H1B, H4 Visa

Hi all

I am in USA working on H1. Recently my seventh year extension was approved by INS and I have an approval to work till Jan 2006 as my labor is pending for more than a year. My 11 year old son-his H4 is also approved till Jan 2006. If I send him for summer vacation to India, will he have difficulty re-entering into USa as his H4 visa in his passport has expired and he requires to get it stamped again in India. Afew friends have mentioned that visa stamping in 7th year is a little tricky even if it is for 11 yr old on H4.

Also, till now his Dad lived in Mumbai and original H4 was done at Mumbai US consulate also their stamping in July 2003 was also in Mumbai but now his Dad lives in Delhi
The address in his passport has been changed to Delhi address. So can he get visa stamped in Delhi or does he have to still go to Mumbai although no one lives in Mumbai anymore, but the fact that first 2 h4 visa stamping was done in Mumbai.

Any experiences or advice in this matter will be appreciated.
Prerana

H1-b experience and H4 Experience
I've been asked following questions when I
appeared for H1-B on Nov 29,2004 at mumbai consul.

> how did you hear about the job?
A. Internet - <any job portal>.com
> how long you are going to stay in US?
A. 2 years, 'cuz company have hired me for a project which will last for 2 years.
> when did you finished your graduation?
A. mth, year
> at Mumbai, we are supposed to fill up a questionnaire in which you list down your experiences with technologies used, I was asked one Question from a particular technology i have listed.

Suggestions: Stand straight, confident, speak clearly, answer in one-liners if possible, stay cool.

H4 VISA
A Week later, my wife and kids went for H4 visa.
They asked about my Company name and where it is located etc. which was answered almost perfectly. Also she was asked about kids birth dates'.

They have rejected their application demanding US Pay stubs for principal applicant i.e. myself, which was not possible at that time. Then I came here, worked for 3/4 months, sent my pay stubs and other docs like I94, SSN Card, SSN office letter showing my application date and potential SSN card receipt date, Bank statements, Insurance company letter showing employer payment, Driving license, change of address proof etc.

Second time my wife went for H4 Visa and she've been asked following:

> Explain the time gap between my arrival in US (as in I-94) and start date of first pay stub.
 - I was on bench for the first month of my entry to US. fortunately, there was a delay in SSN Card issuance. She explained the time gap was due to job started only after receipt of SSN Card.

My wife took only 2 and a half months pay slips and she got visa

BE Positive, remember, Those who gets visa rarely submits their positive experience here. (I've seen NR's comment on 4/20/2005). So, don't be scared, just DO IT!, Just learn something from Negative Experiences and be Positive. I'd like all to read "N R" 's comments made here on April 20 2005. Please add more positive experiences. This site have helped me a lot right from preparing Documents for my H1b to get my family's H4.

All the best.

-goGetter

my wife and kid went for their h4 stamping unfortunatly it was not through on that day andthey have issued 221(g) and have asked her to get more docs.. they need 3 to 4 months of my pay stub..but it is only 2 months since i have come to us..is it that she has to wait for the 3rd month of myservice and go for the stamping again or if she has 3 of my paystub can she go again..also will like to know if they will have a record of the questions that were asked? will she have any pblms during her second time visit??? because of that..anybody has faced this kind of pblm pls do revert back..its really urgent..

I had appeared for h1/h4 stamping at US consulate Dubai, below are the questions which were asked.
 
 ur going to Work for YYYY .

 What You'll be your profile

 You had already been to US on h1b and business visa in the past

 Is YYYY X co is a contracting co?
 
 You'll be going to which place in USA

 Show me your Academic certificates

 How long you have been working in Dubai

 What's your total IT exp

 Let me have a quick look at Work exp letters

 How long you are going to stay in USA
  
 Though your visa will be valid beyond that, will u come back or woud like to continue to stay in US

You would like to travel with the family(wife and 1 infant)

Do u both (me and my wife) have any realtives in US

Since how long have you been married

Do you guys know each other before marriage.

Show marriage certificate / Wedding photos

Visa officer told,Everything is perfect. I'm approving ur visa.

Please pay the fees at the cashier counter

Wish you good Luck

I have attended L1-B interview on APR 30 2005 , I am the First person from my company on L1.

Office didn't ask about my certficates excepet few questions related to my qualification and gave me a 221(g) and asked me to get some documents
1. Detailed description of petitioners need for this position
2. Photograhs of US office
3. w2 forms of all the employees

..actually I have all the documents except W2-forms ..so i came back from office.

Now I am ready with the documents ...my questions are

1. what they mean by personal interview ... I Mean One to one or I should goto anyone of the counter for interview.

2. as it is L1 ---are there any chances of getting rejected?

regards
VENU

Hi, Went for the H1 visa stamping today at the New Delhi Consulate and was asked to get the following documents:

1) W2 forms of other employees at your current U. S. company.
2) Photographs of U. S. company (inside and out)
3) Lease for U. S. company
4) Tax Returns for past 3 years for U. S. company

am asking for the same from my employer.

However, I am not sure how long does it take to get a decision out once i present the requested documents. Do they tell you right there and then or do they take time for a review/processing?

Anybody.....?

