H1B, H4 Visa

Dears,

Am working on top MNC and going to attend H1b interview next week. Got H1b from small employer(new job). Is it fine to wear present company ID card?. Will it give any impression?.

Thanks
Naren

OFC appointment: 19th November in Mumbai at 8.30 AM
Reached at 8.00 AM. This was the earliest time that could be availed.

This is just a simple process where they capture our finger prints and digital photos. I was done in around 20 minutes.
In this process, they also stick something at the back of our passport and a stamp on DS-160 form.

Points to remember:
1. The entries in passport and that of in DS-160 form should exactly match (Like name, passport number, etc). I noticed they scrutinize these entries.
2. Mobiles aren't allowed.
3. Even they were checking if watches are digital. So avoid digital watches.
4. Documents to carry are Appointment Confirmation, Original Visa Fee Receipt (Though this was never asked), DS-160 form and of course Passport.
5. Reaching 30 minutes early is enough.

Consulate appointment: 20th November in Mumbai at 11.00 AM

Reached 45 minutes early. As per my observation, reaching 1 hour is pretty good as even after reaching 45 minutes early, I was in the end in my 11.00 AM queue. Don't reach 2-3 hours early as I noticed many such people sitting on the road in heat and were sweating.

FIRST CHECK: Few guys standing outside check our passport and appointment letter and let us in through the main gate.
Entering, we are asked to sit under a shed, that contains many chairs in series. They let in approximately 20-25 in every 15 minutes. So we keep moving ahead until we get into the actual interview hall. It took me 1 hour here.
NOTE: Carrying drinking water is allowed. It's recommended you do so as we tend to get drained out waiting approximately for an hour over here. Although there are washrooms and drinking water available, don't rely on it as we keep moving ahead in this area.

SECOND SECURITY CHECK: Entering the actual interview hall, there is strict security check. We are asked to put all the documents, wallets, etc (most of the stuffs we carry) in a basket that are scanned in a machine. If everything is fine, we collect our belongings and move ahead.
Next, we are into actual interview hall and we can see visa aspirants getting interviewed. There is a separate counter where we head and here we are asked to validate ourselves by finger print scan. They will also stick an appointment number at back of our passport. Now we are asked to take a seat and wait for our turn.

My number was N662 and the ongoing number was approximately 600. There were 5 counters. Above each counter, there is a screen display showing the current number being processed and next 2 in queue. There is also a big screen that shows numbers that are queue in each window and to which counter it belongs. So keep watching for your number. Everything moves fast and in approximately 20 minutes my number appeared.

Ahead of me was a guy. He was a tourist visa aspirant, wanted to meet friends in US.
VO said they can't issue him visa. Asked him to try again.
I thought what a cruel lady I am going to deal with. Now it was my turn.

VO: Good Morning.
ME: Good Morning (Although I was aware it was already noon)

VO: Passport please
ME: (Provided the passport. She noticed my I-797 in other hand, hence following question)

VO: Oh, please pass the I-797 too
ME: Provided I-797

VO: Who are you currently working with?
ME:

VO: So you aren't working with ?
ME: It's a new employment

VO: How long you been working with ?
ME: It's been almost XYZ years

VO: What do you do for ?
ME: Answer appropriately

VO: Where did you find about this job?
ME: Answer appropriately

VO: So… you will be working for or … a client?
ME: Client

VO: Who is the client?
ME: .

VO: Sorry… ?
ME: (She didn't seem to recognize the client. Hence the following question)

VO: Please show me the client letter
ME: Sure (Provided the contract agreement copy. She went through the copy and following questions I guess came based on it)

VO: What is your educational qualification?
ME: Highest educational qualification is Bachelor's of Engineering in Information Technology

VO: How many employees are there in ?
ME: XYZ+ worldwide

VO: What will be your pay?
ME: XYZ per annum

VO: Your visa is approved. Kindly collect your passport in 3-5 days. Have a great day.
ME: Thank you. Have a great day.

Points to Remember:
1. Reach 1 hour early.

2. Carry all documents including originals.

3. Don't think wearing Tie or a Suit will get you visa. There were only few who were on suit or a Tie. Almost everyone were in simple formals, including me.

4. Don't get distracted by what's happening with other's interview and their results. Everyone's case is different. For example - the guy ahead of me wasn't issued visa as he wanted to visit friends in US. Most of who were getting rejected were not for H1B. So, Be confident and cool. I was playing my favorite songs in my mind to stay cool.

