H1B, H4 Visa

Hi Friends,

My employer has provided the following documents.
Client Letter, Client Agreement letter ,LCA, I129, Wage reports,tax returns.

Is it ok if we go for stamping with the above documents or do we need any additional documents?

Any suggestions are highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sarayu

Thank you so much this forum, really help me to understand the process well!!
Here is my experience. This is my first h1b.

OFC and Interview both in Mumbai in this November.

OFC: My very easy, with in 10 minute done. Question asked, what’s your full name? What’s your birthdate? Reason for travelling? Then took figure print and photo..Done.

Now main interview:
Time 9 AM, Reached at 8:15 AM I asked the security. It is ok I can stand in queue my time is 9 AM. He said no problem. You can stand now. There was a long queue.

Outside waited in queue 30 min. (Meanwhile checked my passport and scanned it.)

Then queue went in me too. Security checking… Put your entire document file in one plastic container even your watch. No electronic items allowed. Not digital watch. No pen drive. Scanned the file and also one security person scanned me. Time spent 3 to 4 min.

Then went in another big open area. There was setting arrangement for all. Waited here for 20 min.
Queue moved in we went in actual interview room. Long queue for checking figure print. In same room after checking figure print. Staff allowed you specific counter for interview. There was 10 to 12 counter. But only 7 are working. That was the reason why did it take too long… but it is ok..They are so fast and very systematic.

My turn came:
VO: Good morning.
Me: good morning sir.

VO: please passport.
Me: passed.

VO: what are doing currently?
Me: I am currently working with xxx and explain 1 line duty. (25 second used)

VO: Who is your US employer?
Me: xxx and this is new opportunity.

VO: How did you come to know about this?
Me: I applied via online job portal. (I said only this line. But you should prepare with everything like interview process? Date? Interviewer name? how many rounds? He hadn’t asked me for details. So I just answered 1 line)

VO: Which kind of business they are in?
Me: xxx (1 line answer. 15 second used.)

VO: Are you going to work on client location or employer?
Me: working only at my employer or petition location.

VO: What’s your salary over there?
Me: xx$ in hour and xx$ in year bases. It’s full time employment (I have to answered hour rate first as my petition shows hour rate only. I have converted it to year via online tool and also told the yearly amount)

VO: his colleague came talked to him. VO told me wait a minute sir.
Me: ok. No problem.

Within 20 sec he done with his colleague and said the golden words your visa has approved.
You will receive passport in 3 to 5 working days.

Me: thank you sir.

VO: Do you have the pamphlet?
Me: yes sir.

VO: Welcome to America.
Me: thank you very much sir.

VO hadn’t asked for any document except passport.

Received passport next day at my city courier. Actually got a call from courier service. I went to courier centre with my id proof. And it’s done.

Tips:
dress up formal
Be confident
They are really good guys. You can hear them properly there. If you explain them very clearly with just making eye contact. You are 100% done.

I thank immihelp fpr providing this platform. Reading all the previous experience gave me insight and confidence to face my interview.

My interview was very short. Must be like 2 mins.
My interviewer was a young lady officer, must be in early 30s.

Good Morning.
Who's you petitioner?
What's your designation?
How long have you been working for your employer?
What's your annual salary?
Where is your place of work/ Where will you be staying?
Whats your highest qualification?
 
Have you read US rights pamphlet.
I'm approving your visa. Enjoy your stay.

Guys, please keep posting your experiences so others can benefit from it.

Hi all,

I attended the H1B consulate interview on 30th October 2015. The interview was fairly easy and it was approved. After that I have been checking the CEAC website everyday and it still shows in "Administrative Processing" !

First I thought it must be because of the festival week but then noticed people have attended the interview just last week and the CEAC status for them is "Issued"

What should I do now? Should I contact the consulate? Any advice will help.
Thanks!

Hello Team,

Situation: I have a strange situation, i have an "x" company H1b approved petition and also i have H1 visa and my family have H4 visas stamped in Feb 2015, i alone came to US in June 2015 and i was on bench for couple of months in "X" company, now i got a new job with a reputed company and i am about to transfer my H1 to new company "Y".

Question: If i transfer my H1 to company "Y" then my family can come to US with the existing H4 visas from company "X"

Please excuse me if i am not clear.

Your inputs are much appreciated.

