H1B, H4 Visa

Interview Slot:10/OCT/2013 - 8AM. Reached Consulate by 7 30 AM. Have to wait outside embassy for half an hour.
8 to 8:15AM - Enter the embassy, collect token,security checks. no fingerprints again as it is done already in OFC.

My token number was called at 8 25 AM and Interview started.

Greetings exchanged.
VO: Asked for passport and petition approval notice.
me: passed on the docs.

VO: Are you going to work in petitioner place or client place?
me:Client place

VO: who is your client?
me:XYZ

VO was well aware of the client as its a big consumer retail company in US.

VO: What location?
me:City,State

VO told me that that place is awesome for wine. Visit once you are in US.

Finally golden words rolled out "I am approving your visa".

Thanked VO and got out of consulate by 8 40am.

I had my OFC interview at Hyderabad consulate on 06/OCT/2013.

It just took around 10 mins to take the fingerprints and the photo as it was sunday.

All the best for folks going for interview. Be Confident and answer to the point. U will definitely get it.

hi All,

I have been going thru this site from quite sometime now, and I usually see only questions being posted in experiences. Can you please help us by posting answers as well to questions like
1. Whats your role in US or what you will be doing in US.

I am not askiing for any specific answer but a more generic answers can help people in preparing their answers when they appear.

Many thanks to all.

Dave.

Interview slot 9AM. I reached at 7:30 AM and have to wait for a hour outside embassy.
8:30 - 9:00 AM: Enter the embassy, security check, collected token and finer printing done
9:00 - 9:30 AM : Wait for my turn(approx 20min). Interview(10min)

Interview Questions:
1) How long you have been working with ABC company?
2) What you will be doing in US?
3) What you do here?
4) Any specific technology?
5) Which is your client?
6) Where will you be going?
..She started entering data 5min pause
7) Are you married?
...5min pause
Your Visa is approved, please read the template handed to you.

99% chance your H1B will get approved. I have not seen single rejects on that day.
Be confident, looks straight in VO eyes.

All the best!!

Biometric on 7th October 2013:
It was breeze. Done in 10 min

Visa interview on 8th October 2013, 10 am:
-Wife entered embassy at 09:20 am
-Security check
-Waiting in lobby for 1.15 hr
-Token issued
-Biometric verification done
-Visa interview
Q. For which company your husband works
Q. Who is the client
Q. Work location
Q. How long you have been married
-Entered some stuff in PC and said "Visa approved"
-Out time 11:40 am

10 AM
OFC: Try to be just 10 minutes early. No use coming an hour before.
You'll be asked to stand at the end of the queue.
If you are late, please go to the gate and tell them. They will let you
in if your not super late.

Documents to carry:
1) DS-160 confirmation
2) Appointment Confirmation
3) Passport

If you want to build some amazing Trapezoid muscles, please carry
some more non essential documents.

When your batch is called, they will let you in the gate.
At the check point they look at your documents and passport
and tick off your name in their list.
One guy had jumbled up his first name, middle name, last name
on the DS-160 and his passport was had some other sequence of
name. He was asked to leave. So make sure you have that in
order.

Walk around the OFC building and enter it. Ask the guards
if you need help. At the door, place all the documents in
a tray and they will run the magic wand around you.
Walk through another door and find another small queue.
The guard there will put some sticker behind your
passport and give you a token number on a small
peice of paper.

There will be multiple windows with actual people behind
them. Go to the window as suggested by the usher.
They will check the details and ask you your DOB and
name, for I don't know what. After you answer that
correctly and I hope you do, smile for the cameras.
They will ask you to look up/down/straight till they
get it right. Please try to look good for once already.
Ladies with make up please don't bother, Chennai humidity
will make it run down.

Once you are told "Sir, you are done for the day", please
try to fill the feedback at the kiosk. Ask for the courier
form if you need one, for the passport to be delivered at
your doorstep.

Next day 04 Oct Chennai consulate.

Come there half and hour before and brace yourself
for 2 huge queues facing each other. One under/near the
Gemini flyover bridge and the other in the opposite
direction which runs through a bus stop near an
underpass. Join the latter queue.

Once you progress in the queue the guard will
check your DS-160, confirmation and passport and
enter it in his PDA and ask you to move forward.
You think this is it, nah! Right when you want to
enter the main door, the guard will ask you to join
the other queue near the flyover. Enjoy counting the
number of vehicles that passby. Don't dig your nose,
there is a camera right ahead of you.

As you apporach the main door, there is another
check point window. There they will ask for the
DS 160, confirmation and passport.
They will scan the barcode and return the passport.

Go through the main door and place all the items
in a tray airport style. They will look into all
the packets and envelopes you carry. If they find
something which is not permitted, you'll be asked to
leave it outside. There is a counter outside on the
street where you can keep your undesired stuff.

