H1B, H4 Visa

Hi

Thanks all for sharing your experiences :)

I have been waiting for sharing mine

First i would like to tell you .. VO was very cool ... he was speaking hindi to one candidate as he was not able to answer properly ... He was an IT guy for B1 visa but not bale to answer properly ..surprise .. so VO asked him on hindi and everybody was astounded .. that i was in queue and wish that same VO will take my interview .. and It was my turn.. I was assigned to the same VO queue and i thanked god .

Ahead of me was H4 visa candidate .. VO was speaking in Tamil ..that was awesome to see VO knowing that many languages . VO greeted her by nodding his head .. "AAPKA VISA HON GAYA DHANYAWAD"

Then its my turn

I will directly come to point .. how, what and why of H1b Interview

Interview was like a flash of light ..hardly lasts for 30 secs

VO : Passport Please
VO: Who is your employer
ME : Answered
VO: Wats your designation
ME : TEAM LEAD
VO: Salary
ME : Answered
VO : Are you excited
ME : Sorry office can you repeat
VO: Are you excited
ME : Yes very much !
VO: Your visa is approved , You will get in 3 days

Finally ! golden words .. no document asked .

TIPS:- Dress formal , Take a chill pill if your case is legitimate , Preparation is the key of success , Mug all the expected questions and scenarios .

For me it was cake walk but you never what will come what we expect .

here are few questions i found that may help .

All the best

Q: Good morning. How are you doing today?
A: Good morning. I am fine, and how about you?
Q: What is the purpose of your trip?
A: Employment in the US.
Q: When was your passport issued?
A: On
Q: Is this your first passport?
A: Yes.
Q: Have you ever been to the U.S.?
A: Yes on tourism
Q: Have you ever been here (to the consulate) before?
A: Yes for B1/B2 Visa.
Q: Are you planning to return to India?
A: Yes
Q: Do you have any plans to come back to India?

A: Yes! This is a just a temporary assignment for about 1 years, I will be coming back to India once the project is done.

Q: Why would you want to come back?
A: I am the only son of my elderly parents and I would need to take care of them and also would need to look after our properties.
Q: What will you do after coming back to India? Q: What will be your plans after coming back to India?
A: I will continue working with pvt ltd my employer in the software field while taking care of my parents and properties.

Q: How will you survive your first month in the States before your first paycheck?
A: My employer is taking care of the accommodation and food for the first month and also have my own emergency fund.

Q: How long have you been married?
A: NO
Q: On what purpose are you going to the States?
A: For Employment.
Q: Why do you want to work in USA?
A: For global exposure, more challenging roles , growth and a better salary.
What made you to choose to work in USA?
A: for Global exposure as it will tremendously helps me to broaden my skills and enhances my ability to work across cultures. So I believe this opportunity will definitely helps to advance my career.
Q: What do you know about this place?
A: I heard Monroe weather is very much similar to Indian weather. So that definitely helps me to get adjusted to it pretty quickly.

Q: Do you have family in USA?
A: NO
Q: Have you ever applied for any (immigrant/nonimmigrant)
visa for any other country?
A: NO
Q: Have you ever traveled outside of India?
A: Yes I visited UK, Taiwan france US for tourism
Education / Qualifications
Q: What are your qualifications?
A: Bachelors of Engineering in
Q: Are you currently studying?
A: NO
Q: What is the highest degree that you have?
A: Bachelors of Engineering in
Q: Can I see your degree certificates?
A: Yes, definitely. (Show them your certificates)
Q: In which year and from which university did you get this degree?
A:
Q: How many total years of IT experience do you have?
A: 7 years 5 months.
Current Employer / Prior Experience
Q: Which company do you currently work for?
A:
Q: For how long have you been working for ABC?
A: 5 years 8 months
Were you ever on ‘Bench’?

No.
Did you see any suspicious activity in your company?

No.
Who assigns work to you?

My Employer. Assign me project and work

Q: What are your current job responsibilities?
A:

Q: What will be your job responsibilities?

Q: What is your role?
A: I will be working as Test Lead
Q: Can you briefly describe about the project you are assigned? Q: Can you explain your project in brief?

