H1B, H4 Visa

Day 1 @ Chennai VAC: took about 1.5 hrs, need to carry passport, appt confirm page and DS160 conf page, and of course a face and 10 fingers! Cell phone and umbrella allowed inside.

Narrow street, located on Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Use Google maps or wisdom of cab/auto drivers. Nearest landmark is Valluvar Kottam (for non Tamil folks, pronounce it as val-lu-var ........ kot-tam), Note: VAC is not right next to it but in the area.

VAC is located inside the multi-storied white building, looks like it is in the final stages of completion, not a posh building but just a new building. There is a board outside but it advertises a Xerox center!!! (more on that later). Easiest way to locate it, is to look for people with serious faces but in formals or business casuals hanging around with a backpack or a thick folder, oh not to mention the freshly married women with makeup and mehendi/hena.

No need to come too early or dressed in "coat-suit" but people do. You will be allowed into the premises only an hr before your appointment time, even then you will be placed in a line within the building until your appointment time. Only the candidate is allowed inside the premises, "support team" has to wait on the street :-) I saw couple of babies (less than 2 yr olds) inside, no idea if the kids needed Visa as well or were allowed because they are babies, please check before going. Note: as usual there is no shade (other than trees) on the streets so your "support team" has to be rain or shine types. November is rainy season in Chennai

Backpacks (college style ones) are not allowed inside the building. Women can bring handbags/purses, I saw one guy get away with a satchel. Cell phones are allowed inside but has to be switched off once inside. In case you bring a backpack then some entrepreneurial Indians will provide you a locker for 50 bucks right before you climb the stairs or go up the elevator. I saw one mom was allowed to take water for her baby, so it looks like it is not TSA like security so if you really want to take water inside then please plan on having a baby few months ahead of time ....... ha ha ha

Once you go up, you will be put in a line until your time (about 50-70 serious looking people), then let into another floor, scanned for security, switch off phones. People wearing strange neck ties will check your passport and DS160. They WILL catch any mismatch and tell you to get it fixed before taking the picture and finger prints. Worry not, remember the entrepreneurial Indians I mentioned earlier, they will rescue you for Rs200 :-) Just go down stairs, tell them you need to update your DS160, they have PCs with internet connection and printers and will even help you in case you are paralyzed with fear of missing your all important appointment! In case you cannot afford Rs200 then step out of the building, go to the auto stand or any building across the narrow street and get it done for lower price. Oh you do need to know the answer to your DS160 security question or have a phone to wake up your son/daughter/significant other in US to ask them the place of your elementary school!!
NOTE: this last step will change your DS160 number, WORRY NOT, it is ok, no need to re-print the appointment conformation letter, just print the DS160 confirmation pg

Once the "half tie" people have cleared your data, you will go to another "half tie" person and they will print a sticker with bar code and put it on your passport, stamp your DS160, get a token number, join a short line, watch the TV screens for your token number or get reminded in a loud voice, walk to your counter (behind a white screen?!?), hand over passport and confirm pages, read mumbo jombo (actually terms of service type stuff), get picture taken, 10 finger printed, step away, read notice board for instructions on how to collect your passport and holidays, give a simple feedback on a touch pad, push a small button, open a big door .............. bye
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Day 2 @ consulate: 2 hrs (most of it standing in line inside), mine was H1B extension, need to carry passport, DS160 conf page with the blue stamp from yesterday, I797, loads of support docs that you may need. Umbrellas are allowed inside the consulate but no cell phones (more on that later). Backpacks, lady's purse, satchels not allowed inside.

Again US Consulate is not designed to accommodate candidates ahead of time or the "support team". November is rainy season in Chennai. You need not come 15 min before your appointment but it is impossible to time it so if you are early then be prepared to stand on the sidewalk. If you have a cell phone (who does not, in 2017) and have no "support team" then entrepreneurial Indians will escort you in the opposite direction, down a dark subway, up on the other side of the main road, to a tea stall/corner shop, where another entrepreneurial Indian will take Rs200 for storing your phone and the escorting Indian will take Rs100 as a reference fee, walk all the way back, DO NOT rush, your place is not taken, just tell the security guy/gal you were there earlier.

There will be 2 or 3 checks of your passport and Ds160 confirm page with blue stamp. Yes they will ask you to open your all important document bag even when it is pouring like hell.

Once inside, there is security scanning, then another check of passport/confirm pg, then another check, then 1st line, then a counter for finger printing, then 2nd line, then VISA INTERVIEW. It is ok to smile and exchange pleasantries with the Visa officer, poor fellow has to talk to 100s of serious faced people.

Visa questions:
Name of Employer?
Your highest qualifications?
Job title?
What type of job do you do?
Client site or not?
Job location
Salary?
Congrats, ur visa has been granted, have a safe journey :-)

My only gripe: interviews in native language were given preference over English interviews, about 50 people had to wait (standing) for 45min before we got our chance. It could be because we were the first appointment of the day. It was ok because most of the native language candidates were old people or people with babies.

Hello All

Attended H4 visa stamping on 10/31 @ Hyderabad. Biometrics on 10/30. The VO mentioned the Visa is approved and should get the passport soon. However its a week now from inteview still CEAC website shows the status as Administrative Processing.

