H1B, H4 Visa

Firstly thanks for the immihelp and all the users you had shared there experiences in this forum. It was very useful and helped me in preparing for my visa interview.

I am sharing my experience too...

Dec 17th: OFC (Bio-metric process)

Interview time was at 10.00 AM, reached there by 9.30 and went inside. Checked passport, DS-160 forms and conformation letter.

Interview went smooth and came out with in one hour.

Dec 18th :( Visa Interview)

Interview time was at 10.00 AM, reached there by 9.15 AM. We(Myself and my spouse) went inside by 9.45 AM by showing the passport. Waited for 10 mins inside then security check went and came inside.

Again finger print verification by showing the passport. Then its time for final battle...

Its our turn now and went to the VO counter.

I was very nervous and finally interview started:

Me: GM officer
VO: GM (Our passports were already given to VO by one of staff member )
VO:Who is ur Employer?
Me: ABC
VO: Do u have client?
Me: Yes,, said client name
VO: How many employers will work in ur company?
Me: count
VO:What is your salary in US?
Me: YYYY USD
VO: What is ur highest qualification?
Me: said
VO: How did u found this job?
Me: Answered

 
To my wife"
VO: What is the date of your marriage?
My wife: Said
VO: What city and state ur going?
My wife: said

VO said our visa is approved but still showing the Admin process in the portal.... :(

Tips / Suggestions : Be cool and confident, prepare well, its not soo tough like IAS and other exams... ;)
 

All d best to other users..... :) :)

Day 1 : Visa OFC Went to finger prints, and joined the line, passport and Gmail confirmation page of appointment times were checked and sent in and was given a token and called,
Questions
What the purpose of the travel,
What time is your interview tomorrow
And took a photo graph and asked me to have fingers scanned

Me: Smiling and said Hello Mam, how are you?
VO: I'm good, how about you?
Me: I'm good. Do you care to see my i797?
VO: I didn't ask you.
.....A long pause, and she is trying to pull up my profile on her system......
VO: Looking at the passport, you haven't been to United States before right, wait..
Me: I interrupted and said, I have been to United States before, done my masters there.
VO: When did you graduate?
Me: told
VO: what were you doing after that?
Me: I started working for my employer
VO: So who is your employer?
Me: xxx inc
VO: How long you been with this employer
Me: xx months
VO: who's your client
Me: told
VO: are you with the same employer and same client after you graduate?
Me: yes
... She placed my passport in the basket and I assumed I can celebrate now....
VO: are you married or single?
Me: No I'm single
VO: Do you have plans for marriage?
Me: it's not fixed yet
VO: When you would like to get married ?
Me: may be next year.
VO: smiling and told good luck with that and said I'm good to go.
Me: Thank you, bubye.
VO: bye

Through out the interview I was very confident and tried to speak in American accent which she can understand properly and she never asked me to repeat any of my answers. I also maintained the American accent.

One thing I also noticed is the wait times for joint visa appointments (wife+husband+child) is very fast they won't stop them to sit here and there.

1 mistake I made is going to stand in the line 1 and half hours before my scheduled time. I seriously would like you guys to go just half an hour before your scheduled time. It doesn't matter if you go late too, cuz the security guys over there will keep calling your slot times like , 8.00 and 8.30 people please come forward. I have seen people coming late and didn't wait in line and went inside quickly, a lesson to learn for me. Once we enter the outside line, we will be again waiting for security check, here again I made a mistake carrying sealed envelopes, so this made me go to security check 2 times, but after the security check you will be called forward and your passports will be checked and will again make you wait by asking you to sit, and then you will be called to join the interview line, I saw like 8 counters with visa interviews. No tokens nothing..

Be confident and keep a smile you will rock.

Hi All,

Thanks a ton to everybody who has shared their experiences. It really helped me to get my visa approved. My OFC was on 12/13 and PA on 12/17. Below is my experience.

