H1B, H4 Visa

Hello Everyone.

First of all I would like to thank immihelp and people for sharing their experience.
It really helped me to prepare for visa interview.

I had my visa interview in Chennai consulate.

Interview was very straight forward and easy.

VO) Which company do you work for?
A) YYYY

VO) Which company you will work in USA?
A) YYYY (same as mentioned in first answer)

VO) How much salary you will get?
A) IN US or India?

VO) In USA
A) $ YYYY X (As per the the petition)

VO) Your visa is approved.

All the best everyone....

Hi All,

first of all, I thank IMMIHELP and people here for sharing their valuable experiences.
I had my interview recently at Mumbai consulste.

1st day:
It was normal,no rush . reached the centre 30min earlier, got the document verification and entered inside.

2nd day:
my interview was at 9am asusual reached there 30min earlier , went inside and completed the security checks and went inside.

VO: Good morning.
ME: Good morning. how are you doing?

VO:Good, Give me your Passport and I797.
Me: Gave the passport and I797.

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

VO:What is your highest education?
ME:B.tech in YYYY stream.

VO:What is your designation?
ME: Answered as mentioned in my petition.

and then she told your VISA is approved. That's it.

All the people who came with me got approved and the consulate officers are very polite.
Be honest and answer crisply for whatever they ask you.

All the best.

Hi,

I am currently working in Canada. I had applied H1B with COS through an consultant while I was in US on an L1 visa and have it approved now,
Can I attend my Visa In Canada since I work in Canada.

I had got the below notice from USCIS .

“ The beneficiary’s L1B non-immigrant status expired on June 31 2013 . It is noted that the request for the extension of the beneficiary’s L1B non immigrant extension was denied on September 27, 2013 , leaving the beneficiary without valid non immigrant status at the start date of the intended H1B employment, October 1, 2013.”

“Even though the beneficiary is ineligible for the requested change of status, the beneficiary may depart the United States and apply for the proper visa at a consulate abroad”

“Please not that the approved I-129 petition for classification of the beneficiary as an H1B non-immigrant has been forwarded to the consulate in Chennai, India, as requested in Part 4 of the for I-129. If the beneficiary has any questions about the Visa issuance, please contact the consulate directly”
 
My question is : “ Can I attend my interview in Canada, Since I work in Canada. Else I need to plan a visit to Chennai for this particular purpose, which is a pain”

Hi All,

In my H1-B petition my employer had mentioned my highest qualification as Bachelor's degree, but I did masters. In the resume (which submitted to the USCIS) also I mentioned masters but they did a mistake. Is this will be an issue? How should I explain it in the visa interview ?

Please suggest me.

Thanks
Hariramdev

Hi All,

Thanks for all your experiences. It has really helped me a lot to take up the visa interview.

I would like to share my experience at mumbai consulate.

Date :- 12/11/2013. Interview time 10:00 AM

I went with my spouse and 2 year old daughter. There was a huge queue outside but they let us inside because of our kid.
Everywhere they gave us preference because of our daughter and within 20 mins i was taking up my interview.

Questions asked are..

1. How many people are travelling?
3

2. What is your highest qualification and from which university?
Answered.

3. How much salary you will be getting in US?
YYYY X $ per year.

4. How many year you have been into this Job?
Answered ....

Thats all... I was tensed but finally the words came ur visa is approved.
I have collected my Passport the day after the visa interview in Pune.

All the best for your interviews. keep Smile on your face.
Although its written that you need not bring children below 14 years. I would say it would help if your kid's age is below 2 years.

Thank you so much for every one who has shared their experiences. It is indeed very very helpful and prepared me better for the interview. without this forum, it would have been difficult.

However, my interview is small and sweet.. I would consider myself as lucky in this case..

While I was standing in the queue, a lady officer is not happy with her PC as it is very slow and she is little irked. She has requested the candidate to move to a different counter. She called - "Next in Line Please"

I stepped forward and greeted her with smile on my face:

Me: Good Morning Mam
VO: Good Morning !! Please give me your passport

Me: Sure Mam and I handed over the passport

She types something in the system and asked for my I797

I have provided the document.

