H1B, H4 Visa

Interview date : 17 Feb 2016

VO: Which company you are going to work for?
me: xxx

VO: Can you spell it?
me: X X X

VO: Who is your client?
me: No client. Its a product company

VO: What is the location of the company?
me: Palo Alto, California

VO: (to my wife) How long have been married?
wife: x years

VO: Sir, your visa is approved. Have a safe journey.
me: Thanks.

My appointment was scheduled at 10AM and I was out by 10:35AM.

my wife went for H4 interview . She was on F1 visa .

Questions asked .

How long were you been in US ?
Where does your spouse work ?

Thats it . No documents asked

Below is my case.

I went for my first H1b stamping at Chennai, India in Feb 2009(I did MS in Computer Science in USA and Graduated in Dec 2007. When I went for H1b stamping, I was working on in-house project, received 221g for employer verification
I came back to USA on H4 visa at the end of 2009 and 221g was still pending and in 2010 my H1b petition was revoked because of employer not providing proper documentation. Since H1b CAP was not an issue I filed my H1b in 2011 with different employer and got approval and since then I am working. Now I am thinking of going to Hyderabad, India for H1b stamping (Presently I am working as full time with client) did anybody come across similar situation. Can I get successful stamping this time as I am working for reputed client. Please advise.

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for the immihelp. With all experiences and help it will become easy and gives lot of confidence when we are going for Visa Stamping.

Please find my experience below which may help others who are going for Visa stamping.

My interview @ Chennai, 18th Feb 2016 @9:00 AM

I have reached their by 8 AM and crowd was very less and more applications are going for regional language interview. So English counters are pretty much less.

I Finished my interview before 8:45 AM though it was scheduled at 9 AM

Questions:

VO: Hello, Good Morning
Me: Good Morning Officer

VO: How are you doing?
Me: I am doing good Officer, Thank you. How is your day sir? ( He is drinking energy drink and words exchanged )

VO: Is YYYY is your Current company?
Me: I said Yes,

VO: Is your Petitioner is same as your current company?
Me : No Officer, Its new employment and i said my new employer name

VO: Are you going to work for Client?
Me: I said yes and said the client name.

VO: Whats your roles and responsibility?
Me : Explained

VO: Whats is your Salary in US?
Me: Explained

VO: Whats is your Highest Qualification?
Me: Explained

That's It.

VO: I am Approving Your Visa Mate :-), Thank You and have a lovely day ahead.
 and then he has given US rights pamphlet.

Dont get tensed guys, go through documents, I129 and LCA and prepare accordingly. VO's are mostly friendly.
 Be confident and All the best guys.

First of all my gratitude towards the entire immihelp family! Both to the website forum and to its members contributing their time and valuable energy in sharing the experiences after the visa interview, which rarely people think of after they get their visas in hand ! Like everyone who after they understand their visa interview date, get nervous and determined to excel, mine condition was not too different! I too was very much in panicky state and the biometrics date arrived! I had to go for my H4 visa interview with my n my children's passports! My husband already is in US on h1B ! I understood children are exempted from coming for the interview, n so was in a dilemma to get them, thinking tht questions won't b asked too much n they would grant my visa too :- p ! I was toying with the idea of taking my twins who turned one last month, however I realised that it wud b difficult to manage both and also the consulate doesn't allow any care taker;( ! Meanwhile, I made my mind to face it myself, and not take them or ruin their schedule unnecessarily! It's a different thing that I too wasn't feeling good to go alone without them, but I still took d challenge:) n it was paid off, evry bit !

My experience:
Biometrics appointment on 16/2/15 at 10.45 am, I reached at 10 ! Thinking I m too early, but the process was very cool, and they completed the formalities, very swiftly!! I completed it by 10.30am ! Must say the place is so small that you don't realise when the things are done !! The security checking u, like in malls, the executives on the tables, like any ordinary bank and most important the biometric counter, it was the coolest! I was tensed before I entered by when I looked around, I felt better ! Anyone who has been to the Thane Passport office, would realise tht the Thane passport office is far more better designed than this office and hence going here is no different! By this time I was over confident n as I reached the counter the lady at the glass counter asked fr our ds160 n passports, later she asked me n my kids birth date ! I did stumble upon my elder daughters birth date when questioned and came out cursing myself, as to how cud I forget my kids birth date?? Trust me, this happens!! I would advice everyone to not take such instances to heart, it's ok if u fumble, don't take it so seriously and don't let it affect ur interview next day!