12/13 - OFC :
My biometrics appointment was at 13:45 but I reached by 12:30 and I had to wait outside the gate till 13:15. Security person will check for the Appointment date and time and the passport. As it was sunday there was huge crowd and had to stand in queue for a long time of around 1 hour. when we are in the line, DS-160, Appointment confirmation and the details in the passport are crosschecked. All through this time we did not enter the building yet. At the entrance of the building there are CGI(OFC staff) sitting and they were scanning the barcode on the appointment confirmation and you will be sent inside. Once you are in, there will be a security check again and a new barcode will be generated and they will stick on back of your passport and a token number is given to you. Then you need to enter the actual hall where biometrics will be taken. At my turn I was asked for the purpose of our visit and ll the 10 fingers print was taken. We were asked to take photographs in 2 * 2 inch size to the actual interview but they didn't ask for them on interview day. Thats it on OFC day.

Interview Day 12/17 :
Our appointment was at 9:00 Am and we reached by 8:50 AM, we ( Myself, my wife and kid) were asked to enter into the premises and asked to sit in a group as per the slot timings. within 5-10 min we are in queue for security check where you need to take off all your (metal) belongings in a tray and enter inside security building. After security check we were directed to another building and asked to wait for 5-10 min. US Rights Pamphlets were issued here. Then there was a fingerprints check here and after 10-15 min of wait we are in the actual interview queue. Believe me I was in an assumption that we will enter inside the building for actual interview but everything happened outside the building. There are some counter inside the building as well but for me everything happened outside the building. There are candidates at all the counters. When one person interview is over, that token number will be given to the next available person in the queue. My token number was 10 and it was an old lady who is taking interview. Ahead of me one F1 was rejected and 2 H1 was approved. I was never nervous because of this site which really helped me a lot. Now it is my turn and below are the questions.

Me : Good Morning Officer (and passed my passports and I797B as well)
VO : Good Morning
VO : You have never been to US before ?
Me : No ( nodding my head I said no)
VO : How did you know about this employer ?
Me : I posted my resume in job portals like dice, indeed and fortunately I got call from YYYY Company?
VO : What is the head count of YYYY Company ??
Me : Answered
VO : Do you know anything about your employer like when it was established.... ??
Me : Answered ( I did prepare for this question)
VO : Do you have any end client ?
Me : YYYY has many clients like abc, def, ghi.... and I will be working......
VO : she interrupted me in between and asked if it is an in house project
Me : I answered Yes (I didn't wasnt to say in house directed as I don't have any project details and I was not assigned any project currently)
VO : What will be your US Salary
Me : XX USD
VO : I am approving your visa.
Me : Thank you so much and Mary Christmas

No questions to my wife and kid, we came out happily and are very thankful to Immihelp site.
Thanks again.

Hi,

Need your assistance on the below.

1. My wife is H1b visa holder and now she is in US with my Kid.
2. I took leave for few months and I travelled to US with my wife in H4 visa. When i was
there in US, i applied for H1 and im back to india after 5 Months.
3. After returning to india i continued to work in the same private sector.
4. Recently my H1 visa got approved.

Clarification required on the below :

1.Can i travel to US in H4 visa ?
2.What will happen to my H4 Visa ?
3.Should i go for H1B Visa stamping to enter into U.S.A ?
4.Can i travel to US in H4 visa and can i go for change of status to H1 ?

Pls let me know if anyone knows clearly how these things work, im confused now and i want to be with my wife and kid.

thx in advance

Hi Guys,

Thank to Immihelp for maintaining this site for US Visa related information and forum.

This really helped me.

Myself and my wife went for stamping and it is approved.

Question: who do you work for?
Answer: Given my employer details
Question: which office location are you going to work?
Answer: Given the City and Address details
Question: Who is your client?
Answer: As I am going to work as direct employee I said the same thing.

Our Visa's are approved.

Thanks and All the Best friends... :)

Hi,

I am Indian Citizen yesterday I attended for US VISA with Family in European country (where I am staying since 2 years) small info was missing VO asked to email it and my VISA would be approved and Passport are kept with US Embassy.

My European VISA is expiring in next 20 days and my current status is Administrative Processing and learnt that this status may take 60 days or more to process also. can someone advise how to proceed with this?

Thanks,
Bachi

Hello Guys,

I completed my first masters in X university in 2012. Due to H1 lottery problems, I enrolled for second masters in Sep 2014 and continuing classes in Y University. I am currently in Semester Break and because my H1B is approved from October 2015. I did not completed Second masters yet.

My questions is:

1) Should i add X and Y universities in Education ?

2) Should i add only completed college (Which is X)?

