H1B, H4 Visa

Hi all,

Its time to share my stamping experience,

I have moved to Client B YYYY from Client A YYYY state. More than 200miles difference.My company immgiration team advised me to go for amendment before go to stamping. But it will take another 4 months, so i decided to go for stamping for Client A. Stamping date 18 Aug 2015 in Chennai location.

There was no token system.(Dont know why this happened) Candidates are sent manually to the different counters

VO Questions:

Whch compnay
Which location
Who is client
What client do

Visa Approved.
Now i can file the amendment and no need to wait for amenment approval.

Thanks to Immihelp websites to get know other experinces.

Hi
I am working in Hyd for X employer and applied H1 through Y employer.
As my employer suggested i booked interview slot in Mumbai on 24-AUG.

I am sure VO office asks why did u come to Mumbai/ what should I answer.
Any inputs and one had similar experience.

Hi All,

I have H1b getting expired on 31st Dec,2015.
My visa extension has been filed on 7th Aug,2015.

I am planning to visit India from 18th Nov. to 11th Dec.

I want to know can I travel, if I don't get my extension approved by that time??

Thanks In Advance
Sakshi Kataria

Background of my case :
I completed almost 6 years on (L1+H1) 5 years 11 months to be exact in US before coming back in 2013. My employer applied for gc/PERM but too late so I had to leave US and couldn't extend. After coming back India I thought my US travel was over. Don't know if I will be picked up in lottery after all who knows.

Came to know about the 365 days pending PERM rule very late last year. Then there was a hope it may work and I might travel back to US. but lot of confusion may work may not work. I checked with my employer they said it is possible as it is called h1 cap exempt. that gave me a slight ray of hope.

Applied for H1 petition cap exempt around this year mid with just a 1% hope it will work. Petition was filed in premium. After a heart stopping wait for 10 days got a RFE !!!
RFE response was filed. then the clock started again. and then after 8 days got the biggest thing on screen "Petition Approved" !!! Couldn't believe my eyes. Atleast now I have a future date petition validity :)

Stamping Experience at HYD:
----------------------------------------
Few days back I had my stamping interviews scheduled in Hyd consulate. I was having one H1 and two H4(including my 1 year baby). First day was mere finger print and photo it was easy. Since we had our baby with us they by passed us in all the lines and we were at the counters in just 5 min. Overally it took 10 min to in and out.

Second day was the actual day. What a day! So tensed !! Anything can happen. What if they give a 221g form for admin processing !! What if visa is denied !! What if they ask for client letter as I just had my SOW with me. Having full faith in God went to visa interview. It was a huge line in 3 places in the consulate. But again since we had our baby with us we were taken straight to the first of the queue every where. then with in 10 min we were standing at the interview counter.

Interview :
VO: Good Morning ( I wanted to say that first but she said that)
Me & Spouse: Hi Good morning

Looking at our passports (the helping persons there already gave her our passports while our previous candidate was getting interviewed to speed up I guess)

VO: Who is your petitioner employer ?
Me: Answered accordingly

VO: Which location you are planning to travel ?
Me: Answered accordingly

Then she turn to my wife and asked questions. I was like hurray its done. Its approved(There is a twist)

VO: How long you guys are married ?
Wife: Answered accordingly

VO: Where were you guys in US earlier ?
Wife: Answered accordingly

At this time I was waiting for the golden words that your visa is approved. I was like it will come now, it will come now.... then suddenly she turn back to me and asked , sir you were stopped at border once ? !!!!!!

I was like, what the hell !! I wanted to hear something else. What she asked. What a situation man. How on earth she could see that in that small screen monitor. They keep a track of everything about you, damn !!

For a second I couldn't figure out what to reply. Everything now depends on my answer. Catching my breath I immediately decided what ever will happen will happen I will always tell the truth. So I told the truth that we forgot to take I94 while traveling to Canada, so were stopped at the border and given a new I94. Then she turned her face to the computer and after 5 second ..

said "Your visa is approved" !!!!

We were so happy internally and thanked her and wished.
Me & Wife : Thanks. You have a great day !
VO: You too, thank you

Some Tips:
---------------
1. Where there is a will there is a way. Believe in God, Keep sharing to poor and needy and never miss a chance to help others. When you are in the right way in life, God will help you in every step ! I never miss a chance to help other and never miss a chance to help any poor and needy.