Q: Describe about your client
A:
Q: What is your current salary?
A:
Q: Can I see the pay stubs from your current employer?
A: Sure! (Pass your pay stubs)
Q: How long have you been working with the current client?
A: 9 Months
Q: Do you work at a different location other than your Employer’s location?
Yes, I will be working at Client Place.
Q: ABC is an excellent company. Why are you leaving it?
A: For better growth and direct international exposure.
Q: How long is your project at the client in USA?
A: Around 1 year
Q: When are you planning to travel to USA?
A: 15th December
Q: Can I see the experience letters?
A: Yes, definitely. (Show them your letters)
Q: How long have you been in the IT field?
A: 7 years 5 months.
Sponsor Company / H1B Employer
Q: What is the name of the company you are going work for in USA?
A:
Q: Have you verified whether YYYY is a legitimate company in USA? How do you know?
A:
Q: Briefly describe your sponsoring employer company.
A:
Q Petitiones address in US
A :
Q: How many employees work at your future employer?
A:
Q: What is the annual turnover of your US employer?
A: don't know.
Q: Do you know the name of the President of your sponsoring employer?
A:
Q: Can I see the job offer letter?
A: Yes, definitely. (Show them the letter)
Q: Why do you want to join such a small company? Your current company is so big.
A: For a more challenging role, better salary, and international exposure.
Q: What is your salary going to be in US?
A:
Q: Can I see your LCA (Labor Condition Application from the sponsoring employer) and your latest
salary slip (pay stub) from your current employer?
A: Sure. (Show them)
Q: What is your designation going to be at the US company?
A: Test lead
Q: At what location will you work in USA?
A:
Q At what address you will be satying at US
A:
Q: Do you know the average living cost in <City, State>?
A: Answer appropriately, something like $30,000/year or whatever the realistic figure may be.
Q: Did you pay for you H1B petition related expenses? Q: Did you bear the H1 expenses?
A: No! My employer took care of all the H1 expenses

Q: Are you going to work onsite at a client's location?
A: Yes. (Be prepared to show the client letter)

Q: What kind of work are you going to be doing?
A: Explain your duties briefly.

Why you going so late after petition approval?
As the requirement was freeze for some month from the client and now the position is open again.
for you today? / Who is your petitioner?

• Where is your employer located?

• Who is your CEO?

• Address of employer

• What is your qualification for this job?

• What is your employer business? / What's your employer? / What does your employer do? / What is your company about?

• What do you do for your company? / What are your duties/roles and responsibilities? / What is your title and what do u do for your employer? / What is your designation? / What is your job? / What is your role in your company?

• Can you please elaborate the duties?

• How much duration u r working with your employer? / How long you been working with your employer? / When did you join your employer?

• What is your annual salary? / How much do you get paid? / How much is your income? / What is your pay?

• Do you discuss pay and wages with your employer? Yes, I do discuss, but as of now, am very happy with what he is paying.

• Why is your salary fluctuating? Why there is deduction on paystubs? / Why so much change in salary?

• Show me ur bank statements

• Why is your pay less in last year W2?

• Show me your W2 worked for your employer.

• Show me your pay stubs

• Where do you work at?

• How do you like xxxxx place?

• Do you have any issues/problems with your employer?

• How do you get your work assignments?

• Does your employer know about your projects?

• Whom do you report to? What you will report to your employer?

• How do you report to your employer? - Weekly status call, biweekly status report, stand-up calls when necessary

• Who will allocate the work? YYYY person from my company and YYYY manager from client will co-ordinate and YYYY person from my company will allocate the work.

• Is there any gap (sitting idle) during change of the clients? / Are you on bench? / Does your company ever bench you?

• I can see that your employer does not pay on time? No I get pay on time. (Please be more confident this time. Say it’s always on time)

• Does your employer maintain employer-employee relationship? How?

• How many employees does your employer have, and any one work in same location with you?

• How your employer and Vendor are related?

• Are you satisfied with all the companies you work or worked for?

• Are you happy with your employer?

From what time who have been working with your current client?

• How long with client and employer? / Same time with employer and Client?

• Do you have an end client? Do you have client letter?

• Who is your End client?

• What do they do?

• How long you been working with your end client? / How many months you worked for this client? / How much duration you are working with Client?

• Do you travel to client place? / Do you travel every week to client location?

• What is your position with the client?

• Where is your client located?

• How far Client is from your place?

• Do you work at a client site?

• Any other employees working from your company at client?

• What do you work at Client? / What is your work at client location?

Explain same as in client letter

• Do you have supervisor/manager at YYYY client and what is his name?