3) If suppose, i need to add two, the system not allowing me to enter future date for keeping future date as To Date .

What should i do ? If anybody have ideas, please let me know.

Thanks !

Hi All,

Below is a brief experience of mine

I have scheduled for OFC on 9th Dec and Interview on 10 Dec.

OFC - 9th Dec :

I had my slot scheduled at 9 AM. Reached there by 8.15 AM. Security did not allow me inside till 8.30AM even though it was slightly drizzling. While entering inside, security asked for my appointment confirmation which I have shown. Then I was redirected to a queue in first floor where they cross check your DS 160 confirmation with your passport details(like first name, last name, DOB, passport number etc). Once this is done, I was asked to move to the next counter(dont remember if this is also there on the same floor) where Indian officer once again checks the DS 160, sticks a bar code to the passport that represents your DS160. In the next counter, you will be issued a token by the security and I had to wait for my turn. Mapping of token number with the counter number would be displayed on a screen. When I went to the counter, I was asked to give impressions of my left hand four fingers, followed by right hand four fingers followed by the two thumbs. With this I am done with OFC.

10 Dec, Consular Interview :
As it was predicted to rain that day, I have reached the consulate at 10.30 and my slot is at 12PM. Then realized that they were doing it on FCFS basis(not the same always). After waiting in the queue around the consulate for 10 mins, I was let inside with an immediate security check up, where they open all your files and sealed envelopes if any. They scan your folders as well. Once done, we were asked to sit in a room(have not entered the main building yet). After 5-10 mins, we were asked to join a queue outside the main building. Around 70-80 candidates were waiting ahead of me to enter the building. Took around 40-45 mins to clear up. Once you are inside, your biometrics will be cross checked and few marks will be placed on the DS 160 barcode(not sure what those marks meant) on your passport and I was asked by the Indian Officer if I am going for a new employment for which I answered.

Then I was directed to another queue of around 8 rows where around 50 candidates were waiting for their interview. Waited for 40 mins for my turn. The staff there asked me to go to a specific counter number where an elder couple were being interviewed for a tourist visa and they were done in no time. As they left the counter, VO greeted my and below is the conversation.

VO : Good Morning sir
ME : VGM Sir, How are u doin
VO : Good, Passport pls
ME : Passed on the Passport
VO : What is your highest educational qualification
ME : Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science Engineering
VO : So, your petitioner is YYYY ..??
ME : Yes sir
VO : Are you going to work at your client location..??
ME : Yes sir
VO : Client name..??
ME : ZZZ
VO : What is the project name
ME : YYYY sir
VO was typing continuously and I think that he is checking petition details.
VO : How long have u been working on this..??
ME : This is a new employment sir
VO : How did you get to know about this position..??
ME : One of my childhood friend who is working with them referred me to an open position
VO : Can I have your Client Letter
ME : Passed on
Typing Typing and after around a minute,
VO : Your Visa is approved sir, pls read these employee rights and keep this along with you sir
ME : Sure Sir, Thank You

He returned the client letter and kept my passport.

Documents that I have carried.
1) DS 160 conf, Appointment letter, Passport
2) I797
3) LCA
4) I129
5) Offer Letter
6) Client Letter
7) Experience letters
8) Last 3 years form 16's along with returns.
9) Educational Certificates

I got mail that my Passport is ready for pick up on 14 Dec.
Hope this helps.

Hi Everyone,

I work in a MNC 'ZZZ' company but filed petition through an employer outside
Petition was approved on Oct 12th after RFE.

1. OFC Interview on Dec 11, 2015 at 11.15AM
Documents to carry:
(i) Passport
(ii) DS 160 confirmation
(iii) Appointment confirmation

Reached around 10.30AM but they allowed me in the queue only at 11AM. As many were sharing their experiences, it didn't complete soon. They will stamp on DS 160 form with date that biometrics has been done and a sticker on the passport. Came out of the OFC after biometrics & photo at 12.15PM.

Basic question asked: Purpose of your travel
Answer: Employment in US

2. Visa interview on Dec 14, 2015 at 11AM

Documents to carry:
Take the same DS 160 form which was stamped
Passport and all supporting documents.

They allowed me to join the queue by 10AM itself but entered inside from the main entrance only after 10.45AM. My suggestion is report at 10min early so that you will be given preference to enter the gate. No need of waiting in the long queue.