2. Be confident in what ever you say during in interview and be truthful always!

Good Luck !!

My Experience - HYDERABAD

My Visa got approved way back in Oct 2014, my h1 was applied in April 2014. So after a long wait for 10 months gone to the interview. I am not going onsite, but I was going through a consultant.

VAC - Finger Prints ( 6th August 2015 )

My scheduled time was 12:30pm, but i went an hour early, but they are only going to send 15 mins prior to your time.

They need your

- Passport
- DS 160 Confirmation page
- Visa Appointment letter

But in case, just take all the docs with you. Keep those 3 in your hand.

After you go in

- First they take your passport and keep a barcode sticker on its back
- Then, the security check and they give the token number
- Then, you go IN and wait for your number which can be seen on screen with counter number.

They take those 3 above mentioned docs and ask basic questions

They asked me

-What is your fullname ?
-What is your purpose of visit ?
-When is your interview date ?
-Where is your interview place ?

Then they take your fingerprints and your foto (with their camera)

They will give all your 3 docs with the DS 160 confirmation page stamped with date.

Interview ( 11th August 2015 )

I was actually tensed from a week prior to my interview date. I was tensed as I did not have a Client Letter and Project description. I only had an Agreement between Employer and Vendor stating their Client. Rest , I had the basic documentation like I 129, I 797 original, LCA, Letter from my employer to the consulate, Work and Edu Docs.

Here they will let you IN 1 hour prior to your appointment time. My appointment time was at 12, I went by 11 and stood in the line. They check the DS 160 confirmation page, Visa appointment letter and passport outside, so keep those 3 in hand.

When I went in and sat down, I saw so many pi***d off faces, there were so many rejections that day, that added up to my tension like fuel in the fire, but I stayed strong that I will definitely get an approval.

The junior officers there will give the Rights of employees pamphlet to the h1 and h4 applicants, you have to take it.

Then I was given my counter number card (not token) . If it says counter number 10 then, there will be 3-4 other applicants standing in front of you at your counter. My VO was like 27 or 28 and so cute :) I have seen my VO rejecting 2 tourist,1 student and 1 B1 applicant, approved 1 B1 and 1 Student who were standing before me. I was like OMG. Then my time came :D

I did not have client letter and project desc letter and prayed god she should not ask any kind of docs and ask just few questions, but just took out all the docs, in case if she asks I have to give it quickly .

Me : Good afternoon Mam
VO : Good afternoon

VO : Whom are you working for ?
Me : I am working for YYYY company in India.

She got confused and asked

VO : Who sponsored ?
Me : I said ZZZ, this is another company that has sponsored me.This is the first time I am going to US

VO : So, are you changing your company ?
Me : Yes mam, exactly.

She was typing and I guess she was checking info reg my employer

VO : Where are you going to work ?
Me : ZZZ

VO : Whats your pay ?
Me : ZZZ

VO : What is your position ?
Me : Sorry mam, Didn’t get you

VO : Position ?
Me : You mean the designation ?

VO : Yes
Me : I am a ZZZ

VO : Are you going to resign the present job ?
Me : Yes mam

VO said me to place the right hand four fingers on that machine

VO : What is your highest qualification ?
Me : ZZZ

VO : Are you married ?
Me : No mam

Thats it :)

VO : Ok, your visa is Approved sir
Then I was like dancing inside :P

VO : Is this the first time you are going to US ?
Me : Yes mam.

VO : Ok have a pleasant stay

VO : Do you have the rights for employees pamphlet ?
Me : Yes mam I do.

Me : Thank you so much mam, Have a good day and left the counter in joy :)

Interview lasted for 2 minutes, She dint ask me any docs, mine was the least time compared to other applicants in my counter.

TIPS

As everyone here as mentioned, whatever you say, say it CONFIDENTLY
Dress well ( no need of suit )
Clean shave and make yourself appear neat
SMILE on your face is a must as that will make a first impression.
Greet them like Good morning or afternoon
Don’t get scared they are not devils :P ..You can ask them twice if you did not understand

Finally its your luck. I went to the consulate thinking I wont make it, but I did :)

Passport Collection ( 12th August 2015 )

You can track your passport online in http://ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-passporttrack.asp
by typing in your passport number.