Hi,
I just want to convey my thanks to this site which gave us a start on what to expect from consular.I am staying in united states from past two months.I got married in January 05.We got a scheduled date of appointment on May 4th 2005 when we booked on mid of feb. After I reached US in mid Feb my wife and I were very sad since we could not stay separated. After Mid of March somebody suggested that I can get an earlier date if I keep looking in the ttsvisas website. I did this for few days without any luck, but on the fateful day of March 25th I got into my office and saw that March 28th date was open and out of sheer madness I clicked and voila my wife's visa date got advanced to March 28th. I never expected that it will happen so fast but sadest thing here is I have not sent her any documents.SO that whole day I tried to find a way to send all my documents to India as soon as possible. But no method was available to send documents within 2 days that too saturday and sunday. Finally I decided to drop the idea and go ahead and change the dates.But the date I got after that was on July 20th that was almost 4 months down the line.We both were so upset about this and my wife is literally lost all hopes of coming and seeing me. I started contemplating on coming back to India. We went through a very bad phase for 5 days.I kept checking the website for earlier dates but none were available at that time.Finally on friday when I checked the website ..I got a date for April 20th (oohh what a relief). I called my wife immediately and she was so happy hear that she could not believe her ears.After three weeks wait she went to consular in Chennai and in Interview she was asked these three questions.
1.For How long your husband worked in this company YYYY X.
2.For How long he is in US ?
3.What are you ?
she is a dentist
4.Are you working now ?
she said "NO"
Then consular told her to pay the fees of 2300 and I presume she is through. I am expecting her to come to US in Next week.
This visa process has been a roller coaster ride for us. But the positive thing here is now we love one another so much we cant stay away anymore
Thanks for reading
best of luck for your Visa processing
KP

Guys,

I need to tell you something. I am on H1B, and will be heading home and like everyone else, might face delays or hasstles. Reading the experiences on this forum are scary, if I haven't known better I would have said that the H1B is over for people like us.

However, what I want to tell you, is that you should all be positive. Remember two things, first, the MAJORITY of applicants get approved and get their visa stamps with no hassle, and guess what? they rarely submit their positive experience here or on any other form. Second, foreigners are the very essence of the US, and even though the counselor might sound rude or something they **know** that need qualified people like you.

What I am trying to say is DON'T GIVE UP! Keep up a positive attitude regardless of what happens. Reading the many problems might make you think the sky is falling, but it is not! The future is bright and you are all just getting started. The best is yet to come.

Bless you all!

My wife and myself are resident of Maharashtra, but as my company is Chennai based, 3 years back I did my H1B and my Wife's H4 visa stamping at US Consulate Chennai.

Recently my wife went to India trip for meeting her parents and visa renewal.

My Wife went to VFS Pune for obtaining interview appointment with US Consulate Mumbau for her H4 renewal.
Initially, VFS Pune refused to give her appointment because her First H4 visa stamping was done at US Consulate Chennai.
In spite of showing proof of residency in Maharashtra, VFS Pune said that, as the first H4 stamping was done at Chennai, the H4 renewal also should be done at Chennai only.

That day she searched for the rule on VFS and TT Visas websites, but nothing was mentioned about H4 visa renewal rules and regulations.

Next day, she went to VFS again with both the website printouts and asked the VFS representative to produce the proof of the rule for visa renewal on the basis of which she was refusing to give my wife Visa appointment. Finally, after putting lot of arguments, VFS, pune agreed to give her appointment.

In the mean time, I sent email to VFS mumbai and asked them whether my wife is eligible to go for stamping at Mumbai US consulate if she is resident of Maharashtra but she was stamped from Chennai US consulate earlier.

I received crystal clear explaination from VFS Mumbai that she can and she should go for stamping at Mumbai US consulate only.

My wife took all the website printouts and email from VFS Mumbai in case US Consulate Mumbai raises the same question.

13th April was her interview date, and amazingly the consulate officer asked her only three questions 1) What was the weather when she left Boston 2) How is the weather now, there at Boston
3) What will be the weather condition when she will reach USA on 22nd May.
After receiving correct answers from my wife, Consulate officer granted her H4 renewal stamping with a big smile.....

The conclusion out of this is even VFS doesnt know all rules and we need to explain them, convince them about above unique situation to get the appointment.
I think for such cases, Appointment is difficult thing because of lack of knowledge at VFS agencies level but interview was the pleasent experience for my wife.

Dear Sir,
I converted from F1 to H1-B visa in Feb 2003 to work for Trimble Navigation Limited. I came to India for my Visa stamping in Feb 2005. All my Documentation was in place and was prepared by the company lawyer. When I went for the interview I was handed a sheet with of paper with 13 questions which mentioned that my visa could not be approved on that day under Section 221g. I was asked to answer the questions in the sheet and send the answers to [email protected]. The lawyers feel my case might have been referred to a Visa Mantis case. It has been 7 weeks(48 days) since I submitted the answers to those question and still have not heard a word from the consulate. The consulate does not give a proper answer apart from saying that they will contact me if needed. Kindly let me know if anyone have come across this kind of case before and if you know how long would it be before I hear anything from the consulate.
What are my chances of getting the visa ?

-Naveen