5. This is an important point: The VO people are humans, like us. We shouldn't get nervous. They are very polite and expressive while communicating. They will never make you nervous. Even for rejecting visa, they say it politely.

6. This is a very important point: After every question that is asked, they do something on their computer. This gives us time to relax. It's not like they throw a series of question continuously on us. We get enough time between every question and this helps us a lot. But, keep watching at the VO. Don't watch at any other place when they are using their computer.

7. This is the most important point: The interview is all about "SHORT QUESTIONS and SHORT ANSWERS". Keep your answers as short as possible.
For example - If question asked is - What will be your pay in US? Just say - 50k per annum (Fifty K per annum, or whatever it is). Don't say - Fifty thousand US Dollars Per Annum.
Common, you are getting paid in US so obviously it will be in US Dollars. Similarly for current salary.
Same goes for what are your job responsibilities? What does your US employer do? etc. Just prepare short answers to all the questions.

 
OFC Appointment: 17th Nov 2013 @ 3:30 PM (Sunday)
Consular Appointment: 18th Nov 2013 @ 8:00 AM (Monday)
 
Interview experience: (attended with my wife and kid (1.6 years))
All lines are bypassed.

Me: Hello Mamm, Good Morning.
VO: Good Morning.

VO: Give yr passport and 797 form
Me: Passed

VO: Is it extinction.
Me: No Mamm, 1st time I am applying.

Vo: Ok, This petition is from current company.
Me: No mamm, It is for new employment. For YYYY company.

Vo. Ok, Which location u r travelling.
Me: City name, and state name.

Vo: Have a nice trip.
Me: Thanks mamm.

Vo: Is it internal project.
Me: Yes mamm.

Vo: So, u will work from YYYY company (my petitioner name). Where is it.
Me: Yes mamm, it is in ABC road, City name, State.

Vo: Give yr client letter.
Me: YYYY company is also investing capital for this project with client. I have agreement copy (agreement between xxx company and client)

Vo: ok show that, and give yr project description.
Me: I have project screenshots, and passes all those (agreement, Project screenshots)

Vo: Ok. This product is belongs to YYY company. Gr8.
Me: S Mamm.

Vo: Give me yr I-129 and LCA.
Me: Passed.

Vo: She asked me to wait in common hall.

After 50 Minutes she called me. (Office staff called me).

Vo: Asked me to come front with my name. And returned all the documents.
Me: I collected.

Vo: She is typing something on her system. And asked me to place right hand 4 fingers on biometrics.
Me: Placed.

Vo: Asked to place my wife’s right hand 4 fingers on biometrics.
Wife: Placed.

Vo: Approving yr Visa. Have a good day.
Me: Thanks mamm.
  

All the best... Be confident...

Interview experience: (attended with my wife and kid (1.6 years))
All lines are bypassed.

Me: Hello Mamm, Good Morning.
VO: Good Morning.

VO: Give yr passport and 797 form
Me: Passed

VO: Is it extinction.
Me: No Mamm, 1st time I am applying.

Vo: Ok, This petition is from current company.
Me: No mamm, It is for new employment. For YYYY company.

Vo. Ok, Which location u r travelling.
Me: City name, and state name.

Vo: Have a nice trip.
Me: Thanks mamm.

Vo: Is it internal project.
Me: Yes mamm.

Vo: So, u will work from YYYY company (my petitioner name). Where is it.
Me: Yes mamm, it is in ABC road, City name, State.

Vo: Give yr client letter.
Me: YYYY company is also investing capital for this project with client. I have agreement copy (agreement between xxx company and client)

Vo: ok show that, and give yr project description.
Me: I have project screenshots, and passes all those (agreement, Project screenshots)

Vo: Ok. This product is belongs to YYY company. Gr8.
Me: S Mamm.

Vo: Give me yr I-129 and LCA.
Me: Passed.

Vo: She asked me to wait in common hall.

After 50 Minutes she called me. (Office staff called me).

Vo: Asked me to come front with my name. And returned all the documents.
Me: I collected.

Vo: She is typing something on her system. And asked me to place right hand 4 fingers on bio-metrics.
Me: Placed.

Vo: Asked to place my wife’s right hand 4 fingers on bio-metrics.
Wife: Placed.

Vo: Approving yr Visa. Have a good day.
Me: Thanks mamm.

All the best guys... be confident...

Hi Folks,

I have paid my visa fee through NEFT , is there any visa fee receipt given for NEFT transaction? because I haven't received any receipt.

thanks.

Thank you so much Immihelp and for all you for sharing their experience that really helped me a lot.

