H1B, H4 Visa

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

Hi,
I had my drop box @ Hyderabad Consulate, on 16 Oct and I would be eligible for drop box till 30-Oct as my previous Visa expired on 30 Oct 2016.

I submitted H1 & H4 documents. My wife's H4 Visa is stamped the next day of submission. But, my H1 is still under administrative processing till date. it is now 10 business days.

Is there any one who experienced a similar case lately?

Please let me know what can be done to get the reason of holding my Visa for a long time. I wanted to know the reason to go head with the next steps atleast.

This is extension & change in employer.

HI ,

Can any one Post Recent Experiecne in HYD/India.

we were planning to India this November and Eligible for Drop Box.

I heard that even though Drop is Eligible , Consulate team is calling for interview.

can any one advice ?

Appreciate for all your help

Thanks
Sri

Question : Do we need to take a photograph or they would take one during ofc ?

Hello,

Below my experience and still am waiting for an update :

10/05/2017 : Biometrics
10/06/2017 : Went for consular interview in 8o clock slot along with my wife and kid. Am in H1B.
Moved to another employer and stayed in US for 3 yrs.

VO - Good Morning
Me - Good Morning Officer

VO - Can i have your passport and i797
Me - Gave the document

VO - Who is the petitioner
Me - ZZZ

VO - Is this in house project
Me - No

VO - Who is your client?
Me - xxxx

VO - Can i see your W2s
Me - Gave

VO - Where is 2017 W2?
Me - Already provided W2s for 2016, 2017 W2s will be generated only by Feb 2018.

VO - Do you have updated client letter
Me - No, but i have the Employer Letter

VO - Do you have Client Agreement?
Me - No, sorry.

VO - Can you provide the client letter if needed?
Me - Yes, i can

VO - Please wait

She went to next counter, had a discussion and came back took blue slip and selected all documents related to client and employer, gave it along with my passport and i797 and other documents.

VO - I can't issue the visa now, please submit the documents as i mentioned in this document and then it will be decided.
Me - Thank you Officer.

We returned back and i informed my employer and he collected all documents and shared it. It took some time for me to get the client letter and submited the same and still waiting.

Document submited on 10/19/2017.

Can see the Case created date as 10/05/2017
Last updated date as 10/06/2017 (VO Interview date)

Keeping fingers crossed. My return flight is on 11/01/2017, looks like i need to postpone my return to US.