Regards,
Avi2005

My Sincere thanks to immihelp and all its members for sharing their experiences which immensely helped in preparation. It will be unfair if i dint pay back to immihelp :

..........................................................
Day 1 [Nov 5]-

Followed the directions on the appointment confirmation which lead us to the location without many hassles. reached there about 20 minutes before the scheduled time and it was sufficient. Directions were given at every place and it was a cake walk. they took the bio-metrics and the officer advised to be there at Consulate 15 minutes before the appointment @11:00 AM.

...........................................................
Day 2 Consulate Interview[Scheduled @ 11:00 AM]

Reached at the consulate at 9:15 AM itself and stood in the que. There was a long que and the first check was passport , DS-160 and Appointment Confirmation page. After checking I was directed to another line where the waiting time was about 25 minutes before getting into the consulate annex building where the documents pouch is scanned and a security check happened [Please do not carry any electronic items (Avoid Digital watches) or Car keys.] Then I was directed to another building where the bio metrics are verified in two separate counters after which the que for the main interview stands. I was directed to counter no 23. American guy who didnt look more than 35 years in age, rejects 2 tourist Visas and 2 B1 visas ahead of me.

ME: Good morning Sir. Hope your day is going well.
VO: (after a long pause moves close to the glass) Good

VO: Could you pass me your passport
ME: Did

VO:Employer
ME: replied

VO: Client
ME: Told

VO: How many years of IT experience
ME: 3 years

VO: How many years with the current employer
ME:2 Years

VO: what will be your onsite pay
Me: Told

VO: Are you going to be supervising anyone at the onsite?
Me: No Sir.

VO: Can you give me a moment
Me: (like i could say No) Certainly Sir

He goes inside a disappears for about 3 minutes before he comes back. I observed he was wearing a lungi.........

VO: (looks into the system and types something) Have you ever applied to US universities
Me:(I have like 4 i20s from different universities for FALL-15 & 16) Yes Sir. I got into some good schools but at the moment i choose to pursue work over education.

VO: Okay. (types something into the system and suddenly moves close to glass) Why are you not pursuing studies as i see you got into some good schools.
Me: Sir i am doing well at work and i see brighter prospects of relevant exposure at work at this moment sir.

VO: fair enough
Me: (smiles)

VO: Are you sure you will not be supervising anyone at onsite
me: No Sir. I wont be supervising. I will be executing test strategies on game frameworks.

VO: Test strategies? Any supervising you would be doing at the offshore team?
Me: No sir.

VO: what is your Onsite Pay.
Me: told

VO: Can i see your i-797
Me: Passed it

VO: Here is your rights sir in the pamphlet and i am approving your Visa
Me: Thank You Sir. You look very good in this ethnic attire(Lungi)

VO: (Did I say he looked around 35 years old? cause the way he gloated with glee he looked like a 2 yr old) I am glad this Fascinated you, we have an ethnic day today
Me: That's great sir. Happy Diwali to you in advance.

ran out of there!!

Here's my two cents:

Maintain eye contact.
Be cool. Spell out every word clearly
the consulate looks very awesome inside so get comfortable and always remember this:

THEY WANT TO APPROVE EVERY VISA UNLESS YOU GIVE THEM A REASON OTHERWISE.

Best of luck!!

However my status as on 11th Nov says "Administrative processing" and i am assuming it is the festival week which is causing the delay

Hey guys,
Thanks for sharing your experiences here.
I have a problem that a lot of people have mentioned here but there have been very vague answers.
Background: I am on my H1-B right now and my visa stamp expired earlier this year, my current employer has me eligible until 2017
I misplaced my original I-797A that has the I-94 and haven't been able to find it.
I have the form I-797C (Petitioner's copy of Notice of Action) from the employer, a copy of I-797C and a receipt for premium processing and the petition itself.
My lawyer and employer are working on getting the duplicate thru form I-824 but that will take a few weeks. My lawyer is already ready to attest to the copy of I-797A that I have.
I have all other documents that are needed. I have my visa appointment on December 9 and 10 in Bombay. Currently I am still in the States, do you think I cancel my trip to India and wait until my duplicate arrives? I am really confused.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Pankaj

Hi All,

First, I would like to thank immihelp.com and people who posted there experiences.

