H1B, H4 Visa

Hi,
 
   Planning to Go for H1B Stamping in Aug,2018.Can Anyone Tell me Which One is Good Among Hyd/Chennai Right Now to Go for Stamping

Thanks,
Ram

Pre-Requisite:
• To appear for H1 visa interview, the candidate should require Canada visitor visa.
• It’s a 2-3 weeks process to obtain Canada visitor visa from the date of submitting the application to recive the visa stamped in passport.
• Step by Step guide to apply Canada vistor visa is available in the below path



Steps to Fill DS-160 and Schedule interview:
DS-160: Online Application:

• Link to online application: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Tip: For East Coast, Toronto (~3 hours drive from North PA) is the nearest US embassy. If appointment date is not available then next choice can be Ottawa(~7 hours drive from North PA). For West Coast, Vancouver is the nearest US embassy.
Decide the embassy before start filling the DS160. Tentative wait time for appointment is available in the below website (This information will just help to decide on the Embassy).

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

Schedule Visa Appointment:

• Click on 'Apply' in the below website https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv
• Select “I am a Non Canadian Citizen residing in the U.S. and want to apply for a visa.” and click on Continue
• Click on “I agree to the statements above, completed the DS-160 and ready to schedule as Non Canadian Citizen applicant”
• Sign Up by providing the required information and click on “Create Account”
• Select the passport delivery location (Tip: This can be changed at any time. Choose the location which is nearest to the place of stay in Canada)
• Once the account is created, the website will show details only about the first available date in all Canadian US Embassies. Once payment is made (190\$ on Feb 2018, which can be made using visa credit card), the user will have access to the calendar where he/she can look out for all the available dates.
• Pay the amount and look out for the available dates. Select the desired date and schedule the appointment.
Tip: If the desired appointment date was not available, keep checking for every 1 hour, there will be cancellation/reschedule happening and dates might open up.
Even after scheduling a date, User will have option to change the interview date(Later/Earlier) until 2 days before the interview date.
Tip: Use Airbnb instead of Hotels for stay as it will save few bucks. If close friends or relatives live in the near by area, then that would be a better option as a minimum of 3-5 days stay would require for a normal process.

Things to do on Interview date:

• Reach the embassy 1 hour before. Embassy located in 225 Simcoe street, Toronto.
• If backpack and mobile needs to be stored, walk few block towards Dundas street, there will be a convenyance store (Just before Tim hortons). They will store the backpack and mobile for 8 CAD \$. (Tim Hortons address: 438 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2K8)
Tip: I had my appointment at 8.15 EST. But stood in security line around 7.45 AM. They allowed me in and I finished by interview by 8.05 EST. Not sure if they will allow everytime, as the instruction say to appear just 15 mins before interivew time.
Security wont even allow plastic bags, so be prepared to carry all documents in hand. File will be allowed.

Things to do after interview:

• If Visa is approved then the status of visa can be tracked from the below path

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

Note:
o First the status change to “Adminstrative processing”
o Then the status changes to “Issued”
• Once the passport is dispatched to courier(Probably the very next day of interview date), an email will be sent to the registered email id with the tracking number.
• Then the status can be checked in Canada post directly with the tracking number or through the website https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv
• Once the status in Canada post changes to “Ready for pick up”, visit the Canada post office and pick up the passport by showing the US driver license as identity proof. (This mostly happens on third working day from the interview date.Canada post will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
Tip: Schedule interiview on Monday if possible, so that passport can be collected on Wednesday or Thursday.
• Travel back to US with the stamped passport 

Note: All the above mentioned timelines are for a scenario when Visa is approved without query. If 221g is issued, then there might be a dealy to receive the passport from 2-3 weeks even months.

Good Luck !!!

Good day Sir/ma, Please I wanted to start processing non immigrant visa and I consulted an agent, the man introduced non appearances visa process to me and he promised 100% visa approved. Please I want to ask, what are advantage and disadvantage of non appearances visa process?

