H1B, H4 Visa

Hello All,

I came across this website which makes reading and sharing visa interview experiences very easy. Check it out! They answer quickly to any questions you may have about the process.

https://visatrack.co/

I had my H1B visa interview today (5/19) at the Mumbai consulate. I had picked the 9:30 am slot, but I wish I had picked one before or after. The line for the 9:30 am time slot was a few hundred applicants deep!! I had to wait about 2 hrs in the stifling heat before I reached the building where they conduct the interview. The lines for the 8:30 am and the 10:30 am time slots were supposedly a lot shorter. So beware! That aside, the process was routine and the visa was approved.

I was asked the following questions:

How long have you been working for your employer?
What is your designation?
Do you work in-house or at the client?
What is your annual salary?
What is your highest education level?

I'm a full-time employee in a large firm, and this is my third H1B visa application.

All the best!

Hi

I have my visa interview at Hyderabad on 3May 2017. Vo asked me simple questions. At end, he asked me whether I received the pamphlet. He told me that it is done and kept the passport with embassy. After 10days, I send email to support-india, they informed me that it is under further admin processing 221g. They didn't asked any documents. They didn't inform any thing. It been more than 15 days, status is Admin processing and passport status changed to no data available. If any one faced similar issue.

Thanks Immihelp for maintaining this forum and for everyone who is sharing their experiences. It has helped me for preparing myself for the interview.

I have planned to take my parents along with me for the interview. I had called the call center and they suggested to do 'Group Scheduling'. I have scheduled the interview for three of us, including finger prints.

During finger prints, VAC team has stopped my parents as they are grouped under 'H1B' visa category instead of B2 visa (tourist). I have filled their DS160 forms and interview under B2 category but still they have suggested to reschedule my parents interview separately

A lesson learnt to always schedule a separate interview for parents. if you would like to join them, we can try to schedule at the same time as yours and can request consulate officer to interview all of us together

coming to my interview:

I had my interview scheduled on 05/17 12:00 PM.

Me: Good Afternoon Mam

VO: Good Morning

VO: Who is your petitioner
Me: YYYY Inc.

VO: How long are you working with them
Me: Its been 3 years

VO: What is your designation
Me: Programmer Analyst

VO: What is your Salary
Me: YYYY USD

VO: Who is your Client
Me: ZZZ

VO: What is the location
Me: YYYY

VO: Where do you live
Me: ZZZ

VO: Which city
Me: ZZZ

VO: Your Visa is issued and hope you got the pamphlet

I had an appointment on 15th & 16th May 2017.
Day 1:
Went to VAC. Entrance is at the back of the main road (13.053448, 80.243130)
You can go 30 minutes before. There were 3 queues, People who had interview in the next 15-30 minutes were sent to the 1st queue. Others who arrived early were sent to the other two queues. I went 1 hour early, so i was sent to the 3rd queue. They'll give priority to the 1st queue and send inside. After a while the 1st queue became empty so some of us were sent in.
Mobiles are allowed at the VAC (not in the consulate office). They'll ask you to switch off, put it in a tray & scan it. You'll also be scanned & let in.
In my case, I had applied the DS 160 twice. I paid fees with the first one & i again filled a different form. So my visa application number and appointment confirmation numbers were different. In such a case, you'll have to mention when you meet the verifier. He'll use the latest number while he puts a bar code behind your passport. Then i waited, my token was called, he asked my name, date of birth & address for confirmation and then my fingerprints & photo were taken. That's all for day 1. I left with a seal on the application & a bar code on the back of your passport. I left at 9.45 (My appointment was at that time)

Day 2 at US consulate office:
Note on mobiles: Mobiles are strictly not allowed inside. You'll be asked in the first queue. I've read about some facility where they keep mobiles for a small fee, but i did not see any - it might have been around. My hotel receptionist assured me that the room key will not be given to any workers & i can leave my mobile at the room. So i left it there. Suggest you leave it at the hotel if there's a locker facility or on their assurance. Its better.
Went to the consulate office. There was a single long queue, no multiple time based queues like in the VAC. But time is not important, you can get on the queue, i think they'll allow even if you're late. I went 1 hour early. We were sent to one queue after another, and then another queue inside the building, big relief as there was an AC inside. By that time, my whole shirt was soaked in sweat. That queue took some time where they verified the passport once again and sent me in where interviews were being done.
There were many windows where they were conducting interviews. We were directed to those windows from a queue. When my turn came, a guy stopped me & sent the ones before me to some interviewers and did it again. I got a bit nervous, but then he sent me to one window (keep your passport & I-129 on top at this point) There was one guy being interviewed, i stood few meters behind, on a black line. That guy got rejected, the VO sent him off saying something like 'entry to US has been denied this time for you, thank you'. At that point, i became very nervous, was about to step forward, the VO signaled and told 'Sir, you'll have to wait'. VO was looking something at the computer, drank some water and called me.

