H1B, H4 Visa

Hi All,
First of all I would to thank all the people who have put in their experiences in this Forum. It really help me prepare for the interview and get assurances from the experience of others.
My experience for Fresh H1B application:

29th October: OFC
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Reached 15min before the schedule.
Required Documents: Passport, Appointment Confirmation and DS-160 confirmation.
Gave the finger prints and photo.
Nothing much required today. But just to be on the safer side carry all mandatory Documents.

30th October: US Consulate
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Reached about 45mins before schedule. Queued up as usual going through all the possible Q&A in my head :)
Mine is a model similar to EVC just the Vendor is changed to Implementer so its a EIC model.
Documents carried : (TIP: Please take a folder which has many compartments which can be tagged)
Passport, Appointment Letter, DS-160
I-797, LCA, I-129
Offer Letter, Implementer Letter
Employer-Implementer Agreement, Implementer-client Agreement Letter (As my Client didn't provide any Client Letter)
Letter to consulate from Employer and Implementer stating I will work for my Client on Project XYZ
Current Employer - payslips - 6 months, offer letter
Bank Statement, Previous Employer experience letter
All Marks Cards, Returns - last 3 years

After verifying finger prints, got a token number and waited for my turn.
Stood the queue once I identified which counter my token was assigned to.
In front of me 2 Business visa , 1 H1B candidate. My turn arrived.

Me: Good Morning Madam ! How are you doing today?
VO: Good. How about you ?
Me:Doing good too Madam.

VO: Can I have the passport ?
Me: Sure Madam. *Placed the passport*
Tip: Please dont dump all the documents which you have at once at the counter. Wait for what is asked and provide only that. The person before me had dumped all his stuff at once and the VO looked miffed.

VO: Who is your Employer?
Me: AAA

VO: Can see your I-797 form?
Me: Sure Madam. *Gave the I-797. She looked at it and returned it*

VO: Who is your Client ?
Me: BBB

VO: What will be your salary in US?
Me: It will be CCC.

VO: What is your highest degree of qualification ?
Me: Bachelors of Engineering in E &C

VO: OK your Visa is approved. *hands me a copy of document* Here are your rights when you are in US
Me: Thanks a lot Madam. Have a great Day !! *excited, surprised at such few questions, relieved*

I think they gauge your confidence and see how well you speak. Be crisp, to the point and answer all the questions with confidence.

Even though I was asked very few questions others around me were being asked most of the questions as listed in the database of this site. Few questions I remember were:
1) Which Client? What does it do?
2) Which specialty skill do you have that justifies this petition ?
3) Size of your company ?
4) What would your role be at the end client ?
5) Where will you stay?

Guys prepare for all the scenarios, every type of question and be ready with all the documents.

Good Luck !! All the Best !!!

Hi All,

Thanks for sharing all your experiences with IMMI,through all your post i learned a lot.
Here is my experience ,,hope it helps to you.

Oct:30: OFC appointment:
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Questions asked:
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Full Name?
DOB?
Which category you applied for?
Please carry your US Visa size photos (some times photo cameras not works properly)

Oct 31,2014: Visa interview at US consulate:
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Scheduled at 8.30

Entered inside at 9.00Am after all preliminary check ups (please open if you have any sealed covers with you before going,security people will not allow any kind of sealed covers)

After going inside there are few counters for checking the finger prints and after checking they will attach the token number
to you passport.

Finally entered into the final lobby,there we can see few monitors which shows our token number and VO counter number.

Greetings Exchanged

VO :Passport Please?
Me:ya,sure.

VO:So you work for AAA company currently,right?
Me: Yes (AAA is my current working India company)

VO: How long you have been working with this company?
Me : from past XX years.

VO :How big it is?
Me: YYY employees.

VO:You work for client?
Me: Yes

VO: Who is your client?
Me: BBB corporation, (VO did't understand this and asked to write on a paper )

VO: Whats your client bussiness?
Me: explained

VO: what kind of project you will be working and which domine?
Me: Explained

VO: Where you will be traveling?
Me : City,State

VO:How much you will earn there?
Me: ABC USD/anuam.

