection and some as objection for further enquiry but she didnt ask me for any further docs and said that we wil get in touch with u and ur case is pending , Can u tell me what does thsi mean

has it happened with anyone to get a h1 after such situation
please let me posted and relpy if possibleshe has kept all my h1b approval orignals plus offer letter and verification letter of current company

and issued me 221 without tellling me of any other doc that they need

I want to know that as she did not mention that my case id rejected , what should i consider it as

please reply , is there any hope left


mail_chat2003atyahoo.com

I got my H1B approved successfully on October 5th at Chennai Consulate without any hassles. My wife got her H4 too. I am immensely grateful to this site, as the experiences here helped me a lot in my preparation for the interview. My own experience is below

My appointment time was between 12-12:15, me and and my wife joined the queue at 11:20, we reached the security by 11:45 but they did not let us in, only at around 12, he saw our appointment letter and our passports and let us in, they are usually letting in people only 15 minutes before appointment time. Also do not worry if you are behind in the queue and your appointment time has approached, security will call out for such people or you can directly go to the security.

Once we entered the consulate, our bags were checked, do not carry cell phones and other stuff mentioned in the appointment recipt. Next we paid the TTS services fee. Then we went to counter 1 to pay the fee for 2200 and we were given a green card with a number on it. Then we had to wait for half an hour, before we got our turn to submit the documents for scanning. Our documents (DS156-157, I797, I129 and other documents provided by the employer, marriage photos and marriage certificates) were scanned and placed in a green cover and given to us.

Then we entered the main visa building where interviews are conducted. After half-an hour later (at around 2) we were finger printed. Then we had to sit and wait till we were asked to join the interview queue at one of the counters, it was a long, tiring and anxious wait till we were asked to join the queue at around 3:30. The delay is because I think not all counters process H1B, only some specific counters look at H1B cases, so H1B people were waiting for a long time that day.

Once in the queue, the officer was taking a long time for each candidate, each time going back into the back office to check on the candidate's educational credentials. The officer gave 220g to two candidates in front of me and approved one case.

Then finally our turn came, here is the conversation

Officer: Good afternoon
Me: Good afternoon officer, gave the green folder to the officer, who goes through the I797 and enters information into system to bring up my data.
Officer: SO you are going to work for YYYY ZZZ
Me: Yes
Officer: Looked at the marriage photos, when did you get married
Me: told him the date and place
Officer: What is your educational qualification?
 Told him and showed him my certificate and mark sheets
Officer: You already have a B1 visa, what did you do in the US?
Me: I went to US to meet some functional people
Officer: Do you still for them
Me: Yes, showed him my Id
Officer: Do you have offer letter from that employer
Me: Yes, showed him
Officer: What is your work at YYYY X?
Me: I will be working on design and development of a system using Java (explained for 1 minute)
Officer: Do you have any documentation proof for what you have explained?
Me: Showed him the letter from my employer stating my duties ( get one from your employer, will be useful), he appeared satisfied, as it matched what I told him
Officer: He was going through my I129 and asked is ur salary $ YYYY X
Me: Yes
Officer: Which client you are going to work
Me: I will working at my employer, will be developing a product
Officer: what product
Me: gave description of product
Officer: How many employees
Me: Around XX
Officer: Will all of them be working on this project?
Me: No, only 5-10 of them
Officer: Gave us our green token and said go and pay your fee in counter 1
Me : Thanks

The interview itself lasted around 10 minutes.
 
 
Though my appointment time was 12 PM, I got my interview chance only at around 4:15, it was a very tiring wait. I got a chance to hear questions being asked to other candidates

 
 1. Whether candidate has suitable educational qualifications for the job?
 2. Whether candidate has relevant work experience?
 3. Details of the project and role the candidate would work on?
 4. Who the candidate will report to?
 5. What are the duties or role in project?
 
 
What I observed from other H1B interviews is that they want the candidate to know exactly what projects he will be working, what will be his role and where exactly he will be working in the US.

Also do not worry about rejections in front of you, every case is different and is judged independently, do not worry and assert that you will be lucky. Talk with confidence. Also when the officer askes you for any papers, do not panic to find them, they give you enough time to find your papers. I found most of the officers pretty friendly and patient.

All the best. God bless.

Hi Guys

I have attended the H1B interview on 22nd of september 2005 and the VO has issued query under sec 221(g)asking for details of client where Iam going to work and how they will be employing in the next 12 months.