• How long is the project with your client

VENDOR Questions:

• Do you have vendor? / Do you have any layers?

• What does your vendor do?

• Do you have any one between your client and employer

• How come your Vendor found your client?

Before me there are 2 F1 guys, One got approved and other got rejected. VO was in frustrating mood as the F1 student was unable to answer to some basic questions.

ME:Good Morning Sir
VO: No Response

VO: What is ur company?
ME: YYYY Technologies

VO: What is your salary?
ME: YYYY / annum

VO: What is your designation?
ME: YYYY

VO: What is your company address?.
ME: told

He just kept my passport in the basket..
I missed GOLDEN WORDS..

OFC:
OFC was scheduled at 1:00 PM december 7th, but reached there before 11:00 AM.
There was a long queue outside and they allowed me into the queue only before 15 minutes of appointment (they didn't allow mobile and handbag inside, so i kept the belongings outside private locker which they charged 200 rupees only for 10 minutes).

Went to the counter exactly scheduled time and done giving the finger prints in just 2 minutes and came outside (at the time of giving finger prints he has asked me what is my purpose of travel to US)

H1B Interview:

appointment time is 9:AM on December 8th, but reached around 7:45 AM. Again there was long queue outside. They allowed me into the queue at 8:AM, after passing several queues i reached finger prints checking counter at 9:AM. I was asked to be wait for some time as they were checking my passport and verifying my details and finger prints (all the people were just moved to the next counter for visa interviews, but they didn't send me for verifying the details again. I got bit tensed. In several minutes they came back and called me for checking my finger prints again. This time they were satisfied and i moved to the much awaited VO counter.

ME: Good morning officer,
VO: Good morning, your passport and I-797 please
ME: Given my passport and I-797
VO: By looking at my I-797, so are you working with ABC?
ME: I am currently working with YYYY XX. I got a new job opportunity for working with ABC
VO: How long you will stay there?
ME: Answered
VO: Your salary?
ME: Answered
VO; What you will do there
ME:Answered.
VO: Are you married?
ME: Yes
VO: Why they didn't come with you, are they not travelling with you?
ME:Answered.
VO: he typed something in his computer for few minutes and said your visa is approved and you can get it in 3 days.
ME: Thank you sir..

Checked my visa status today i.e december 10th 8:PM but it is still under administrative processing.
How many days it will take to issue my passport? can any one reply, i need to travel in next week.

Hello All,

I had visa interview on November 30th at Chennai. Visa Officer said my visa is approved and took my passport. But till now my Passport status is "Passport is still with embassy".
Did any one received their passport whose interview is on or after November 30th ? I have return flight on December 13th. Please suggest me how to proceed further.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I would like to thank immihelp for giving me the good feel and confident about the interview before going. Here is my experience.

Questions:

To me:
VO: Good Morning, how are you doing?
Me: I am doing good. Thank you! How are you doing today?

1. Your passports please?
2. How long do you work in your current company?
3. Where will you stay in US?
4. What is your US salary per annum?
5. How many years of experience do you have?
6. What is your client name?
7. What will you do for your client?
8. Have you travelled to US previously?
9. Your I-797 please?
10. What is your highest degree?
11. Can I see your old passport having the L1B stamping(expired one)?
        VO: Cancelled the L1B page and returned the old passport.
12. Verified system for some time and then told your visas are approved.
13. Given the US rights pamphlet and instructed to go through that
14. We thanked and wished. Then left the counter.

To my wife
1. How long have you been married?
2. When was your marriage?
3. Is he your only son?

To my son (we answered)
1. What is your name?
2. How old are you?

Note: Only passports and I-797 were asked, and VO kept only the passports and returned the I-797.
                
Tips: Have a peace of mind, be confident, make answers short, use formal words(Like Yes instead yeah), have clarity in words, have a formal attire. Have the required documents prepared. The documents list is given in the immihelp.

All they verify is the correctness of the given information, salary aspects. knowledge about the new/current work. Though they have all the information in the system, they expect the applicants to answer properly.

To Track the passport status after interview
1. CEAC: To track the passport status in the visa consulate
    Link: https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx
    Status changes: Administrative Processing > Issued – Final Processing

2. CGI Federal: To track the passport delivery status
    Links: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-passporttrack.asp
                https://cgifederal.secure.force.com

    Status Changes: Passport is still with US Embassy/Consulate >
    Passport has been received from the consular section, and is currently being
    processed for delivery >
    Passport has been picked (after collecting the passport from the visa collection center)

Hi all,

I went for H1B interview with my family on 9th Dec. VO asked me following questions.