Anyone else from 10/31 who recieved the passport back from consulate ? Should i be worried at this point ?

Thanks for your inputs

Hi, I needed some information. If anyone has experience about this please share the information.
I came to US on F1 ---> wife came on F2 ---> then changed to H1-H4 in 2013 ---> and filed i140 later. I am still with same direct employer. No client.
We have never gone out of USA with H1 status. My wife and son(US Citizen) wants to go India and she would have to get H4 stamping to come back.
My question is: Do I have to also go with her for stamping? as I do not have H1b stamped ever before.

Truely appreciate any information.
Thank you.
Amit Puspak

OFC Appt on October 18th-Thursday@2:30 PM
-Used new DS 160,have to inform while doing scanning for old DS -160.They will create a new sticker and place on top of old DS160 old sticker
Visa Interview on October 19th-Friday@11:00 PM
Good to reach 1 hour early,they will let you to go inside.
Questions asked
1)Who is your petitioner
2)Who is your client
3)Salary
4)Current Role

Visa is Approved.

23/10 by noon-passport is issued
24/10 by evening -Passport reached to collection point
25/10 by early morning@8:30 AM -Passport delivered to Home

Please note we can use the UID number(while used for booking the appt) as ref no in Blue Dart website to see the status of the passport after its issued.I didnt got email or sms till 25/10

Before I go and share my H1B (single) visa experience ....
Thanks to all those who kept posting weather be it for personal query or sharing experience.
For those who specially shared experience and tried to provide maximum details , THANK YOU ALL. It was a great job you all did.

Request : Who are just posting questions, I have not seen them posting their experience be it bad or good. Request you to put your experience as eagerly as you are in asking. Makes sense right ?

Now my experience.

Had OFC Biometric on November 1st and Had interview on November 2nd. (2017)
I am married but went alone for stamping as I shall bring my wife later to USA.

Filling DS160
All the information required is with you.
Your petition, Passport, Educational certificates, Previous employment documents, Marriage Certificate.
I mean to say don't fumble with information, you all have it ready with you.
There are few information which we may not know what to fill in that
like Passport document number : This is not the same as passport number. I checked "DOES NOT APPLY" for this. so where you have questions do ask a responsible person in your organisation/company.

Biometric:
I went to Mumbai location.
Documents requested are : Consulate Appointment copy, original passport and DS160 confirmation copy.
What not to carry is : don't bring anything apart from above mentioned documents for H1B visa type. For others I don't know.
Timings really doesn't matter when you go.

PA :

Bring all documents in original. Document list is something will need a separate discussion so for now I suggest to bring all your documents in original.
Timings matters here if you go early your chances are high that you will complete your visa process early.
However security personal won't allow you to enter the consulate before 30 minutes but you may give a try by reaching 1 hour early.
Once you enter the consulate you will pass through several security check here you need to carry Confirmation page which was stamped in biometric process. This will be checked in PA process and will allow you to go inside.

You will see long queue inside here you need to again give your fingerprints don't know why it is required again.
Here you will see many windows where officers are taking interviews.
You will be able to listen to most of the interviews till your turn :).
Some VOs are asking in brief and some concludes in just seconds, depends.

Now questions to me were.
First I greeted him he did too.
Will you be working at client location?
Which state are you going?
Are you married?
Is your wife coming with you?
Do you have child?

And visa approved.

Miscellaneous.
Remembering that I'll post as much as possible in this site, I tried to connect few person who came for H1B visa and their experience.
One couple came there for H1B, in his case he had two passports and he had name change in both passports. So, VO asked them for police verification by giving green slip.

One other H1B candidate happened to be in my company had visa approved.

When I was in consulate I tried to listen to other candidates H1B, Student, Business visas.
One Business Visa candidate was rejected because he was not able explain his role properly.
Any one who wants a translator may ask for one, but I don't suggest for H1B, L1, Business visa :).

guys I tried to cover all things now, please let me know if anything required regarding this.

I am planning to go H1-b Stamping with out client Letter . As per Company Policy they are not providing client letter to any Contractor . client had have given SOW to Prime Vendor(Wipro). Now Client Says all the immigration and Visa documents/letters Prime Vendor(Wipro) has to handle.Only thing my Client Manager can do is reply to my email saying they do not provide client letter . i should get letter from Prime Vendor. I have Client ID card. Org Chart showing Name and Client Manger and his Director and others in org chart.Prime Vendor is Wipro and they are ready to provide Vendor Letter and Wipro said they cannot provide SOW because of Confidentiality and they can provide email saying they cannot give SOW . What are the chances of getting stamped with out client letter with supporting documents as i explained above. I need help from you all to gauge what will happen with Client Letter only with this supporting documents. I have 2 years old client letter with the same client . i am with this client for 30 months /2 years and 6 months.

Please let me know your taughts.

Thanks,
Uma

Hi All,

Below is my experience.

Oct 22 : OFC at 3.30 pm
Oct 23 : Visa interview ( slot 9.00 am )
Oct 24 : Visa issued
Oct 25 : Passport ready for pick up.