When it is ready, you will get an email from UStraveldocs that they have sent your passport from consulate to VAC.

I got it in a day.

While collecting your passport, take your DS 160 confirmation page which got stamped on the Fingerprints day along with any of your original id proof like Voter card, driving license, Aadhar card along with a xerox copy. They will take the Xerox copy when you collect your passport.

Hope this helps. Thanks a lot to this blog, it helped me a lot.
GOODLUCK TO EVERYONE :)

Hi

My Visa interview is scheduled next week. In DS160 I have entered 1 year as period of stay in USA. but my petition is valid for just 5 months. will that be a issue? Do I need to get it corrected before hand ?

Thanks.

Hi All,

Please help me with this. Bit tensed.

Today when i checked my Case ID EAC152185*** it is still in Status Case was received on Aug 5th and receipt was mailed. Mine is filed under Premium Processing CAP EXEMPT category.

However i tried to check some case ID's which are after my Case ID and i can see that they are approved on Aug 11th. Is there something wrong guys?? Will it happen like Case by Case or some times cases which are after my Case ID's can be approved before me?

Please help

Attended on VO morning session.. there are many applicants(150-200) by 9:30 AM
It is going to take at-least 2 hrs to reach to VISA Office. Luckily there are many counters

VO: GM
me: GM Officer and how are you doing today?
VO: replied
VO: Which company you are working?
me: answered accordingly ... xxxx company
VO: What does you company do?
me: explained details of what my company does
VO: What is your role in it?
me: answered
VO: Where is it located
me: answered the location
VO: DO you work at company location?
me: answered accordingly
VO: Is this your 1st time attending to US?
me: answered accordingly ..

VO: thanks your VISA is approved.

I have over heard some VISA Office questions to..

For H1 B Visa who are travelling for some conference's ..If you are travelling with your team, VO asked
>details of with whom you are travelling?
>Is your co workers applied for VISA? If yes when are they planning to attend?
> Questions on Job details

For F1 students
>Make sure you read the I-20 carefully
> If VO asks for complete fee for 2 years you answer it correctly (I think I-20 has only 1yr of fee)
If you are having siblings in USA and you have mentioned it.. make sure you can answer their status according to their VISA status(If on F1 and you sibling is working now.. you should be mention he is working on OPT and don't just go blank when VO asks questions)
>Questions on subjects you are taking.. why you choose them?

I hope this helps someone or give some confidence..
Good luck guys.. ALL THE VERY BEST
Thanks

In my new passport my mother name printed like "REKHA" and in my old passport its printed like "REKA" so that would be a problem for my h-1b visa interview please let me now.

Thanks in advance.

I am going to be changing employers and expect to resign from my present job within the next week, and am currently on an H1B visa. My new employer has filed for an extension of status and transfer, as my current visa expires on Sept 1st, 2015. My old / present employer will be keeping me on their payroll for the next 30 days, because that is my non-compete / notice period. My question is:

1) I want to travel to my home country (Hong Kong) and apply for a new visa stamp over the next month, once my petition is accepted and I have all the required paper work (my petition was filed on Aug 5th using premium processing, and so I expect to have the accepted petition back by September 1st if everything goes OK). I have an offer letter from my prospective employer, but no pay stubs as I would not have started working for them in my time off (my start date is around September 15th). I think applying for my visa stamp in Hong Kong should not be a problem, but I am worried that there will be an issue at immigration when I fly into the US, because I would still technically be listed under my old employer's payroll but would be trying to enter using a visa stamp in my passport for the new employer. Does anyone have any insight into this, and does this present a problem?

2) If the above is a problem, I will have to get my passport stamped once I leave the county at some point in the future when I am working for my new employer. From what I have read, I can only get my passport stamped from my home country (Hong Kong), Mexico, or Canada as they accept applications from third country nationals. Is this correct, or would I be able to apply for a visa stamp regardless of where I travel to? If I choose Canada, I would need a visa for this as I am an Indian citizen. Would I be able to apply for a Canadian visa with an expired visa stamp in my passport? Would the expired visa stamp also present issues for mexico?

Understand that this is a bit of a complicated situation, so any help at all is greatly appreciated!!