Before i could say good morning, VO told please give me your passport. Rest of the conversation below - forgot the exact order
VO: Which company do you work for?
Me: xxx (my indian company)
VO: How long have you been working for them?
Me: x years
VO: What's your highest educational qualification?
Me: Engineering degree in computer science
VO: Where are you going?
Me: (paused for a second, was nervous) xxx
VO: You'll have to speak louder, i can't hear; I repeated
VO: Who's your client?
Me: xxx
VO: Sir, i can't hear, you'll have to speak - the mic is there; Then i noticed the mic & repeated, spelled it out as well; VO stared at me for a second, i got even more nervous
VO: What's your designation there?
Me: xxx (As mentioned in the petition/lca)
VO: What's you annual salary?
Me: xxx (As mentioned)
VO: Took a look at the computer to the left for a few seconds, i thought i was about to be rejected. VO told without even looking at me 'your visa is approved, thank you'.

I told 'Thank you' but VO didn't even listen i think, had turned around at that time. I left, once again finishing everything by the time of my appointment

I think there are very few rejections for H1B visas. I noticed a lot of questions being asked for others, especially students - they were taking a long time with a ton of questions.

Another quick note about Port of Entry interviews: I heard one of my known contacts got rejected and sent back. It'll be disastrous if it happens. Documents & papers are very important. They'll reject if anything is missed, stick to the role which you'll be going for (Business visa / work visa). Never deviate from mentioning those kind of work only or they'll reject. If its work visa, you'll also have to maintain the impression that client cant find / have other workers who're capable of doing it. Put your related experience or anything you have to your advantage.

Hello friends,
I am direct employee for the client company in Charlotte, they have filed my H1B four months ago and i have visited to India for my personal reasons.I have attended the visa interview yesterday to get it stamped and VO gave a white slip (221(g))
checked with your application required additional administrative processing before a final decision can be made.
she said be patient and let your employer know.Please help
Here is some questions she asked me
1. who is your employer
 a) xxxx

2. what is your role
a) xxxxx

3. what is your annual salary
a) xxxxx

4. what is your DOB
a) xxxxxx

5. what do you do every day as a part of your job
a) xxxxx

6. what is the address of your work ?
a) xxxxxx

7. is this your first Visa
a) H1B yes, but i have had F1 before.

8. did you do masters ?
a) yes

9. what was your major ?
a) Computer science

she returned my passport, said be patient and let your employer know.

Thanx ImmiHelp and its users for providing experiences. it helped me a lot.

biometric: 11th May
Interview: 12th May

Vo Questions:
where does ur spouse work?
what is ur spouse designation?
what it ur spouse salary?

VISA is approved.

May 16th passport ready to pickup.

Thank you.

Hi,
I would be travelling to USA in month end and wanted to know if there are any extra food restrictions at the port of entry these days. I wanted to take normal stuff like sweets, snacks, pickle, ghee etc.

If anyone could share there experience it would be of great help

Hi all, I have submitted my H4 EAD application on march 15th 2017, received receipt number on march 20th. After getting receipt number I tried to check the case status online but it showed validation error. Then I called USCIS, they said it would take 45 days to update any status online. So after 45 days I tried to check but still it shows the same validation error. Its been 60 days now, still no update online. When I called them they said it might be some technical error and we would look into it and report, and asked me to wait till 75 days . Anyone on the same path or experienced before. How early one can check their case status online?

Hi All,

I had my fourth H1 stamping at Mumbai consulate on May 03 2017. In all previous interviews, i used to collect my passport on same day of interview. This time however it was different.

VFS Fingerprint : May 2 , 2017
Interview : May 3 , 2017
May 3-10 : Administrative Processing
May 11 : Issued
May 12 : Collected passport from VFS center

 I was in 10 am slot, but interview got over around noon. Interview was straightforward. CO said visa is approved, you should get your passport in 1-2 days. ( No 221g slip given)

As usual i went to collect passport at VFS center after interview around 3 pm and was notified that my passport is still with consulate. Based on my previous experience I had booked my return tickets for 7th May. Had to reschedule them. Since i can work remotely work was not an issue.

Advice for those waiting for passport:
I understand it’s frustrating to wait in limbo. Based on my experience and posts of other folks here, i can assure one thing that if CO said your visa is approved, you will definitely get visa issued on passport. Only question is when. Rather than panicking and giving stress to parents/siblings and friends, enjoy your time with them. Be positive you will get your passport with visa on it.
Lesson learnt:
1. Plan at least 2-3 weeks vacation
2. If possible book open ticket, to avoid change/cancellation fees.
3. If travel is not urgent, it would be advisable to postpone it until things get normal. ( unless 2-3 weeks is the new normal)

Good Luck!