VO: Who is your petitioner?
ME: ZZZ

VO: Tell me something more about ZZZ?
ME: I have explained about ZZZ, my technology relation with YYYY and project.

VO: Have you applied any US Visa earlier (By seeing her screen)
ME: Yes, I have applied B1 Visa earlier.

VO: OK. So you applied B1 with ZZZ, (by seeing my ID card) ohh still you are working with YYYY (Then checked my attached I-797 for H1B petitioner verification)

VO: How old is your Son? (I went with my family)
ME: He is 3.5 years old.

VO: OK you can collect your passport after sometime and handed me over to rights booklet

Thats all ...... Best of Luck to all of you.

Regards
SAM

There is an extra1 letter added wrongly in my surname in all documents(I-797,I-129) by the employer.

I am little worrying now this is going to effect in anyway in my interview ? and i am planning for the interview in coming days and if interviewer ask regarding this how should i respond and what should i reply .

any one faced this situation pastly please provide your suggestions ......

Due to rains in the morning, the slot timings were not applicable and people from any time slots throughout the day was allowed inside on a FCFS basis...

It took nearly 2 hours for me to complete the interview after I got into the consulate building.There will be security check in the first building. Mobile phones and electronics are not allowed. However umbrellas were allowed since it was raining.

After the security check in the first building, I was asked to go to the second building outside of which was a lengthy queue. It took about 30 mins for me to enter the second building after I joined the queue.

After I entered the second building there was a long queue again. In the first counter they will verify the fingerprints taken the previous day and will check few important details in the passport. It took about 20 mins to finish the process in the first counter.

Then there was a long queue which leads to the second set of counters where the actual interview happens. It took about 1 hr for me to reach the interview counter.

Following is my experience...

VO: Good morning, How are doing today sir!
Me: Good morning, doing great.
VO: Can you tell me who is ur end client.
Me: XXYYZZ
VO: Which location are are travelling to?
Me: St Louis
VO: WoW, St Louis is a cool city. Who is your current employer?
Me: XXYYZZ
VO: Have you been to USA before on H1B
Me: Yes
VO: Where? Typing something...
Me: Phoenix
VO: Thanks you sir, you visa is approved!

Tips:

1. When it is raining, try to come as early as possible as the timings will not be considered. You will be allowed inside on a FCFS basis.

All the Best!

Nirmal.

I had my H1B visa interview Yesterday, counselor asked me few questions and took my passport. They didn’t confirm the status(approved or anything else). Just ended the conversation, saying ‘Thanks, you can collect your passport later’. Also they haven’t asked for any documents to submit.

Online status Shows "Administrative Processing".

Does that mean my Visa is approved ?

Is anyone experienced this kind of situation?

 First I would like to thank all the people who shared their experience and provided guidance and clarifications.

OFC: Dec 3rd Scheduled for 11:00 AM.
Reached 30 minutes before and all formalities completed in 20 minutes.

Consular Interview: Dec 4th Scheduled for 11:00 AM.

Process is same as other members mentioned. Clear instructions at each stage no ambiguity no need to look for help, Staff will guide us at each stage. Everything completed in 30 minutes.

Here my interview...

VO: Good Morning, How are you doing?
Me: Very good morning, I am doing well, thank you. How are you doing officer?
VO: I am good, thank you. Looking at the screen and asked, who is your employer?
Me: YYYY
VO: What is your designation?
Me: YYYY
VO: What is your Salary?
Me: YYYY X$
VO: What is your project?
Me: Explained for 30 sec
VO: Did you pay for your petition?
Me:ZZZ
To My Wife:
VO: what is your spouse DOB?
My Wife: xxx
Golden words came out from VO, Your Visa is approved. ?
I Said thank you with smile and came out.

As other members mentioned, VO are very polite and cool. They will not reject your visa unless you or your petitioner gave a reason.

VO did not ask me a single document except Passports, though I carried all the docs.

Prepare well and practice answers to all possible questions and carry all required documents.

This is really nice forum and helped me a lot, I have been following for 1 month and it gave me a confidence to face interview. Once again I will thank all the people who share their experience, Site creators and admins.
  
All the best for all the future aspirants and once again thanks a lot.