I have attended my visa interview in US Consulate Frankfurt, Germany on 09th Nov. I had open questions even after I booked my appointment whether I would be allowed to take an interview from other than home country for the first time stamping of H1B.

As I am in Germany on work permit I guess they allowed me to take it. In Germany for H1B stamping is little bit different we don't need to schedule an appointment for Biometric, every thing happens on same day.

I had my appointment at 10.15, I reached consulate at 9.45 and to my surprise there was no huge crowd outside the embassy as in consulates in India.

as usual security scrrening and then directed to a different building where first I had my finger prints and lady has collected all our passports (including my wife and my kid), I-797 and was asked to wait for my token number to flash for interview.

I saw that H1B interviews happening only in one counter and other counters were busy with other applicants.

After waiting for more than half an hour I see my number flashing..

Me : Good Morning Officer
VO : Hello

VO : From how long are you in Germany
answered
VO : Which company are you working for here
answered ZZZ
VO : For which company are you going to work in US
answered ZZZ
VO : Where would you be going to work in US
answered YYYY, address
VO : What is your role over there
answered but fumbled as I was looking for my daughter who started playing around and going here and there at the place of interview
VO : Who is your client
answered
VO : whom do you report to is it some one at Client Side
I report to YYYY and YYYY hold complete authirity
VO : How long are you going to stay in US
answered
VO : What is your salary
answered
VO : Again what is your role here in Germany and in US
answered

While VO was checking something in her system
I had asked her if I can have original I-797 and I could give xerox copy of it as by mistake I had given the original for lady at Biometrics counter.

VO replied she would need the original and I couldn't make out at that time that she wanted that as she decided to approve my visa. I was waiting for questions to be asked for my wife.

VO was looking for my wife but as she has to step away as my 2 yrs naughty was playing around and she went to bring her back. no questions to dependents and

VO : thats it thank you and I am approving your visa and would receive passports in a weeks time.
 
Best of Luck to all immihelp.com readers and H1B visa aspirants.

Hi All,

My sincere thanks to all the people that are linked here with this forum and thought necessary to share their stamping experience.

I am sharing my experience as well:

Biometric: All fine (simple process)

Consulate Interview:
----------------------------
Interview was scheduled at 12:00 reached at 11:30 and started the queue. As i was accompanied by my wife and 3.5 years son i was asked to skip the queue and enter directly. First window for scanning the passport sticker pasted by biometric and our finger prints and was asked to join counter no 18. At Counter no 18, She took the passports, pasted a baby sticker on my son's passport and verified something (not sure) and asked to join the main queue (Interview).

At the main queue they did see one of my family passport has a baby sticker he did not ask me to join the queue but directed me to one of the immediate available counters for interview.

Me: Good Morning Officer

VO: Very Good Morning!
VO: Who is filing H1B. Is it you or your wife?

ME: Myself officer

VO: Okie, So you are travelling from ZZZ(current employer) to US

ME: No officer, YYYY is my current employer and this is a new Employment opportunity for me. I will be traveling from YYY employer and will be working for X client from YYY's office located at city, state.

VO: That's perfect
VO: So you are planning to quit your current employer before travel

ME: Yes Officer

VO: Have you done Bachelor's
ME: Yes, I have done Bachelor's and then Master's in Computer Applications

VO: Good, I am giving individual copies to you and your wife please read this before travel

ME: Sure officer

VO: (To my son) pointing to me, who is this man standing with you
MY SON: Papa
VO: Great! pointing to my wife, who is this woman standing with you
MY SON: Mom
VO: Wow, Great to hear that! What is you name
MY SOM: YYYY YYYY X
VO: Cool! I am approving your visa and holding you passports you will get them in 2-3 working days, you are good to leave. Congratulations!

ME: Thanks a lot Officer

None of the documents were asked the only copy i shared with the officer is my family passports. I logged in today (10 Nov) to check the status, it says "Administrative Processing"

Please share if anyone is aware why my status is "Administrative Processing"

Thanks a lot!

Hi
I have submitted my DS-160 and booked the slot also,but i need small info regarding this.

As per my passport 'place of birth' is "<City>, <State>"
In DS-160 confirmation page 'place of birth' is showing as "<City>'.

Here '<State>' got missed in DS-160.
Do I face any problem in 'OFC' in consulate?Pls suggest.