Following questions were asked :

Who is your employer?
Have you been on H4 before?
Did you do schooling in US?
What’s your highest qualification?
What’s your job responsibilities?
What’s your designation?
How did you find this job?
What’s your salary?
Is your husband on H1?
Is he in US?
What’s your office location?
How much distance from the place you are living and office ?

That’s all, no documents were asked expect I797 , VO said your visa is approved and you will get in 2 to 4 business days.

Thanks.

Hi guys,
 The forum has been a huge help for me to soothe my nerves before the H4 visa interview. so, i would like to do the same for others out there. I've tried to be as detailed as possible.

Background: First time applying for H4. I already have a B1/B2 tourist visa and have traveled to the US multiple times. Got married three months ago. My husband has an h1b that will expire in 8 months.

Firstly, a mistake: After filling up the DS-160 form and while scheduling the interview, i unknowingly clicked on the "are you a child below 14 years" tab. Hence, it automatically directed me to the dropbox option. Thinking it was a stroke of luck i went to the designated one in Kochi only to be told I had to go to the chennai consulate. they very kindly cancelled the dropbox and I went home and quickly scheduled a date. DONOT PAY THE VISA FEE AGAIN. the staff at the dropbox facility also told me to change the ds-160 as the city of issue in my passport was bangalore and not new name of bengaluru as i had written in the ds-160.

Note: When you change something on a completed and locked DS-160, the application number changes. be sure to make that change while scheduling the interview.

Two weeks later in Chennai..

Day 1: Ten printing. Turned up 5 mins before time of 13.15 pm and they allowed me to enter immediately. Have in hand passport, DS-160 and appointment letter. Walked up a flight of steps to the first floor, a room with cubicles. Was given a token with a number and when your number appears on the screen go to the counter mentioned. They ask for passport.
Four fingers of right hand scanned
Four fingers of left hand scanned
Two thumbs
Photo of face
Passport returned with a while barcode stuck on it.

Day 2: Visa interview Chennai consulate

1.Again turn up only 15 mins beforehand. You will not need to wait at all outside if you do that.
Ensure your passport is in hand. They will scan the barcode before you enter.

2. Security check in an outbuilding (u can take umbrellas and bags but no phones/usb. only, you will have to keep it all on the steps inside the consulate). Long queue. When I reached the front, one of the staff members gave me a "know your rights" pamphlet and asked me if i have my husbands i797 form. I replied yes.
3. More queue to get into the consulate. Almost an hour long wait in three queues

4. Finally reached a counter where they ask for your passport. they mark the aforementioned barcode with a coloured pen

5. Next proceed to a counter where they scan the four fingers in your right hand.
Question: What is your husband's name. Reply appropriately.
Again a mark on barcode with a diffrent color pen.

6. Proceed to the actual queue for the visa interview. Another half hour in queue

Visa interview. VO is an Indian American.

VO: Good morning
Me: Good morning

VO: Passport please
Me: Handed it over

VO: where does your husband work?
Me: Replied appropriately

VO: So, he lives in x state?
Me: Yes. Specified the actual location in the state

VO: When was wedding?
Me: July
VO: 2018?
Me: yes

VO: What is your highest educational qualification?
Me: Replied appropriately

VO: Have you traveled abroad?
Me: Yes

VO: Have you traveled to the US before?
Me: Yes.
VO: When?
Me: Replied appropiately

VO: Ok, your visa is approved.
Me: Ok, Thank you.

The VO did not ask for any documents. But I had all the following in hand.

1. DS-160
2. Husband's i797
3. Husband's Employment letter
4. Copy of all pages in his passport
5. Letter from husband on company letterhead stating i am his dependent and that he will take care of all expenses
6. Husband's bank documents
7. Husband's W2 and tax returns
8. Marriage certificate
9. Wedding album/photos

Note: Dont be nervous. Be confident and reply appropriately. It really doesnt matter what you are wearing (i had forgotten the sindoor, for example). There were ppl dressed in suits and ppl in ordinary clothes. Some got the visa, some didnt.

Hope this helps somebody.

I gave my visa interview today at hyderabad consulate.

VO: Good morning sir
Me. Good morning sir. How are you doing today
Vo: I am doing great. Is YYYY X your employer
Me: Yes
VO: you work at employer location or client location
Me: client location
VO: who is the client
Me: YYYY X
VO: Did you study in US
ME: Yes
VO: What is your highest degree
ME: MS in Computer SCience
VO: Which university
ME: YYYY X
VO: Did you get the rights pamphalet
Me: Yes. Thanks for asking

VO: Your visa is approved but requires additional processing.
Me: Can i ask you a question. What is the timeframe needed for this processing
VO: It is a routine process. It will take max one week.
Me: Thank you. happy halloween.

Thats It. Good luck for everyone

Hi everyone

I am getting eligibility for drop box but the recent experiences of others actually point that they still call for interview.

Do you think I should answer one of the questions (did you Visa expire in last 12 months? Yes -> Drop Box eligible No -> Can schedule an appointment) as 'No' and opt for interview first hand?

 

Please suggest.

 

Regards,

RR