H1B, H4 Visa

Just in case it helps any body :

Working in US for more then 12 years .. Last 10 years with same company as full time employee.
Probably my 5 th time renewal

Visa interview
what my company do
what is my salary
That's it

Your visa is approved

Online status showed " administrative processing" for 2 days after interview
3rd day - Issued
4th day - sent for delivery

 

hi

I want to share my experience, as this blog helped me in tough times.

I did Masters in USA, after that H1B got picked in 2016 lottery with my Employer (less than 50 employees) . I was with same employer for 2 years and got stamped H1B visa 2 times(each time I got 1 year validity). When we applied for my 2nd Amendment with same employer but different client got RFE for specialty occupation and client letter. Unfortunately, we couldn't satisfy the USCIS with our RFE response, VISA got denied in December 2018. came back to India and joined one of the MNC (not the same employer in USA).

My MNC filed H1B in premium on July 1st, Got approval on 10th July. Applied for visa stamping, Got Dropbox facility as my last visa expired only 10 months back.

July 31--> Dropped H1B documents at USA consulate Hyderabad
Aug 1 --> CEAC status update to "Application received"
Aug 5 --> CEAC date got updated but no change in status.
Aug 7 --> CEAC date got updated in the Morning hours Around 11,
                Status changed to Administrative processing in the afternoon after 3:30 PM
               Got panicked and unable to do anything after that.
 Aug 8 --> CEAC status updated to "Issued" after 3:30 PM
                Stress relief and normal mode.

I observed couple of things, If there is update in status date, there is some good sign for the application. Some one might be looking into our case. From administrative processing case will be moved to Issued with in 2 business days.

Hope this helps, Thanks!

Can someone explain what are the required documents for H4 interview?? Do we need to carry our wedding album, since it's too heavy to carry, can I take just a single photo copy??

And also can you please share what questions would be asked for dependents??

Thanks in advance..

HI All, I came to US in 2014 on H1B with company A. Then I switched to Company B for 2.5 years and then now I am finally in Company C.

I see lot of people being asked with "Is this your first H1B? "

What should be my answer to this question?

Is it 1 because I have not completed my full 6 years on this H1b?
or
Is it 3 because I have changed 3 employers so far since I came to US?

Please help. Thanks in advance.

Hi All,

I have attended my H1B visa interview in Mumbai 30th October 2017.

VO asked question related to my petition, Company details, and duties give 221g yellow slip in which VO marked some documents which I have to submit online to consulate.

I have submitted all requested documents as per 221g to consulate on 24th November 2017. Online status updated on 12th Feb 2019 and it shows Admin Processing.

I always checking my status but nothing change it is showing Admin Processing. I try to call consulate but same answer getting from consulate. I have put email to consulate on [email protected] on 25th July 2019 and I got reply as,

"Our records show that our office sent an email notification on February 12, 2018, asking you to submit your passport. Please check your records. However, you failed to take any action and so, an application refused under Section 221(g) is terminated per Section 203(e) after one year if the requested documents are not provided.

Your visa application was terminated and case is administratively closed, since we did not receive a response from you, within one year following your visa interview. You will need to reapply using a new application and pay the appropriate fees. In order to apply for a non-immigrant visa,

Still I am checking online it is showing “Admin Processing”

I did not receive any email or call from Consulate to submit passport so I put email to consulate that I did not receive any email or call for the same and ask to provide on which email they have send the email but they are giving same reply as above stated.

Should I reapply for Visa Interview?
What should I do now?
Is anyone been in similar situation?

Any advice and suggestion will be highly appreciated on this matter.

Hi All, I;ve snooped on this website quite a bit, so wanted to give back by discussing my experience.

My husband is on H4 and on his trip to India earlier in the year he got 221G and was stuck for two months before getting his approval.

Because of this, I was nervous about my H1-B stamping (as my transfer had received 2 RFEs)

August 5th: Biometrics
August 7th: Interview

Questions asked:
- Why are you going?
- Have you worked in the past? Where?
- Did you recently change jobs?
- What's your current title?
- Where did you go to school?
- Where will you live?
- Have you been to Toronto ( this one was an odd question)

Then he mumbled something that I could not hear and said you can pick up your passport in 3-5 days. I however did not hear him say "Your visa is approved" .

On August 8th at 12:00pm I checked my visa status online and saw Admin processing. (This is where i really began to panic)

Then on the same day at 3:00pm my status changed to issued and I got the email I could pick up my passport.