My petitioner has sent all the required docs to me and in the next week iam planning to go to consulate.

My questions are...

As I have MBA as PG and Bachelors of computer Applications BCA as Graduation will they any problems with my recent education being non technical.

I have overall work exp of 18 months in development (VB.Net) will this small exp will create any problems.

Also what will be the best answer if asked
" Why do you want to go to USA"

Please advice me as soon as posible with your valuable suggestions which will make my future bright.


Thanks & Regards,
Santosh....

Hi Guys

I have attended the H1B interview on 22nd of september 2005 and the VO has issued query under sec 221(g)asking for details of client where Iam going to work and how they will be employing in the next 12 months.

My petitioner has sent all the required docs to me and in the next week iam planning to go to consulate.

My questions are...

As I have MBA as PG and Bachelors of computer Applications BCA as Graduation will they any problems with my recent education being non technical.

I have overall work exp of 18 months in development (VB.Net) will this small exp will create any problems.

Also what will be the best answer if asked
" Why do you want to go to USA"

Please advice me as soon as posible with your valuable suggestions which will make my future bright.


Thanks & Regards,
Santosh....

hello,

i am very much interested in this site. I request all the persons to post their experiences. One thing i know is god will help all of us to have better career.

Good luck to all of you.

bye
srinu

H-1B visa stamped at Tijuana consulate – my story!

ME:
1. B.E from India and M.S from USA. On OPT for a year after M.S
2. This is the 3rd H-1B I have but never traveled on H-1, so this was the first H-1B visa stamping
3. Valid F-1 and one expired B1/B2 in PP
4. One rejected B1/B2 visa application stamp in PP
5. Live and work in San Diego
6. Work at a very large corporation. This is just letting you know the situation because some one else might have to carry company tax filings, etc.
7. Set up an appointment on Sept 1 for Oct 6th
8. Cash: $105 DD + $50 reciprocity fee + $16 cabs + $10 food + $6 immigration fee = $200.00 – I carried $500.00 and kept the wallet in the front pocket at all times
9. No criminal record – a couple of speeding tickets because of a heavy foot!

APPOINTMENT:
1. Got on to NVARS – http://www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/ss_country_welcome
2. Filled in my details and got the reference # that is important for getting the date
3. My advice – if the date you seek at your choice of consulate is available online, do it online – that is the simplest way
4. BUT – if you are having issues getting the dates, waking up in the morning and seeing that the dates are all take up – here is what you should keep in mind:
a. Check the NVARS website at 10.00pm PST and see what is available
b. Call the # 1-888-840-0032 at 4.00am PST next day and book your appt.
c. You cannot go online and do it at 4.00am because not all consulates are open at that time – but you can over the phone.