Don't take any sealed envelopes. My petitioner provided their tax documents in a sealed envelope to submit to VO incase they ask for. But the security check-in guys didn't let me. I unsealed the envelope in their presence and entered inside. Your finger prints will be verified again for confirmation.

Finally, stood in a queue in front of VO. There are two guys in front of me. A helper took my passport from me and passed on to VO even before my turn came.
The visa was rejected for the guy before me. He is a student applied for F1.
The VO asked him many questions about his academics but didn't explain him properly.
I was bit nervous when my turn came.

VO: Hi
Me: Hello Sir. How are you doing?
VO: Great. What's your designation?
Me: Software developer
VO: Whats your annual pay?
Me: $XXK
VO: Oh you work for MNC 'ZZZ'
(Not sure what he meant to ask whether he is enquiring about my current MNC company or the outside petitioner)
Me: Yes sir (Incase if there is any cross question from, I thought of detailing him that currently I'm working for MNC 'ZZZ' but my petitioner was a new employer 'ABC'. But he didn't ask anything else)
VO: Approved
'I didn't get that properly and I gave him a puzzled look'
VO: Yes sir, your visa is approved
Me: Thank you sir.

I came out by 12PM. I was really surprised with my interview. Hardly took 20seconds. Didn't even ask me a single document. Since my petition was RFE, most of the verification was already been completed. Guys with RFE approved can relax and be confident.

I think people who received 221g, their petition would have been approved without RFE. That's why the VO wants more documentation. Guys without RFE approved should focus on questions related to your employer.

Go through this interview video. This was uploaded by Hyderabad US Consulate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge39L2IRyUw

Parking is available on FCFS basis.

Received SMS & email on 15th Dec evening to collect the passport

Collected the passport on 16th Dec morning (Carry any id proof copy along with your signature on it. Passport copy/Voter ID copy/PAN Card copy/Adhaar card copy. Nothing else is required.)

Wishing everyone one of you all the best and merry christmas & happy new year.

Hi Friends,

This community helped me a lot in clearing H1B Visa interview. I am posting my experience. I am delayed in this posting but hope it helps others :-) Here we go......
==========================================================================
1. OFC Interview was smooth. This will be simple as long as we fill DS-160 perfectly.
2. Visa Interview schedule: on 27th Nov, 2015 at 9.30AM.

I had a tough time convincing the VO. As I was answering, she kept asking the questions. Below is my experience.
We (I, My wife and Son) reached the venue by 8.45AM. Joined the queue at 9.00AM. Done with Security check. Moved further and sat in waiting lobby. Greeters gave us US Rights pamphlet. Asked us to be ready with Passport and I797B Doc. I observed that there are many Students for F1 visa. I think I found only 5-6 people for H1B Visa. All those are attending with family. Greeters called us for finger printing check. After completing fingerprinting, we have joined the interview queue. Around 20 people are waiting in Q. One of the greeter came and gave us the Token as we are having kid. So I got a chance to move further in the Q. My token number was 9. Before me there are 3 candidates are waiting for interview. VO is lady. She is taking much time for each person. Looks she is going deeper in the interview. I didn’t pay attention to others interview and was playing with my son. Greeter has come to us, took our passports, and handed over to VO.

My turn has come to face the mission ?….Below are the questions:
Who is your employer?
What about this company?
What do you do?
Do you have client?
Who is your client?
What the client does?
She was asking more details on the client. I think she is checking in internet….
What business client into?
Explain in detail….??
What kind of projects/customers into your client?
Are you going to work for the client?
What do you do in your technology?
Where are you located?
Who did your interview?
What is the name of the interviewer?
When the interview was conducted?
How did you get this opportunity?
Who contacted you?
I was explaining all these…..she kept asking next….next????
What is your overall experience?
Which company currently you work for?
What applications you work for?
What is the database used?
Questions to my wife:
How long you have been married?
How many kids you have?
We have 2 kids. So she was about to make it an issue. I told that she is very tiny, we can’t bring for interview.
Where is your second kid passport?
Are you going to travel with family?

Finally she said, Your Visa is issued.

We have received SMS after 2 days as Passport is ready for pick up.

I believe getting US Visa is pure luck...not really our performance....

Best of luck for your VISA interviews.....