H1B, H4 Visa

 F1 to H1B
 
 Attended H1b(*I797-B*)Interview in Hyd consulate on Jan17th 2019 and ended up with 221g white
 slip with second box checked.
 
 Mine is an inhouse project.
 
 Inteview: (Counter-15)
 
 What is ur Name?
 Employer Name?
 Highest Qualification?
 name of the University u did ur masters?
 did you work on OPT?
 Salary?
 is this in-house project?
 
 Told me to wait in lobby after 30 min indian lady took me into closed room for interview.
 
 Asked Payslips(Last 6 months) and lca
 Have you worked on opt?
 were u did your masters.?
 Name of the university?
 From how may years you are with this employer?
 what is the project ur working roght now.?
 did your employer pay you ontime?
 did he pay for extra time you worked as well?

Tell me the entire flow from on which month and year u enter into USA to Until today to consulate.(Masters,how many years u did ur masters, how u got your first job, how do you know about your
your employer, how many years you are working with him, how you are going to you office, do you have your own car, how many people will saty in you house,how much is your salary, who sponsored you visa, did u pay him..etc)
 
Explained everything and she noted it down everything on a paper.
 
Later went to the same counter-15.
 
He asked why you got i797b(i mean y not comeplete approval) and the project iam working on and asked me for the documents, But i didnt carry any project description documents, then he given 221g white slip with second checkbox checked.
 
later after a week got a call from hyd consulate to submit project description, number of employees working on you location, and Any notice from uscis y u got i797 -B (why your extension of stay denied?).
 
 Interview - Jan 17th 2019
 Call from Hyd consulate - jan 25rd 2019
 submitted docs on - Feb 11th 2019
 
 Satus shows still in Admin Processing.
 
 last updated - jan17th (interview date).
 
 Please let me know if any one in the same position.
 

July 3rd, went to interview and VO said VISA was approved. Didn't hold anything but passport
July 5th, received an email stating VISA is being Administrative Processed. WTF?

Any similar experience? How long would this take?

Interview date: 24 - June, New H1-B

Tit-bits for those who is attending interview in Chennai.

OFC Tit-bits:
=========
1. At OFC, Mobile(in switched-off state) and water bottle is allowed. No security counters available, so don't carry bags.
2. At OFC, ground floor, There is a printout/xerox shop available with internet. So don't strain for any last minute print outs.
3. I went with kids, (5 and 10 years). My daughter attended OFC on her own. And My son is with my wife. (Wife separate and son separate but with the presences of wife).
4. They have asked full name and DOB to my kids. My daughter managed, my son said his full name but in DOB he said only year, they kept asking other information like Month and date.
5. Did not expect my kids will be questions separately in OFC, So did not couch them, but it got some how managed.
6. They took photograph of my son and daughter. So the photograph which I carried becomes not useful.

Visa Interview Tit-bits::
=================
1. Arrive half-an hour before, it is enough. There are two queues outside.
2. There are some guys controls the group, they shout the interview timings. (It is not loud enough though).
3. Based on your timing they will allow you to the second main queue.
4. If you are going with kids(up to 7 years), preference will be to given to you.
5. Water bottle(Yes. it is allowed in Embassy) and my wife's handbag is scanned.
6. Saw a girl running to deposit few make-up items. (Some small perfume, lipstick). Do not carry any make-up items.
7. There is a small deposit counters available at embassy maintained by Guards there. It is near the second queue entrance at outside . You can deposit and other small items here(for a cost, of-course).
8. Once past security clearance, there is another lady checking your passport. Then to the main building.
9. They will do finger print re-validation here. Again preference given since I am with kids.
     (There is a rest room available near this queue. you can inform the attender and use it.)
10. After that main Visa interview counters. The attended saw that I am with kids, then he said come directly by-passing queue there.
11. Once I entered the main building, I am in front of VO in less than 5 minutes which I didn't expect.

Visa interview:
===========

Me: Good Morning.
VO: Good morning.

Q: So xxx (Company name), right?
A: yes

Q: What is xxx?
A: Answered

Q: What you do?
A: Told my designation as per LCA. I write software for process automation.

Q: what kind of process?
A: Business process.

Q: do you work for end client or employer?
A: End client.

Q: who is the end client
A: Told my client name yyy. Seems VO couldn't understand the client name.

Q: client letter
A: Passed the CL.

Q: is the letter from client himself?
A: Yes.

