H1B, H4 Visa

I was laid off in end of Nov 2015 and later found a job with a new employer(direct full time job). I have been getting severance. Once my new employer filed my H1B visa transfer i have received H1B visa transfer approved without a I94. My employer told i have to travel out of country to activate my new H1B visa and get a new I94 and then join the company. I have valid H1B visa stamped from my first employer until Nov 2017. I am planning to go either to Canada or Mexico and sure will take both old and new employer H1B visa approval documents (I797,I129, latest severance paystub etc). I have always gone to India for my previous visa stamp, so this time i am more nervous and was wondering if i can get some help on below questions,

Will i need to go to US consulate to get new visa stamped in Canada or
Mexico (i assume since i have valid visa already stamped in my
passport till Sept 2017 i don't need to do this step) ?

Will i need to apply for Canada or Mexico tourist visa before hand?

Would you please recommend which country (Canada or Mexico) would be
better in terms of immigration process at port of entry?

Will i get new I94 at mexico/canada port of entry in a day?
What type of questions normally i would be asked at port of entry(any personal experience like mine would be helpful to prepare)

All your help will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Vin

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the folks for sharing their experience in this forum. I would like to share my experience on my H1b Visa Stamping on 2nd March 2016 in Hyderabad Consulate.

VO : Hi

Me: Hi , How are you doing ?

VO: Which company are you working ?

Me: I said my company name.

VO: What is your current Salary ?

Me: Answered

VO: Do you on client location ?

Me: I said yes

VO: Who is your Client ?

Me: I said the name

VO: Visa is approved. I would like to ask you some unrelated questions . Is that okay ?

Me : Sure, go ahead .

VO: I see you studied in US what is the course is that ?

Me; I said Master in Computer Engineering

VO: Who paid your fee ?

Me; I had some saving and my dad supported. I got internship so I paid some fee with that.

VO: What is your dad do ?

Me; I answered it

VO: So did you take CPT

Me : Yes

VO: Did you take CPT in your last semester ?

Me: I took in summer and Fall.

VO: Thank you.

Does any have similar experience ? I still don't know why these unrelated questions were asked to me ..

Thanks & Regards
Kiran Rokkam

Its almost one month and still my status is Administrative Processing
I was not given any 221g,,,still no updates :'(

If any can give me any advice or opinion i will be glad.

Hello Everyone,
Thank to all the people who all added their valuable comments in Path2USA, immihelp websites.

I want to share my experience of H1B at Hyderabad Consulate:
I took the interview date as 28th Jan 2016 and for VAC ( First round) on 17th Jan 2016.

On 17th Jan:
For First day of Interview I took appointment at 13: 45 so I reached to VFS around 13:00 and was waiting for next process. Around 13: 15 security guard announced to make a line who all are having the appointment at 13:45. So all the people who all having that time appointment formed a line and security person came to each person and checked the Fee payment receipt and Scheduled time. After that he gave the permission to enter into the campus.
I Entered into the line again one more lady came and cross check the details from Passport and Print out of DS-160.Then they allowed me to go inside the building.
A security person scanned all the files which I was carried and then he gave a token and informed me to enter into main room.
When my token Number is called I went to a window , where a lady was sitting in the opposite side of the glass window. She asked my Passport and then asked me to read the declaration line which is pasted in the right side of the wall. Then she asked me to put left hand 4 fingers then Right hand 4 fingers then both hands Thumbs on the scanner. And then she took the photo , for that she asked me to sit on the chair which is kept beside me .
In the back side of passport, a sticker is pasted and returned the passport.

That’s it First day Over.

Tips :
• No need to carry all the documents, just carry the documents which are needed( DS-160 form confirmation letter, Fee payment receipt, Original Passport).
• Don't get Nervous, Everything will be in favour.

On 28th Jan: My appointment was scheduled at 11:00, I reached to the consulate at 10:15 at the main entrance a guard and help desk person asked me to show the passport, he took the passport and verified the details and send me inside the main gate.
Then security person gave a box to keep all my belongings including belt, wallet, and scanned me then sent me inside the second gate. There a consulate official person was standing he asked me the visa type and told me to sit in the sitting area, after 5 -10 minutes he asked 10 persons to go to window 7, An Indian lady came and collected my passport and then told me to stand in the line, when I reached to window , A US lady officer was sitting opposite to glass window who authenticated my presence with the help of Indian lady ( Indian lady asked me to put the right hand 4 fingers on the scanner, and returned the passport to me where as US lady office checked my details in her computer) and told me to stand on the next line for interview. I was standing for 2-3 minutes and I got a token to go to window 8. I reached there and US consulate officer was sitting back side of glass window I wished him Good Morning Sir, he replied the same with a smile and asked my passport I gave my passport to him, He asked me few questions:
1. Are you going to USA with the current Employer.
I gave the answer.

2. He asked me who is your client.
I gave the answer, but he was unable to understand the name, so I showed the name to him which was mentioned on my client letter.

3. He asked me where I am going in USA?
I told the city name and State.
He kept my passport and said Thank you, Your VISA is approved and have a great stay.

I said thank you sir and left the counter.

Tips: Don't get nervous, and give your answer confident.

ALL THE BEST

My interview was done on 1st March 2016 - H1B

VO: Hey
ME: Hi, Good Morning

VO: For which company you are going to work in US
ME: XYZ

VO: What is the project name?
ME: ABC

VO: ABC?
ME: Yes(she took around 30 seconds to look into the system after I answered)

VO: What's ur salary there?
ME: I told the amount that was mentioned in LCA doc

VO: What is the team size?
ME: Its 5

VO: Are you working for same project here?
ME: No its new project for me, I'm going to join that project there

VO: For which company are you working here?
ME: XYZ

VO: Ohh, the same company but you were into some other project here!?
ME: Yeah, True, I'm going to work for in-house project there.