Now, she is again frustated that her system is damn slow and she is really unhappy. She said"These are the worst systems I have ever worked"

I slowly whispered - Sorry Mam, I can understand"

VO: Who is your L1B with?
Me: YYYY X company

VO: Are you going for Petitioner or Client?
Me; Petitioner

She typed again something and looks like the system is still slow. She gave up and said, you are done here and kept the passport in a separate tray with her..

I said Thanks and came back..

Just be positive and prepare well for your interview.. All the best guys !!

I would like to thank the forum which help me in boosting my confidence for the H1B stamping.

I was on another Visa in US and working for YYYY employer. The same employer applied my H1B. I returned in July from US as my previous visa was expired.

Be confident and polite :)

My questionaire:
VO: Your passport and I797
Me: Gave the documents.

VO: Is your husband still in US?
Me: No ( At this time she was cancelling my previous visa)

VO: Where is your husband?
Me: In India

VO: What will be your salary?
Me: XX USD p.a

VO: How long did you work for the employer?
Me: Answered

VO: Can you show me the payslips?
Me: Yes. Showed her the payslips.

(Looking at the payslips thoroughly)

VO: Have you seen the white pamphlet?
Me: Not yet.

and finally.... she said "Your visa is approved" and you will get the visa in few business days.

 

First, thanks for al the information provided by everyone in this website, it helped at larger extent for me. But now that i attended the interview, received the blue sheet asking for additional information.
Was asked for only one additional information, which should have been given by my employer, and that has been sent to Chennai by my employer via courier, and the confusion part is,

1) What about the blue sheet, which the interviewer gave me that day, should i submit it somewhere, if yes where?
2) What may be the average wait time after submission of additional documents?
3) What are the ways, they will contact me? (e-mail, cell phone), and how do they find my contact details.
4) Are there any way to know if all the documents are delivered to them?

Will be waiting for the valuable response, which will help me to take my next step.
Thanks in advance for all for your response/suggestions.

Firstly I would like to THANK all the people who have shared their experience in this Forum.
I would say this Forum is TRUE guide /reference book for all who are going for VISA interview.

Personally this Forum helps me a lot to build confidence and success.

My OFC appointment was scheduled on 7th November 2013 and Consular H1B VISA interview on 8th November 2013 @ Hyderabad.

OFC Process:

Documents Required:

1. Appointment Confirmation copy

2. DS-160 confirmation page (If any H4 you have to carry individual copies of DS-160 confirmation page for all)

Note: Make sure in Ds-160, your surname and given name should match with your name in passport.

3. Passports (H1 and H4 if any)

4. VISA payment receipt

In my case, correction on my spouse DS-160. In her passport no seperate rows for Surname and given name. Only one row - Name.
surname and given name was written in her passport with space. In this case you have to fill complete name along with surname in surname row,
and in given name row you have to mention FNU.

If you wish to do any corrections in DS-160, better do it at home before reaching to OFC. There are net centers(Cyber Cafe) in front of OFC. But they all
are collection professionals. They will charge 200/- per correction. Be aware.

My OFC appointment time is @ 2.30pm. Reached by 2 pm. No Q. showed Appointment confirmation to security and went inside.

1. Person checks your appointment letter and DS-160 with passport. He will scan your DS-160 barcode.
2. goto the counter inside and give your passport(s) to them.
3. They have attched DS-160 number on the back of passport and issue the token with number.
4. The token number will disaply either on screen or the helpers will anounce your number and ask you to stand on the counter for Finger Print and Photo.
5. When your turn come, just pass your token, passport and DS-confirmation page.
6. They will ask you to put left hand four fingers, right hand four finger and two thumbs on finger print scanner.
   once finger print done they will take your photo and put a stamp over DS-160 confirmation page.

They said below 14 yrs no need to come for VISA interview.(This was for us, we were holding my child - 11 months)

Done and left for the day.

Consular Interview:

My appointment time was 9.30am. But we reached 8.30 am only. Normally reach 30 mins before your scheduled time.
I attended with my spouse and child(11 months old). We were standing in the Q. Security person came and ask me the appoinment time.
I said 9.30am. He told me to come by 9.15 due to 8.30 and 9 am appointment people were still waiting in Q.
I said, OK and sat aside. Afer 30 mins security told us to stand in Q. Before me there were 30 people.
Security person came to us and said that please stand front of the row due to we were holding my child.
After Ds-160 bar code scanning, they allowd us inside.Went inside and there is a counter to issue the token numbers.
After verifying your passports and DS-160(your photo will be already uploded while taking the finger prints) he will issue the token for interview.