Interview at Mumbai US consulate office on 17/2/2016, Today :
It was at 10am and I reached at 9.15am, but the process was so slow, that till 10.30am, my turn didn't come! Must say it was testing my patience at evry step. The queue outside was never ending, and I was wondering how so many people are up, at this time in the morning! Even, 9 am people hadn't completed their interview!! The security asked to keep my passport in hand, but I would advise if u are carrying many passports, remember to keep it back in the pouch that u carry!! One person had lost his passport in the queue itself! Later we were asked to sit at the verandah kind of area around the consulate, frm where people were moving slowly to the side area towards the left of the consulate! The security checking was like at the airports, asking to keep our watches, pen etc. We were then directed to a big area ! This area had facility for washrooms and drinking water! I heaved a sigh of relief when I found it, however the happiness was short lived when I returned to see the line had gone ahead, far ahead ! People were rushing to go to washrooms and join the queue for sitting arrangements, thinking they will b taken early, as it was 10 already and still 9 am batch wasn't completed :(! I would advice people not to get excited when they experience such things, it's very normal to get affected, but your turn will also come in time. It was very difficult to keep my Cool, and the line was testing me every moment !! I jolted back to reality when I found that finally I have come in the last queue:)! It took half a hour for me to come here. Meanwhile I could see the light from the glass panes of the consulate, it was of the biometrics counter! Here we had to match our finger prints we had recorded yesterday!

I was finally inside the consulate office, the AC was very strong here! There were total 40 counters for the interview, like train or any ordinary bank enquiry counter ! I tried to see the lady at the counter asking for finger prints, she was having blonde hair and looked so beautiful ! When my turn came, I was nervous again, I wished her good morning ! She didn't reply back and asked me to match my right hand fingers, I did, she frowned and said one moment ! I thought if the match was not proper n was afraid ! She looked at the computer, n later wished me back good morning with the sweetest of smile I could have seen ever ! :))

Finally the interviewe line, I could hear people answering around to the questions asked by officers on the speakers, very clearly! Shifting my focus on my interview, I arranged our passports, i797 n husbands visa photocopy. I saw a VO talking at a high pitch towards the interview lady, and wished I wasn't be interviewed by her! Later understood she was doing her job, and granted the lady her visa too! Both mine and her interview was completed at the same time, when we exited the office ! I was asked to stand at the round sticker on the floor behind the person who was giving his interview ! Finally my turn, n it was with another beautiful ! I tried to rehearse, which I should not have at that moment ! She was asking me to come ahead, which I found difficult for the person ahead of me was still there !

N d final moment came!

Me : Good morning mam, how are you?
VO : Good morning ! I m gud, what about you?
Me : I m ok, having sore throat since yesterday !!
(I wanted to b honest from that very moment :)
VO : Oh sorry to hear that, your passports please?
I handed all the three of our passports, for me and my twins.
VO : How was your marriage arranged?
Me : I was expecting this question, and replied accordingly.
VO : How is your husbands nature?
I pondered thinking this question was not expected, still continued saying about my husband, n before i completed she asked, if I will b travelling with kids?
Yes
VO : Fantastic, ok ur visas approved !!
Thank you Mam, have a nice day!
Before I could thank her completely, she started waving her hands for the next one in the queue, like how she did for the one earlier before me:)

I was still not sure if my interview ended, and was checking if my passports with me, I realised she took it, yay !! That's it!! No documents asked, no questions, nothing, only about my husband, my kids and my marriage, cool isn't it ?? Later I realised the seriousness and intention of her question, she was asking for my safety! There are many fraud cases happening for H4 visa and she was ensuring about well being ! She was a dutiful officer and I could see Indian VOs as well around !

The biometrics were on 16th feb, i.e. Yesterday and today I had my interview I.e.on 17th feb, must say its 12 pm, n m still soaking in the happiness of getting my visa approved !! More than that the responsibility of taking my twins visa too myself, without them !! The key to get H4 visa is to ensure you have all documents with you and to be honest. Every visa officer wants to ensure the spouse stays with the family and they need to ensure that the family is honest.