I am waiting for the Golder words ,

Vo typing something in the system and said “we are approving your Visa” ,please wait while our system checking your details.
Ya done ,and given me the white sheet of US staying rights and said have a nice trip.

Me: Thank you a lot.

Hope this helps,all the best to you all.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you all very much who have been of extreme help for our H1B/H4 interview by sharing the experiences.
Now, it’s my turn or say responsibility to share my experience of H1B/H4 interview that I attended along with my Wife & my 3 yr old at Chennai.

OFC appointment on 29-Oct-2014:

Documents required at OFC :
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- Passports in original (Old & New - all)
- Appointment Confirmation Letter
- DS160 Confirmation Pages
- Photographs of Kids as per specification

NO OTHER document is required at OFC.

There are some security checks & pre-scanning done & stickers are pasted on back of the passports - before moving ahead for Bio-metric counters.

Me & my Kid were sent to one window/counter & my wife was sent to a separate window/counter.

I passed on the entire document bunch over to the Officer.

Questions asked at OFC (same to me & my wife):
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- What is your name (Tell Full name as per passport)
- Which visa category are you applying in (H1B/H4)
- Can you please tell your passport number [We did remember the passport numbers :) & told the same]
- Scanned my left hand fingers, right hand fingers & both thumbs.
- Officer asked me to move back a bit and clicked a photo.
- He then asked for photo of my Kid & clicked photo of this photo :)

Done! He then stamped all DS160 pages with the date & confirmation and advised us to carry the SAME documents for Visa Interview (PLEASE CARRY THESE STAMPED DOCS FOR INTERVIEW - DONT TAKE FRESH PRINTS)

INTERVIEW at Consulate (30-Oct-2014):
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The Big day!!! There was a forecast for light drizzle/rains. Remember to carry Umbrella (Should be less than 40cm when closed). We carried the Umbrella & it was allowed to be carried all the way - of-course via proper security checks. It did not rain but yes we had it for covering the DOCS & BABY in case it had rained. CARRY all the documents that earlier threads have been pointing out.

It’s also advised to carry your (adults) photographs. There are cases (as per earlier experiences) – where photos were not uploaded properly by OFC & applicants were asked to get photos and come back. So, to avoid possible last minutes rush – please carry the photos for all.

Its bit longer wait outside - but actual INTERVIEW process took not more than 10 mins. Here are Q&A:
(Every word by VO was crystal clear and he was very much audible.)

WE: Good Morning Officer.
VO: Good Morning.

VO: May I have your passports please?
ME: Yes. (Passed on the LATEST passports. NO OTHER DOCUMENT.)

VO: So you are working for ZZZ? (I was wearing my company ID Card)
ME: Yes sir, I am working for ZZZ.

VO: Which category of Visa are you applying for?
ME: H1B

VO: Who is your client?
ME: YYY
VO: OK. YYY... (YYY is quite reputed client in US)

VO: How much will be your salary in US - in dollars per year?
ME: It will be $xyz per year sir. (Good to tell exact figure than approximate)

VO: What is your highest degree of qualification?
ME: Master of Engineering in (XYZ)

VO: (to my wife) And what is your highest degree of qualification Ma'm?
My Wife: Bachelor of Engineering in (ABC)

VO then kept typing for some time (We were expecting few more questions). When he was done he passed on “Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers” pamphlet and said “Please read this document before you travel sir…” followed by the golden words...

VO: “YOUR VISA IS APPROVED”. Have a good stay at US.
WE: (Delighted) Thank you very much Officer. Have a great day ahead.
VO: Thank you. You too.

Note that, VO has kept our LATEST passports only. We have carried back our Old / cancelled passports. I confirmed the same with the officer who was available there (near sitting area) for assistance. He confirmed that yes, only the LATEST passports will be taken by the VO.

No other document was asked for. But yes, please carry ALL the documents for H1B & H4 applicants.

Be fully prepared. Be confident. Doesn't hurt to keep a pleasant smile on face throughout the Interview.