In my case, my spouse was taken photo at OFC and they said OK. next day we went for VISA interview. While issuing the token he told photos of yours and child
were uploaded correctly. But your spouse photo was not uploaded correctly. I asked what to do now? He said in front of US consulate one net center and studio
is there. Go and take the Photo. within 5 mins they will give you the photo. They will charge 250/- per photo. Photos of my Spouse and Child were there with
my father-in-law. My father-in-law was waiting outside and I collected from him and reached VISA consulate. Immediately he issued the token. But photo will
be uploded @ counter - 7.

Better take photo of H4 applicants(Spouse and child - if photo uploaded at OFC also) as per US VISA specifications. It may require any where inside.

Next step you have to keep your documents folder and any items you are holding (including your belt) in one tray and get inside.

You have to keep the tray in the scanner and wait for your turn.

once scanning done, security persons will tell you if any items are not allowed inside.
Better don't carry any items, ornaments etc to the consulate.This will save your time.

Take your documents and goto the place where we have to wait for our token number to display.

There are screens and displaying your token numbers directing the counters for interview.

My token number was dispalyed on the screen with counter number where I have to take VISA interview.

I walkin towards my counter along with my spouse and child.

There are 3 people before me and I was standing in Q. My child was playing with big sounds.

VISA Officer is lady . She was observing my child. She was rejected 3 people before me. I was bit nervoused. But those are student and business VISA's.
Mine is H1B.

Finally My Turn,

Me: Good Morning Mam(With Smile)
VO: Very Good Morning(with smile).

VO: Your passports and I797 please.
Me: Handed over the Passports and I797 original.

VO: VO called my spouse and ask her to place her left hand four fingers on the finger print scanner.
VO: VO said OK and ask my spouse to wait outside. No questions for my Spouse.

VO: VO returnd back the I797 and was checking the details on screen.

VO: After One min, she asked me Are you going to work for a client?
Me: I am not going to work for Client Mam, I am going to work for my employer's internal project.
 
VO: OK. Where in US:
Me: told City and stae.

VO: She was typing continuously looking at screen for few seconds and finally she said that " THE VISA IS APPROVED"
Me: Thank you Mam.

I left from there and came out. My spouse was waiting for the feedback. Done for the day.

I selected passport pickup point is Bangalore. Now I am waiting for my passport to collect.

Be confident....success is yours....thats allllll.

Thanks for all your inputs

OFC @ Nov 10 : It took just 15 mins for me. DS 160, Appointment confirmation & Passport required. They took the photo & finger prints

Interview @ Nov 12:

I've scheduled for 7.30 AM. Was there at consulate by 7AM and they let us in by 7.45 after the initial screening. Once get in they gave token
and went to main building.

Its my turn and my token number was called in screen.

Me: Good Morning Office ! How are you doing
VO: GM. Im doing good. How about you.

Me: Im doing good.

VO: Passpor please
ME: passed

VO: Where are you working now?
ME: XYZ

VO: Does XYZ send you in H1B?
ME: No. Its new employment with ABC

VO: So you will resign and join in ABC?
ME: yes

VO: What ABC do?
ME: Explained

VO: How did you get this job?
ME: Through employee referel

VO: How much they pay you?
ME: YYYY USD

VO: Can you show the project description document?
ME: Ive only client letter

VO: Oh you work at client site?
ME: yes. Passed my client letter

VO: What you know about your Client?
ME: Explained

VO: What are you going to do with client?
ME: Explained

VO: Can you please pass you I-129 and other supporting docs?
ME: Passed my I-129, LCA, Offer letter, Client letter & Employer - Client relationship documents

VO: Everything is good. Im approving your visa. Here is the US rights pamphlet. Please read it.
ME: Thank you officer.

VO: you will get your passport within few days
ME: Sure. Thanks again.

VO: have a good day
ME: you too.

This is how it went for me. VO was very cool. Thats it for my long wait and deep breath :)

Good luck for all waiting for interview !