Hope to read from you soonest.
My regards.

Hello -

I have been following this site for a year or so now. I would like to share my experience and helpful everyone finds it useful.

Background -
In the US for the past 11 years now. About 10yr work experience.
Finished Masters back in 2009.
Currently working for an IT giant for the past 8 years.
I-140 approved: Nov 2014.

3th time H1B Visa Renewal (Dec 2015 - Apr 2018): Dropbox at Hyd consulate. Visa was approved and Got the passport back in 5 days.

4th H1B Visa Renewal (07/16/2018):
 I was asked to drop the documents including passport through dropbox. Did this on 07/16.

CEAC Status:
07/16 - No status
07/17 - Case Created
07/18 - Admin Processing
07/19 - Admin Processing. I was asked to come in for an interview and fingerprints on 07/23

Embassy experience on 07/23 -

Interview time was scheduled for 10am. I arrived at 9:45am and was directed to counter 6.
They returned my passport at counter 6 and asked me to visit counter 7 for finger prints. After fingerprints, i was asked to wait in the waiting hall.
After 20 mins, everyone from the waiting area were asked to form a line to get interviewed. Counter 8 - 16 was operational.

Arrived at the counter:

Me: Good morning and passed my passport to him.
VO: Good morning sir,

VO: How long have you been in the US?
Me: Little over ten years.

VO: Who is your end client? Or do you work FT for this company?
Me: Yes sir, i work FT for this company.

VO: Highest level of education?
Me: Masters in Computer Science

VO: What is your salary?
Me: $1xx,000 annually.

VO: Where do you live?
Me: City name and state.

VO: Your VISA is approved.
Me: Thank you. In how many days should i expect to get my passport back?
VO: 5 to 7 business days. Have a nice day!!!

CEAC Case Status:

07/23 - AP (Last case updated date was 07/17 before, now it changed to 07/23).

Hoping to get my passport back before EOW. I will share an update after i get my passport back.

My advise for the interview: Stay cool, calm and composed. Be confident with your answers and only answer what they ask.

Best of luck to everyone.

Best
VJ

I would like to share our positive experience in chennai consulate.
Me and my husband went for separate H1B stamping for 23-Jul-18.

My Husband- H1 extension same employee stamping 2nd time, EC model, Government client
He had all the documents but none were asked. His wage level is 3.

VO Questions: Where do you work?
How long? 7 years
Do you have kids? (2 US citizens)
What do you do?(Role...)
Dis you get a pay raise? yes
Does you wife work for the same company? (yes we both work together)
--Your Visa is approved--

My interview was similar, But for me first time stamping since I did not travel before and had H4 stamped. I did masters there. Have wage level 2, so few documents were asked.

VO questions: Where do you work?
What is your salary?
What is your highest level of education? Masters in Information Systems
Who is your client?
How long have you been with the same client? 3 years
Show me your LCA and W2 ---DOCUMENTS
Did you get a pay raise since you joined? Yes
Does your husband work in same location?
--Your visa is approved--

Overall it was a very positive experience. My take is
-- Go on time - we were very early but they did not allow us even to enter the queue before the interview time
-- Get all the documents as possible client letter, lca, w2 etc..
- be confident, do not let other scare you, its easy.. just nowadays they ask many questions and spend minimum\m 3 mins per person

If you have clean history,similar educational background( we both had bachelors in IT) and not many moves, jumps, layers etc, its definitely easy..

Good Luck everyone!!

Interview Date: Jun 29 2018
VO gave blue slip with case number, we would like to require either Statement of work / client letter, you don't need to come for an interview. Just send the document to this email ID chennaiH&[email protected]

I am checking case status everyday, It shows "Administrative Processing"

Case Created: 28-Jun-2018
Case Last Updated: 29-Jun-2018
Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. Please follow any instructions provided by the Consular Officer at the time of your interview. If further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed/available within two business days.
For more information, please visit U.S. Consulate General Chennai.