DOCUMENTS:
1. DS-156 – mark N/A for empty spaces
2. DS -157
3. Passport
4. 5 2x2 size photos – 1 is stapled to DS-156. The other 4 were backup.
5. I-797 (Documents 1 -5 are the essentials; should be together)
6. LCA + I-129
7. Employment letter
8. All previous I-797
9. All previous I-20s
10. EAD card (Important if you were on OPT and now moving to H-1)
11. All previous employment/offer letters
12. All paycheck – I went back 1 year but had just 1 from the present employer since I just started with them
13. Last 3 bank statements
14. All previous tax filings (W2 + tax return papers)
15. B.E and M.S. degree certificates and transcripts
16. Proof of residence (lease + utility bills)
BIG DAY:
1. Drove my car down to the border at San Ysidro; reached at 7.15am and parked on the RIGHT side of the bridge in the $8.00/day lot. The right side makes it easier to cross over to Mexico, just that when you come back you have to war some more.
2. Walked through 1 revolving gate and then another a short distance up and was in Mexico. No one was there, there were no officials, and I just walked through.
3. You go in and BAM – you feel like you are in India; just with a different language. The sounds, the heat, the dust, the dirt is all reminiscent of good ole home!
4. The taxi stand is right there – it is the yellow taxis that are predominant. You could wait for a white LIBRE taxi and pay just $5.00 to the consulate but I didn’t want to wait so I took the yellow one. The guy said 10, I said 8, he agreed and we were on our way.
5. Takes 15 mins to get there; the consulate is a 2 level white building with barricades and a cop car out front. Perpendicular to the consulate is the BANAMEX bank; half a minute walk.
6. I was there at 7.30 – had to wait till 9.00 for the damn bank to open so sat in the shade and ate biscuits and read the newspaper!
7. You will see a line outside the consulate that seems to get bigger every minute – don’t worry, when you get back from the bank, the line will be gone OR if the line is there, go and tell the guard that you have a 10am appt.
8. At the bank I paid $105 and got the receipt for the DD – they will check the PP; make sure that when you get the receipt, it has your PP # on it.
9. Got to the consulate; some one will check your essential documents and you will be let in soon.
10. You go through security screening – make sure you have NO electronics. They made me open my bag and checked the pens too! In fact I had used my valet key for the car and left the electronic key at home. Paranoia serves us well sometimes! So no cell phones, no flash drives, mp3 players, etc.
11. You go up to a semi covered seating area where after a 30 min wait you go into the consulate
12. This is NOT the interview; you are directed to one of four tables where your documents are verified, information entered, fingerprints taken and you are photographed. They verify your identity and some essential information
13. Thereafter you come back to the semi-enclosed area and await your actual interview turn – another 30 mins wait.
14. When you are sent back inside; a 15 minute wait will take you to the interview window. DAMN NERVE RACKING PROCESS!
15. At the interview window be polite, straightforward and CLEAR!
16. She asked me to verify the type of visa, the company I work for, my degree, the completion of my education – she then stamped my F-1 visa as CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
17. She then asked me to place my left index finger on the reader for verification
18. I was asked for the employment letter and LCA – she merely glanced through it and then told me to pay the reciprocity fee and collect the visa at 3pm. For a minute there when she was checking the LCA – my heart skipped a beat. Only speak when spoken to and answer short and sweet – just an observation. What seemed like a 10 minute interview was in reality a 120s one!
19. I went out; turned right from the gate and walked 50 feet to another window. There you enter, get screened again and go in and pay the $50.00. Please keep the receipt that you are given, it is your proof of payment when you collect the PP.
20. I finished this at 11.15am. That gave me 4 hours to do NOTHING.
21. Went to the small restaurant next to the consulate and ate a burrito – tell the guy NO SPANISH and he will give you an English menu with dollar values.
22. Spent the next hour eating and reading.
23. You could take a cab to REVOLUCION and walk arnd and do a little shopping but if I did that without my significant other – I’d be shot back home!! That reminds me – you should bring along some one or your wife/gf etc. It is safe arnd the consulate, no problems whatsoever. Off course the other person should have a valid visa and documents to re-enter the USA!
24. So I basically hung arnd and read for 4 hrs!!
25. Around 2pm a guy sets up a cart outside with fresh fruit. It is amazing!!! All the fruit you can think of with masala and lime on top – MMMMM YUMMM!!!
26. At 3pm a guard calls out each name and you go to the entrance window, show your receipt and collect the PP. Make sure everything is correct on the visa and you are given back your original I-797 (usually in an envelope stapled to the PP).
27. Take the cab back to the border.
28. At the border, when walking to the checkpoint, on the right is the immigration office. It is yellowish with blue tiles with 3 flags out front. Stop there and get in to line. You will be called inside in around 15 – 30 mins depending on the crowd and the officers inside.
29. Inside you get the new I-94, he will staple it to the PP, and you pay the $6.00 fee.
30. At the checkpoint they’ll ask if you are getting anything back and then herald you to the luggage scanner. That takes all of 2mins.
31. Walk to the parking lot- make sure you have kept the parking ticket carefully!

HOME SWEET HOME!!!

MISC:
1. Buy only closed water/soda bottles
2. The Peso sign is similar to the dollar one.
3. You can buy a calling card from a shop near the consulate – I bought a 30 peso one which works out to $3.00. Put the card in the public phone and leave it there till the end of the call. Dial 001- 10 digit US #. The amnt remaining on the card is on screen
4. People at the consulate are surprisingly polite and very helpful; any issues you have will be handled well
5. Restroom in the consulate is near the interview windows; ask the guard
6. I did not get the Mexico visa/permit. To be absolutely bullet-proof, you might want to – it takes 3-4 weeks.
7. Did not use ANY service; personally I feel it is a waste of good money. I admit I did consider using someone but decided against it; and on hind sight I think it is smooth sailing on your own.
8. Keep a cap and shades – there is no cover anywhere unless you are inside.
9. Only soda vending machine inside – no food.
10. Keep your drivers license handy; you are required to show ID a couple of times

Thank you everyone for posting your experiences, the information helped me prepare well for all contingencies. A lot of people ask questions here that I wouldn’t have thought of myself; helped me a lot. All the best to those on their way to get the visa. My email is at yahoo and username is snubasu.