VO: Thank you, your VISA got approved
ME: Thank you, bye!!

All the best to every one...

First of all very big thanks to all the people who shared their experiences in this portal.
my interview was done on 22-Jan-2016.
i went with my family.

ME: Good morning madam and given my passports

VO: Good Morning & give me your I797 form
ME: I have submitted I797 form

VO: Who is your Employer
ME: XYZ...

VO: where is this located
ME: XYZ...

VO: How many employees in this company.
ME: XYZ...

VO: Who is your client
ME: XYZ..

VO: What is your designation
ME: Sr. System Analyst

VO: How much salary they offered you
ME: XYZ...

VO: You both are going to US first time right ?
ME: YES

VO: You are all set to go
ME: Thanks

VO: Good Luck and taken passports
ME: Thank you so much.

Don't worry about your stamping interview. it will be very easy and they are really good persons, they are there to approve your visa's only until unless something wrong from your documents or employer. But be confident and listen carefully what they are asking.
good luck to all.

Hi All,

While filing the Petition from my 123 company it had been filed for XYZ client, later the project didn't turn up now my company wants to go with ABC client.
Could any one help with what all documents need to be changed/required. As per I797 i would from 123 company location.
Is any changes required to be done to the petition?

Regards.

First of all, thanks to this website and all contributors to guide on entire process.

I went with my wife and two years old daughter

Day1 was just biometric

You need to carry DS 160 confirmation page print, kids photographs in us visa picture specification and passport

Do not carry mobile, wallet, coins, bags, Keep all document in transparent plastic envelop.
 

You can carry other document on day 1 but keep the above documents handy.

Just go 30 mins before your schedule time slot, if you are with infants/kids, they will take you first.

They will check passport, ds160 confirmation and appointment letter and let you go to first floor where they will match the details of ds 10 confirmation with your passport.and, will ask you to go to next floor.

Here you will go thru security check, and again your appointment letter, passport and ds 160 for details will be scanned and passed thru three different desks.

They will put barcode stickers on the passport and will ask you to take token and wait till your token number flash on tv screens in waiting area.

Once you get your number they will ask details related to your passport, like
- Name, DOB, place of birther, and when is your consulate visa interview.

Then they will take finger prints for first, all eight fingers and then two thumbs, and that's it you can leave for the day.

Day 2:
Try to reach 30 mins before time slot
Do not carry water bottle, bags, coins, wallet, mobile. Keep documents in transparent plastic envelop.

There will be couple of security checks before you enter thru the building and they will stamp the dates on your ds 160 or appointment letter.

Keep passport, ds160, appointment letter and petition (I-797) copy handy

First queue will be to confirm your figure prints and match you with the picture taken the previous day, Then they will send you to next queue.

And, following questions were asked from Visa Officer
 
VO: What is your name
Me: mentioned exactly as given in passport

VO: Purpose of visit
ME: work at client location

VO: Who is your Client ?
ME: xyz

VO: Who is your employer
ME: abc

VO: What will be your salary?
ME: xxxx $ per year

VO: Who else is traveling with you ?
ME: My wife and my daughter

VO: What will you do in US
ME: I explained my job title and role I will be playing in US

VO: What is your current designation
ME: Tech Lead

VO: Can I ask few questions to your wife ?
Me: Sure!

To my wife
VO: When did your marriage happened ?
She: explained

VO: What is your DOB?
she: explained

VO: When did you meet him for first time?
she: yyyy year

VO: Ok, I am approving your visa!
And, he handed over two booklets stating "your rights when you are in US" It quite helpful. and he asked us to read it later.

And, that's it, he collected the passport and we were done for the day.

first a big thanks to all the people who had shared their experiences
more than i also thanks to all the people who could'nt able to make but still share their experiences
seriously guys i wouldnt able to do it with that dissapointment ,so once again thanks for all the guys

Let me get you straight about the interview ..
before the interview night i didnt sleep at all ..i dont knw why
so i had 2 coffees and was ready for the intervuew

ME: Hell good morning .
    How are you doing ?
    (VO look was serious he was asking too many questions to other people before me )
VO: am good thnx sir
    who is your petetioner ?
ME : said company name

ME :Do you want me to spell for you ?
VO: no i got it ..
VO: Which client are you working ?
ME :well it's a inhouse project for my employer
    though i will be working for multiple projects
    But i will be working through my employer
VO: ok what is the project name ?
ME : said
VO : Never heard about it ..
ME: well its in designing phase and will
be implemented by the end of the year and will be start selling the products ..
VO: ok what is the project all about ?
ME : said about the project
V0: ok sir your visa is approved ..
me : thanks sir and ran off from their

 i dont knw why people get queries am really sad for them for me it was cake walk ...
 confidence is the key
 congrates to all the guys who got the visa see u in america and who didnt got don't worry u l get it eventually be cool :)

Hello every one,

I was on F1 opt status and my wife was on F2 opt, both of us now in USA. my employer filed H1b for me, and asked me to file H4 for my wife, (there were miscommunication and misunderstanding that I need to wait until I get approved so I can file H4 for my wife).
The situation now I got approved for H1b and my wife F2 OPT status ended (out of status for a week now).
1) Can I still be able to file I-539 for my wife while she is here in the USA, even she is considered out of status? If yes there is still a chance to get it , is there a prediction based on your experience?
2) How long can my wife stay in USA waiting to I-539 response, considered safe duration to stay in USA in out of status state, in case the response takes long time.