On Jul 13, 2018 My employer sent email with all client and vendor related documents. Still i am seeing same status, when it will get updated? I checked with my friend they also got status change after 6-8 weeks. is it true? Please share your experience so that i can also be confident.

Hi. I had my interview on 22nd May. This is my first time application though i have a valid visitor visa. The VO just asked few basic questions like how did u found this job, job responsibilities etc. She kept the LCA with her and also the PP. Then VO said all looks good and i should get PP back in about a week's time. Case status changed on 22nd May, then twice updated on 30th May and then 28th June. Early in July i received a call from the embassy, the person said need to ask few questions. Wat r ur job responsibitlies and wat r the other clients. I answered the first question ok, and for the clients i replied let me think cos its been a while since i appeared for the interview. She said well u should remember. I told her that when i appeared for the interview i answered all the question alright. She then said is ur job an online job, i told her no it is not. its a full time office job with the client itself and not with the vendor. Then she said ok thats all. Since then the status has not changed. The wait is extremely frustrating. We are also planning to travel on holidays but dont know if its a good idea to request embassy to give the PP back. Can anybody shed any light whether we should except any news any time soon. My employer has not received any query from them. Thanks all.

I had my Bio metric scheduled for 18th July 2:15 PM. Reached very early by 12:45. Wasn't allowed to enter till 1:45 PM. Waiting outside in hot weather was very tough. But once entered , they completed bio metric activities much before 2:15 PM as there were very few applicants.Only new thing I noticed was they allowed mobile phones.

Interview

I have interview next day at 10:30 PM. this time I reached there by 9:45 PM. Security guards told to wait far away from Consulate as they were still processing 9:30 applicants. Finally they called to get in queue at 10:45. They verified DS 160 to confirm Bio Metric has been done or not. basic security check and then I was allowed to enter interview area at around 11:05. Again one of the officer verified passport but told me visit next counter. The other counter told me that my photo is not clear which was taken on the bio metric, so I have to go outside get photo clicked from outside the consulate and come back again. This was also a new thing for me as never heard this in this forum. I requested him I have got few photos but the size was small. He agreed to take that photo and asked me join another line for the main interview. I was relieved a lot. Finally my turn came for Interview at 11:35 am.

Questions Asked:
VO: Please give your passport and whats your purpose of visit?
Answered and he started checking details after scanning my passport.

VO- So you work for XX Company here. For how long you have been employed with same employer.
Answered accordingly

VO- I can see your client is from Utility industry. Do you have any experience working in that industry?

I told him all my experience is in the same industry.

VO- Have you ever been to US or any other country on work permit visa?

Answered all countries I visited. But I have never been to US.

Then he kept my passport in some folder. I understood that its all done now. I have prepared well about my job duties,project details and various other questions but he didn't asked any thing. Also I have carried 2 folders of documents. Apart from passport nothing asked.

He told me system is a bit slow today, just hand for a while but your visa has been granted. After a minute he told its been updated in the system and i will receive my passport in next few days. Happy Journey. I thanked him and left the counter with a happy frame of mind.

If anyone has any questions or need any advice please feel free to contact me.

Today(July 20th) I attended for my H1B interview. I am in EVC Model.

I had my appointment at 10:30AM, allowed me inside at 9:45AM. Came out by 11:30 AM.

Below are the questions asked.

1. Do you work at Employer Location or Client Location?
2. Which client you work for?
3. Client Location?
4. How long have been working for this client?
5. How is the work at client location?
6. What's interesting at this client?
7. What's your salary?

Documents asked, LCA and Client Letter. After reviewing she went inside to talk to some one else. Little tensed when she was talking to other guy, but finally she said your visa has been ISSUED.

Guys, Can I work for 2 employers on h1b visa. I did some research and came across concurrent h1b visa which allows me to work for other employer. Any experiences?