Q: how long with the client yyy?
A: Answered

Q: salary
A: Answered

Q: work location
A: Answered, as per LCA.

Q: pass me i129, LCA
A: passed the complete I-129. (Only the main petition, no supporting documents)

Q: how long with xxx?
A: Answered

Q: what is yyy ?
A: Answered

Q: Does yyy do product or service.
A: Answered.

VO: you are all set

Gave an small yellow slip which said "You will be called again, please remain seated" and asked me to wait. Waited for close to 40 minutes. Then my name was called.

VO mentioned that she is putting my case into AP and they don't need any additional documents from me and I don't need to come for interview again. she gave me 221g blue slip with tick mark saying "No additional documents required."

So My 221g agonizing wait has started.

I have attended my H1b interview @chennai consulate on July 3rd and got 221(g) blue slip with 2nd option ticked.

VO : why are you planning to go to US ?
Me : Told me him the purpose
VO : What is your highest level of education ?
Me : Master’s in CS
VO : who is your petitioner
Me : answered xxxx
VO : who is you client ?
Me : answered xxx
VO : are you married ?
Me : Yes sir.
VO : Is your husband in us ?
Me : Yes sir.
VO : Is he working on H1b ?
Me : Yes sir.
VO: How long have been on your F1?
Me : 4 years.
VO: For how my years have you got your OPT?
Me : 3 yrs.
VO : can you pass me your client letter ?
Me : gave my client letter.
VO : where is your client located ?
Me : Irving,TX
VO : when did you go to US earlier ?
Me : December 2013
VO: Have you done any security violations ?
Me : NO sir

Finally, He retained my passport and client letter handed be 221g blue slip with second option ticked and told me that I am refusing your visa for further admin process.

This is so stress full and I am worried as it’s taking too long for admin process to get completed.

Time for me to contribute to the community.

Mine was bit complicated case.Below is my background.

Came to USA in 2006 for masters. Went to India few times on F1 and got stamped on H1 in 2009.
From 2009 I am with same employer till date.

In 2010 Aug I got charged with DUI. And in Dec 2010 I got charged with disorderly conduct and later down graded to city ordinance.
With the fear of rejection I never went to visa stamping after these incidents.

Finally I decided to go for stamping Hyderabad consulate this month. Below is how it went.

One Ds-160 I mentioned both arrest records.

I did some preparation before interview for DUI and took my medical test appointment ahead of time.
Below is the link to book appointment. This is the only way to get appointment. No phone appointments

https://www.migrationmedicine.com/contact-us/#appointment

They will send email with appointment confirmation date.
For me initially I got it for June 13th. I replied to the email requesting it to pre-pone it to June 11th and they accepted my request.

June 9th - ASC finger printing
June 10th - 9AM visa interview
VO was very nice and professional

Questions:

VO: Asked for passport and I797
VO: Employer name
VO: Client letter
VO: LCA
VO: How long I was working with employer
VO: Job duties
VO: Highest level of education
VO: Where did I do my masters
VO: Looks like you had DUI
Me: Yes
VO: What happened
Me: Explained
VO: Asked for any other documentation about DUI incident
Me: I gave court disposition letter
VO: Asked for BAC limit
Me: I answered it and offered her police report which has all the details
VO: Asked if the DUI was misdemeanor
Me: I didn't know how to answer this so I said yes. But actually mine was not misdemeanor.
    Certain serious DUI's will be categorized as misdemeanor DUI's. Mine was not
VO: said I have to complete medical evaluation and said at this time they can't give visa as they have to do some administrative processing
VO: Game me yellow slip with medical panel details
VO: Returned Passport/client letter/LCA
VO: asked if she keep court disposition and police report originals
Me: I said ok
Me: I asked VO if there are any other concerns to issue my visa other than medical test DUI
VO: repaid that no other concerns just medical was the only pending thing.
Me: I left the consulate

VO did not ask me anything about second incident even though it was mentioned in Ds-160

June 11th - Medical exam.

Need to bring Passport (Original),
Xerox copy of passport (first and last page),
Consulate notification which has the case number,
6 visa size (2'x2' size) photos,
medical records if any. No fasting required. Do bring your contact lens kit if you use.
The cost is INR 13000.

Address: 8-2-293/HH/89, Huda Heights, MLA colony, Banjara Hills Road 12, via ACB HQ Lane).