This site is very useful for picking up considerable courage before facing the interview in the U.S consulate.

I have been asked to get details of how the U.S company would pay for my stay at U.S under section 221-G.

I have been to the U.S consulate for H1-B interview on the 5th of October. Every thing went on well. The Visa officer was nice, very communicative and supporting.

I am a candidate with a Civil Engineering back ground and around five years of experience in the I.T field.

The visa officer had the following conversation with me:

  VO : How are you Sir?
  Me : Fine, thank you.

  VO : So you are an Engineering graduate?
  Me : Yes, sir.

 Then had gone through my degree certificate and the marks lists etc.

Then
   Vo : So, you have one subject in Computer
       Programming during your 4th Semester?
   Me : Yes, Sir.

   VO : Did you do your Master's Degree?
   Me : No.

   VO : Do you have any other degrees in
        Computers?
   Me : No.

   Me : But I have Post Graduate Diploma in
       Computer Applications.
   VO : Is it from any University Sir?
   Me : No Sir, but the Institute is recognised
        the Government of India.
   VO : Sorry Sir, the GOI recognises many
        such institutes and we consider only the
        Universities.
   Me : ----- gave quiet smile ---------

   VO : So, Sir, you are not qualified
        academically for a software job in the US.
   VO : Where are you working now?
   Me : xxxxxxxx

   VO : Can I see your experience letters?
   Me : Sure Sir....----- I have shown the appt.
        letter and the experience letter. It gave
        a total length of 4 1/2 years experience.

   VO : What is your designation here?
   Me : YYYY YYYY ZZZ

   VO : What is the project you are working on?
   Me : YYYY YYYY ZZZ.

   VO : Since how long?
   Me : xxxxxxxxxxxx

   VO : What is the project about?
   Me : I started explaining about the project.
        After a while, he said OK,OK.

   VO : Prior to this job, where were you working?
   Me : xxxxxxxxxxx.

   VO : What were your duties?
   Me : xxxxxxxxxxxxx.

   VO : What were your projects there?
   Me : I explained elaboratively.

Then he was very convinced and I was gradually feeling relieved ........ but then he asked

   VO : On which project are you going to work?
   Me : I am going to work for the employer.

   VO : With the employer, on what project?
   Me : I am not sure Sir, depending on my skills
        and elaborative interviews, they have
        selected me for working with them and they
        told that I will be assigned the job once
        I reach them.

   VO : So, you do not know -- on what project you
        are going to work?
   Me : Yes Sir.

   VO : Who is going to pay your salary for the
        stay in the U.S?
   Me : My employer... since he has filed all the
       papers etc... because he has the require-
       ment.

   VO : From which project would they pay?
   Me : I am not sure?
  
   VO : Sorry Sir, I cannot provide a visa unless
       I know as to how you will be paid during
       your stay at U.S.

     Then he handed over me a blue paper with a tick mark to get the further documentation on the above detail.

     Friends......... all through the V.O was very soft, nice and gentle. But some how I could not succeed in getting the visa stamped.

     If any of you have suggestions, opinions.... for me or even if you have any questions... please mail.


                             With best wishes,

                                  ADITYA.

This site is very useful for picking up considerable courage before facing the interview in the U.S consulate.

Hi
   I have attended my interview on 3rd oct, and i got 221g stamped in my passport. I am from a non techinical backgroung . I did my Mcom.
   They took all my US papers I797 and I129 original and also xerox copy of it and offer letters xerox of india company and my certificates xerox. and they gave me aletter that your visa is been refused on today on 221g and it will sent to US back. They did not ask me to come back again. Do anyone faced the same problem, Plz suggest me for this.

Thanks
Valli.

I have attended h1b visa at chennai on 5th Oct 2005. Very bad experiance. I am a non IT graduate(Btech Instrumentation) and working in Instrumentation related company. But i am having software experiance in (Dotnet) instrumentation related. The visa officer not considered this experiance as software related field and my passport returned to me by putting seal as received on Oct 05. My I 797 and I 129 other forms are with visa officer. What should I do?
Reply awaited urgently.
Ramana