All The Best !!!

Hi Guys,

First thanks to admin for having such a wonderful site and many many thanks to all the people who have posted their experiences here which made us familiar about what we are about to undergo.

If you are opting for Chennai as the center for both bio-metrics and stamping, please be at the venue just 15 mins before. Believe me it doesn’t matter if you go 1hr before or 15 mins as they let you in exactly by the appointed time. Don’t sweat yourself unnecessarily. That being said family people and women are given preferences.

Had biometrics on 27th Oct in Chennai at 1pm at OFC center. Reached 45mins before and they allowed inside the campus just 5 mins before. Inside they will check Passport, DS 160 form and appointment form. They will give you one token and you need to check your token for the respective counter in the monitor they have provided. They took my all finger prints and a picture. I came out in 10mins.

Interview/Stamping on 28th at 11pm, big day. Reached US consulate two hours before as I miscalculated Chennai traffic in peak time. Don’t carry anything except the documents which are required to produce. There is a facility to keep your luggage for just 10/- but I wouldn’t suggest it because of the long queues. People started coming in and they got segregated in two lines based on the interview time. Don’t get tensed or worried by seeing the crowd. They allowed me just 15mins before. There will be checking outside the consulate and inside where your documents/materials will go through the scanner. I would suggest that you to carry a harmonium folder for keeping all your documents in order. Before going to the interview they will attach one sticker on your passport containing a token number which you need to check in the monitor for the respective counter. Before me there were two L 1 Visa guys and H1 who was from Oracle (he was wearing company id). All of them were asked not more than 2 questions and got their visas approved. I was so nervous but maintained my cool and my turn came..

ME : Good Morning.
VO : Good Morning. (He gave a glance and looked at my company id which I was wearing and started typing something on his system.)

VO : I see you working for YYYY X. Is this your employer in US?
ME: Yes.

VO : What is the name of the client that you will be working.
ME: YYYY X

VO : What? Can you repeat it?
ME : YYYY X ( I can see that he didn’t get the name properly.)

ME : Do you want me say the name letter by letter?
VO: Yea. That would be great.

ME : X X X X X X.

ME : Sorry.
VO : It’s okay.

VO : What is your salary in US?
ME : YYYY per Annum.

VO : What is your highest qualification?

ME : I have a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

VO : (Handing me a pamphlet) Please go through this pamphlet which contains your rights once you enter into US. I’m approving your Visa. Have a good day.
ME : Thanks a lot !

After coming to my home, I checked the status of my visa and it was “Administrative Processing”. I got bit disappointed and slept. Woke up after 2hrs and checked the status again which was changed to “ISSUED” and felt soo happy. At last I was at peace after one year..

That’s it. Believe me if you have correct documents and working for a good MNC, you don’t have to worry at all...
You are here to get YOUR Visa and nothing else. So be cool and maintain a cheerful attitude all the time.

All the best and God bless.

Hi There,

OFC: was over on 24/10/2014.

I would like to share my experience with you about my H1b interview(first time) on 27th of this month at 11:30 AM,

We(Me, My wife n my son's passport) reached at consulate office by 11:00 and the security allowed us to through the gates by checking the appointment and 3 Passports. Once we were in the campus, the security personnel suggest us to take the Token.

Once we were in the main building there were few crowd on that day and we sat at waiting room and watching TV monitor for our token number to display, but after 15 min a guy came to us and inquired about any English appointments from token xxx to yyy and asked to follow him, later he kept us in queue at counter xx, there was a middle aged women who was very busy in taking the interviews.

after 5 min there was our turn:

VO: Please come in Sir,
We: We approached to near the cabin

VO: Your passport's please
me: I hand over the all 3 passports and I797,

VO: working with her PC, and asking some thing (who is your pettxxxxxxxxer)
Me: I did't understand her question, and I said sorry??