I went there at 9:30. The front desk guy said it will take full day.
The person verifying documents and taking money was very rude. She was talking in very dis-respectful language. Other staff was very polite and helpful.

It was a long process before I saw the doctor.

They took blood samples and urine samples. They took height/weight and eye test.They took X-ray and checked blood pressure.

After 3 hours finally went into the physician room.

He asked my few questions about my drinking habits and some behavioral questions.
Don't say anything that's going to be a red flag to the doctor at the same time try to be honest.

He did physical exam like visual examination of my body and few other things.

They gave me a CD of my X-Ray and said they will send my reports to consulate in few days.

On June 14th I got an email from CMM medical facility that they submitted my reports to consulate.

Online case status showed Admin processing last updated on June 10th.

At this time my only option was to wait until consulate sends some update.

On June 13th sent an email to [email protected] I got standard response.
I read some scary stories about admin processing taking months.

By June 20th I got so restless and read lot of threads about admin processing delays.
Finally I have decided to send emails to [email protected],[email protected] as suggested in some posts.
My email has my honest story about my situation and I explained that my entire family was waiting on my visa to travel back to USA.
I immediately got standard responses from both emails.

In few hours I got another response from [email protected] to submit my passport in VAC locations.
I was so happy to see that email but my online case status still shows admin processing with last updated date June 10th

June 21st I have submitted my passport with 221g letter and copy of passport submission request email
June 24th case status changed to last updated to June 24th
June 25th case status changed to issued
June 27th passport ready for pickup.

I picked up passport and consulate returned all original court documents.

So don't worry about first DUI charges be prepared as much as possible ahead time and face it.

Wife visa went into AP even when kids were issues visa.
Here are the timelines
27th June - Visa is approved
28th June - Kids visa is issues, wife is in AP
29th June - Received Kids passport with stamped Visa.
30th to 2nd July - AP for wife.
3rd July - Issued.

Here's my experience at Hyderabad location -

Qualified for dropbox (Interview waiver).

15 May 2019 - Submitted documents (both i797 and my passport)

23 May - Received an email to schedule interview

Email Description - Please login to your profile, and schedule a 221(g) appointment for a visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad.

Got interview appointment on June 4th 9 am at HYD consulate.

June 4 -
Since the passport was with embassy/consulate, before entering they asked for ORIGINAL Identity proof (Aadhar Card, DL or PAN Card). Please carry one of the documents with you otherwise, you will be returned at the gate.

Now, the line was different for 221g candidates (outside and inside).

They just took fingerprints, visa officer said that 'I don't think you need an interview, you're good to go.'

Re-verified about the interview since email mentioned '221(g) interview', was still given an answer that interview was not required.

June 6 - Visa status changed to issued
 
June 10 - Passport ready to pick up

FYI - Spouse is on H1B from last 4 years, direct model and was in the US during this time.
This was 3rd stamping experience.

Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone for posting their experience on this website. I would like to share my H1b visa renewal appointment experience at US embassy in London.

Both biometrics and visa interview happened on the same day. The employees at embassy were very helpful and polite. Also the London US embassy allows applicants to carry their phone/tablets inside. The process was very quick and it took around and hour. My passport was delivery to location chosen after 4 business days.

Biometrics:
Documents asked from me: UK visa, passport, I-797 and photo

Visa interview:
No additional documents, I was asked what I do for my employer.

Hi,

H1b Visa on my passport has an expiry date of Sept 2019. (Employer: xyz)
I am working in US for employer abc whose I797 is valid till Dec 2020
 
Recently visited delhi and applied for Dropbox. Collected my passport after a week and there was no visa stamped but it had a 221g white slip.

They want me to come for fingerprints and interview. They also mentioned that I can come within one calendar year.

My question is can I travel to the USA and come back later for the interview?

I have a valid h1b stamped on my passport till Sept 2019 and I797 is valid till Dec 2020.

Thanks.

Hello,

I had my H1B interview in Mumbai consulate in June 2019. VO approved the visa. However since 3 weeks the status on CEAC is showing AP with case update date getting updated every week.
Now, yesterday evening I see passport status changed to getting processed for delivery however CEAC status is unchanged. Does that mean, they are sending PP without stamped.

Or is CEAC might take some time to update since Passport status updated only yesterday evening.

This is weird since mine was not drop box but an in person interview and VO approved the same as well.

If anyone have any idea, please advise.