Here is my Experience:

VO: Your passport Please?
Me: Handed over the passport.
VO: Which company you are currently working for?
Me: YYYY
VO:Who is your Employer?
Me:Same YYYY
VO: Good
VO: What is ur U.S salary?
Me: YYYY USD per Annum.
VO: Then i'm approving your Visa.. have a good day.
Me: Thanks sir.

For me it was not more than 2 mins....

All the best Guys.....

Dear All,

Kindly provide your valuable and legitimate suggestions :

Entered US on F1 Visa (2007) --> Completed MS Mechanical Engineer (2009) --> Was on OPT from (2009-Sep'2011) --> Worked for a company which sponsored H1B Visa and was on H1B from Oct'2011 --> Validity of Visa Oct'2011 - 31st Aug, 2014 --> Got laid off due to economical problems in company on 10th July,2013 --> Company notified to USCIS regarding lay off on 18th July,2013 --> Opted to pursue academics in Information tech. College and applied for Change of status from H1B to F1 for me and H4 to F2 for my wife in Aug,2013 --> USCIS sent receipt of documents mail on 8th Aug,2013

Currently, F1 is under approval.--> Got a JOB offer in VA, employer is fine for me to work on CPT and later he shall also sponsor for H1B.

Kindly suggest on below :

1) Without F1 approval can one apply for CPT, will CPT application be approved. If approved, do one face any issues in near future in converting visa from F1 to H1B.

2) If CPT is not a good option or CPT approval is denied and if employer is willing to sponsor H1B immediately. Can one apply for change of status from F1 TO H1B before F1 being approved. If yes, What is the process involved to apply for COS from F1-H1B.

Thanks,
Rave

The interview happened at 8AM at Hyderabad consulate on 15th Nov .
 
a. He asked me about visa type,and said I have to give I797 and passport , after that surprisingly I did not get a single question,
 
b.He saw the employer name on I797, and said your employer is ZZZ, I was shocked when he said , I did not hear this company so far, then I took initiative and explained in detail about ZZZ, when it started , how many years it has been there in the market, about clients, and expertise s and shown the pics, and after a while again i took initiative and gave the client letter

c.VO did not talk to me for nearly 7-8 minutes, he kept on typing on his system,and then after that he asked me to give the finger prints and returned all the docs except passport , and said the golden words " I am issuing Visa".

My advice is even VO looks rude, do not get scared, try to provide as much information as possible.

in continuation to my below post:

VO: place you left hand fingers on fingper print machine and pass on your passport and I797.
me: passed on the documents

VO: do you have any visa rejections?
me: its not a rejection, as my employer lost the project, my petition has been revoked by my employer.

VO: who is your emplyer?
me: answered

VO: did you pay for your petition?
me: No

then he asked me to pull out all the documents given by my employer and asked me to wait in the lobby.
Nearly 30 mins I was waiting in lobby to hear from VO. finally I got my name called by the attendants and then went to VO.

VO: I had issues your visa
me: I said thanks and returned from there happily and not even checking the surroundings and full of joy.

I am again saying the same thing as our fellow users has posted that we need to have is proper documentation with client letter a must or appropriate one for supporting the same and confidence in our answers :)

Got my passport on the next day itself from OFC centre.

Later I sent my wife and kid to H4 stamping after 2 weeks of my interview on Nov 15

My wife: Good morning officer.
Vo: Good morning and asked to hand over the passport and I 797 . ( as my wife is carrying my kid she asked the attendant to help her in pulling out the passport and I797 from file to handover softly with smile )

My wife: passed the documents.
VO: then asked where were you going?

my wife: answered accordingly
Vo: urs done and also given complement for my daughter ... ..

thats all the interview has lasted and today I had got mail to collect passport of both at OFC

Hi Friends,
First of all a big thanks to immihelp team for their platform to share and come across the experiences of users.
Coming to my Experience:
I had attended for H1b OFC on oct 29th and interview on Oct 31st @Hyd Consulate.
I had went for Interview with all the documentation given by my employer and thorough Q& A preparation provided here. and the interview went fine. ( I had attended H1B interview last year which went into some issues and later the petition was revoked by my employer, due to that I am full tensed and fingers crossed this time but had confidence as I have complete documentation perfectly :) )

I went and stand in line for my turn before VO and observing the persons in front of me... I can see that all of the applicants have ben granted and this boosted my confidence and decreased my tense feeling.

Here is the interview brief with VO:
me: Good morning Office!! how are you doing today