August 9th : I picked up my passport.

Hope this is helpful to someone else out there.

-ps

I had been to US in 2014 and went for stamping thrice - no issues. This time was special as I had stayed in US continuously for 5 years and changed jobs several times. Also, I had overlaps with employment - 2 weeks and another unique work situation that I worked for 2 companies at the same time for 7 days. I wasn't sure on the outcome of the visa and hence reached out an Immigration attorney consultation - 30 minutes to explain my situation. The attorney questions were - did I work for any employer without Pay or worked for any employer without having valid H1 filing. Answers to both questions were NO. So, attorney mentioned that I did not violate anything w.r.t law. here are the questions from the interview and since I work on E-V-C model with this project for almost 2 years...

Questions were to confirm the details that the VO see's in his monitor and ensure that I give the same answer that he see's in his monitor. So, be honest when you fill DS 160 and say the truth when you speak in the interview and in specific, TO THE POINT. do not talk or say anything more or conquer the VO. Respect his / her time, they have to interview hundreds of folks in a day.

Questions

i) who was my petitioner - or employer
ii) client location
iii) any middle vendor
iv) how long you're working - answered since xxx date..
v) salary - after saying the correct salary, he asked for W2 from the employer to verify
vi) did I work on any other H1 ?

H4 questions,
how long you're married
any kids - yes and said, are they US citizens, answered appropriately..
that's IT.

I think, before we even appear to the interview and when the VO takes the passport and bring up the DS 160 form or your profile.. I think, he can quickly know, what he should ask i) To verify or reconfirm or ii) ask questions to clarify about your employer credibility or client location or project or your profile issues etc...

for new comers to Visa interview - first H1, I think they are starting with
i) is this your first H1
ii) employer
iii) client - if EC or EVC model, show client or project letter
iv) salary details
v) where you would go and stay
vi) education etc.,

so, be truthful when you fill DS 160 and that will get you visa approved...

hope this would be useful..

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share the US visa process we have gone through last 5-6 months.

My marriage was arranged in Nov'2018 and my wife wanted to visit USA before marraige for tourism purpose so we applied for tourist visa for her in Jan'2019. However, her visa was rejected under section 214B.

After our marriage in April 2019 we applied the H4 dependent visa for her.She attended H4 interview on 5th Aug 2019. Interviewer did not ask for any documents during the interview and returned the passport with 221g green slip.

We have been asked to provide the evidence of the following materialsalong with our passport and 221g sheet.

- evidence of the ongoing communication with your spouse, example, emails, letters, phone or video call records, text/chat/messenger transcripts.

Appreciate if someone can suggest which call the documents we should provide to them for 221g processing.

Hi All,
My Visa Interview in Chennai is on 5th August 2019. VO Asked questions related to my petition,company,duties and finally said my visa is approved. Gave a general slip which explains that my visa is approved and will be delivered.
However when I see the status today August 9th, it still shows Case created on 05th August and Admin processing.

What is the maximum time I should wait for my passport to be delivered ?

Hey All,

I made mistake and learned my lesson. The posts in this group have been helpful and gave me confidence with my situation. Hope this post helps.

I got DUI on 23rd Mar 2016, paid fees and attended driving safety course as directed and case was closed on June 10th 2016.

Visa interview: 9th July 2019
Visa Interview Location: Chennai

VO: Hello Good Morning.!!
Me: Hello Good Morning, How are you.?
VO: I am good, thank you for asking. Can I see your passport.
Me: Gave my passport
VO: Which company do you work, where do you work, whats your role.. etc job related questions
Me: Answered
VO: Seems like you have been arrested, can you explain the situation.?
Me: Explained and passed all the court documents.
VO: Verified documents and asked me to wait in lobby while court documents were scanned.

** After ten minutes, VO requested me to come to the window.

VO: explained to me about standard procedure to go through Physician Panel (Mental and Physical evaluation) and gave me 221g and returned my passport and court documents.
Me: Asked few question about the time lines, for which VO was not so certain of.

10th July 2019: Completed medical evaluation (16,500 rupees fee and took almost 5 hours to complete all the evaluations)

12th July 2019: Hospital submitted my evaluation report.

31st July: Got an email from embassy to submit my passport.
1st Aug 2019: Submitted passport in Hyderabad
6th Aug 2019: Received email that my passport is ready for pickup.
7th Aug 2019: Picked my passport from Hyderabad location.