Tips :

-Try and look at the VO as much as possible while answering the questions.
-When you are asked to stand in the queue, be prepared, and stop memorising!
-Don't hunch or bend while u enter the consulate room, the officers are watching u from that very moment and must say it's very difficult to stand erect!
-Try and look at the VO from the moment u are asked to stand behind the other person answering his/her interview.
-The VOs are very polite and cool, if you are honest! But they are firm n no nonsense people, so keep ur answers short n crisp !
- This interview is like any other viva exam or job interview, so relax!
-Trust your instincts, have faith in God! Remember fear only resides in weak minds, if you have come this far, u will definitely clear this interview :) ! All the best !

Hi All,

I am posting this very late but thought it might help others.

Here is my experience for h1b visa interview.

OFC: Attended on jan 11th 2016 to hyderabad.
Asked: what is the purpose of my trip.
Me: Answered

Main Interview: Attended on Jan 12th 2016.

Questions:

VO: Hi, Good morning
Me: Good morning Mam
VO: Can I have your passport please.
Me: I gave it
VO: Who is your petitioner.
Me: Answered.
VO: What do you do for them.
Me: Answered.
VO: How long you have been working for them.
Me: Answered.

VO: Your visa approved and gave the rights pamplet.

Thanks to immihelp!!

Be Confident and All the best for all.

Hi all,
        I am Ananth and was working in United States from 2011 with same company and also I was with same company in India as well from 2008, I traveled to Toronto on Feb 1st week of 2016 to get my H1B stamping. The process went very smooth and not many people at the consulate. It took less than a hour.

I went to Mexico city in 2013 for my L1B renewal, so my suggestion or experience with applying for visa stamping outside your home country is your experience in Unites States and how long you have been with the company sponsoring the VISA. If you are with the sponsoring company for atleast 2 yrs then only I suggest applying visa in other countries(other than home country) because from my experience the interviewer at the consulate is looking at your profile and years of service with your company.

In my case I was asked the same questions in Mexico in 2013 and Toronto in 2016.
"How many years you are with this company?"
7.5yrs
"How Long have you been in Unites Stated?"
4.5yrs
"What is your role?"
Systems engineer and my job is to do so and so.............
"Why your company is moving you to H1?"
I was on L1 for 5 yrs which is maximum.

Hope this information helps.....

Thanks

Hi All,
Good morning !

Here is my experience for H1b visa.

OFC: Attended OFC on 16th Feb 2016 and it takes 30 minutes.

Main interview :

I have attend H1b interview on 17th Feb 2016 .

Questions are :

Me : Hello, Good morning !
VO : Hi, Good morning !
VO: Can I have your passport please.
Me: Yes, here it is.
VO: Who is your petitioner.
Me: Answered.
VO : What is your designation.
Me: Answered.

VO : Thank you, your VISA approved sir!

Me: Thank you and left from the counter.

Main interview has done in 30 seconds and overall it took 30 minutes.

I would like to thanks to immihelp which is really help me a lot to Bundestag the process.

Don't have any words to immihelp other than say thanks , thanks again!

All the best for all.

HI,

I have a situation where my current employer mistakenly requested for cancellation of my petition and my employer got the confirmation also. This happened because earlier I was suppose to join my current employer in Dec 2015 but since visa transfer didn't happen on time so my joining date got pushed to Jan 18th 2016. Due to this, there was a miscommunication to the visa team and visa team thought that I didn't join in Dec and they requested for petition cancellation. Though I joined my current employer on jan 18th and has been working till today. But I have been informed that I cant work now for the company and they are going to file for new petition in premium category.

My question is, how are they are going to justify this case? and how are they going to justify my invalid status from the date it got invalidated till today? I am really worried, what happens in this case? Am I eligible to stay in US?

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Below are the questions asked in Chennai consulate for H1B extension:

1. is it new H1 or extension
2. what is your highest qualification
3. what is your highest qualification (to my wife)
4. annual salary

We were with a baby, so the entire process was very fast.

Collected the passport in 2 days. If you are sending representative to pick up your passports then each application has to give hand written authorization letter.