VO: ok, who is your petitioner?
Me : YYYY YYYY YYYY X,

VO: what you do sir?
Me: I am SAP technical consultant, basically computer programmer

VO: Do you have a client?
Me: Yes, ABC,

VO: what they do?
Me: I told what ABC do,

VO: Ok, what you do for your client?
ME: I told my R& R briefly

VO: Sir, your saying briefly, but I want more technically?
ME: I was little surprised and started explained my day to day roles and responsibilities,

VO : she start asking the questions to my wife: whats your name?
Mywife: yyyyyyy , (me: stopped as she was talking to my wife, VO told me you keep say sir with smile :-) , I continued)

VO: when did you were got married,
Mywife: 2 and half years,

VO: do you have kids's
Mywife: Yes, we have one kid and 1 year old( Me: I was keep saying my R & R :-(

VO: ok, where you stay with your husband?
Mywife: she was confused, vo office say some cities including my destination city, they my wife replied,

VO: she turned to me , n what is highest degree and where you worked earlier??
Me : MCA, and those were big MNC's xxxx and yyyy,

VO: finally she addressed both of us and said: much waited golden words " You will get your VISA's soon ) with a smile on her face, off course same smile on our faces too!!

Thanks God .

My Back ground: having B1/B2 Visa for USA,but not been there, I have visited Ireland for some time on previous company's assignment. Having 7.5 years of experience
 
my personnel suggestion: be confident, bring all possible documents will support your case, be honest.

All the best friends who are planning for H1b interview.

A big thanks to Immihelp.com for wonderful forum lie this and valuable experiences form others.

Regards,
Shiva
[email protected]

Hi All,

I went to visa interview at 27th Oct, 2014 and finally VO given 221 (G) white slip and not selceted any check box. could you pls let me know what is the meaning.

Kindly help in this sitaution any one faced.

Thanks,
Siva.

Thanks to immhelp forum which helps me lot to build our confidence level.

Oct 27, 2014 @ Chennai.

We: Good Morning officer.
VO: Very Good Morning, She greeeted my son as well. Passport please.
VO: to my son How old are you?
My Son: replied.. I am 5 yr old.
VO: Do you like US? Which place did you enjoyed lot?
My Son: Yes, he listed some places including my previous city.

Then only one question to me:
VO:How long and which company you were in US?
Me: Answered.

VO: smiled and said that's it, Have a good trip.

Thanks God and all forum post.

Good Luck to all.

 

Hello,

I have a H1B petition valid until 31st Mar 2016 from Company A. Now I got offer from Company B. B has filed a new petition for me with USCIS. I joined Company B as soon as I got my receipt number. On the new Petition filed by Company B, I got RFE 2 times and it is still pending.

My Question is can I now switch to a 3rd Company C before the approval or denial from Compay B comes?
Can Company C process it's petition in parallel ?
 If the Petition is rejected from Company B, then how long more can I stay in USA without job ? (Being said that my petition is valid for nearly more than an year)?
During this time, any Company C file new petition for me ?

Please let me know.

I was on L1-B earlier and moved to H1-B last October. This is first visit to india on H1-B.

28th October - Bio Metrics completed in 10 or 15 Min
29th October 9.00AM appointment came early around 8.15 am and was let inside and was seated in the lobby. Around 9.10 AM got my turn and below are the questions asked by VO

Which Company are you working for?
Who is client?
What is your Role and Responsibilities?
What is salary?
How many years have you been working in US.

Guys be confident and straight answers no need to panic or tense, if you have all correct paper work nothing to worry, if you are unable to understand question please ask again. stay clam drink water and dont even worry if some one got denied in front of you.

All The Best.
 

I live outside the US and I will be traveling to the US next week on my H1B visa. I have a unused student visa that I got stamped earlier this year (around June). I would like to know if there will be any problem at the POE because of this unused visa?

I have never traveled before to the US in my student visa

Additional Information: I had plans to do my Masters in Fall-2014. Later I just wanted to continue in my work for some more time (for strengthening my finance) so, got my admission deferred to Spring-2015. Meanwhile, the H1B petition that was processed by my employer was approved and I got my H1B visa. So, I have decided to go for H1B work assignment and skip my Masters. I have already contacted the university to cancel my admission offer