Once you are cleared, they will ask you to
enter a huge, heavy, black metal door.
After that you have reached a point of no return.
You will be ushered to a window for left hand finger
prints (no thumb). Please return the pleasantaries
to the lady who greets you. Try to smile even if
your cheeks hurt. She will sticker you passport
and ask you to sit on an available chair.
The sticker has low quality gum (intentional)
on it so please make sure you don't lose it.
It has your sequence number (alphanumeric)

Once all the chairs are full you will be
asked to enter another buliding. This is where
the real fun begins.
Enter through the door which DOES NOT SAY 'EXIT'
Please don't make the guards angry, as it is the
doors are heavy.

Once you are in, you will see a lot of people,
lines, and display monitors. Don't worry.
There will be a lot of people looking like
their fate depends on a sticker on their passport.
Don't be disheartened. If you have an L1B
petition then you will be asked to pull out a
few documents along with the DD. Sit in a chair,
and watch the display which will have your
sequence number and a corresponding window number.
The numbers will be moving at a steady pace, but
don't miss it. I helped a perspiring northeastern
looking guy and told him his number had aleady been
flashed. He confirmed on the next refresh on the
display and thanked me profusely. I also
wished the guy on my left.
When it was my turn I went to my window and stood
in a short queue. I have a huge beard and marks
on my forehead and people were like "sure mate,
you'll make it" (just kidding)

Just as my number came, an elderly couple were
wheelchaired in front of me. They were visiting
their son I suppose. The VO was on a break point
as he was not able to hear them and the couple
were not able to comprehend what the VO was saying.
Great, this is what I wanted. A pissed VO.

Anyhoo, when they were being ushered back, the VO
looked at me and called me with his hand Bruce Lee
style. I smiled and waited for the elderly couple
to clear the area.

VO: GM, how are you.
Me: GM, good thanks, how are you ?
VO: Good, passport please.
VO: I can't see your sequence number on my screen
Me: Thats because the elderly couple were let
    through first.
VO: Oh! Thats ok.
VO: Whom are you working for ?
Me: Currently (US major)
VO: Whom are you going to work with in the States
Me: YYYY company.
VO: Who will be the client.
Me: The petioner itself.
VO: Oh ok. Where are they located.
Me: City,State.
VO: What do they do ?
Me: Do stuff for the big three (GM , Ford, Chrysler)
VO: What are they paying you?
Me: (say the right digits as in your petition)
VO: Where will you be working ?
Me: Same city, State as them
VO: Position?
Me: Senior Blah blah.
VO: Ok please pass me your I-129.
He checked all the details I mentioned.
VO: My God they are huge.
Me: Yes they are among the fortune 500.
VO: Ok I am approving your VISA. Please read this.
    (White booklet, know your rights)
VO: Have a nice day
Me: Thank you. Same to you.

I de-queued myself. Asked the guard for the courier.
He asked me to go to the previous building.
Went to the counter and showed them the pre-filled
form I collected at the OFC. He asked me to wait
after taking the form. I sat for 15 mins before
my name was called out. He checked the pin code
and asked me for 300 bucks. I paid him. Asked him
the TOT. He said 2-3 days max. I booted myself out
of the bulding. The auto guys were pestering me.
I said no, and walked past the queue flaunting
my 'Know my rights booklet'
I reached the hotel to let mum and pa know
that my fate on a lottery was accepeted by the
Almightly and they were pleased. Checked out
for Marina beach. Took my flight, and landed
home. 05-Oct I received a call saying my passport
has reached and where the hell was I ?
I reached home and took the delivery. Checked
for any blue/white etc. papers, there were none.
(suggesting no admin processing). Took out the
passport and voila, a sticker for which I went
through what I went through for 6 agonizing months.

Checked the details on the Visa and went about the
day.
Be straight forward. Don't look like its going to
be end of the world if you don't get the VISA.
Always remember "Mulk badalne se muqaddar nahin badalta"

Bye!

Can i take my 1 yr daughter who is US citizen to my h1b stamping?

Hi,
I went to consulate for H1 approval.
There they told me to withdraw my petition. I filled form where company name, petition number and name field they asked to fill and sign.
Can someone help me that now can I apply for petition through some other company B again and using CAP-Exemption.
If some one know about it or faced same problem please provide solution about it.
Thanks,
Devesh

Hi,

I need to thank this forum, it was great help indeed. So i just want to share my experience with all my friends who will be appearing for H1B stamping.

Got my Visa stamping @ Mumbai consulate @10 am.,

Interview just last for few minutes and it was very cool one.
VO greet me very well and asked me about I797 and My passport

Below were the conversation
1. Who is your employer
2. What is your annual salary in USD?
3. Who is your client?
4. Which city are you traveling?
5. Are you Married?

After sometime VO handed me a white pamphlet and asked me " Have you read this", I answered yes i know this.
then she said the golden words " Your visa is Approved", i gave a smile and said "Thank you so much officer and have a good day"

It was really good experience to went with and no-worries if you have all the supporting documents.
All the best friends...!! :)

Got my visa stamped from Chennai consulate on October 3rd @ 7:30 AM

Interview just lasts for few seconds and the passport and I797 are the only forms requested by VO

Below were the conversation
1. What is your purpose of visit to U.S?
2. Who is your employer?
3. Who is your client?
4. What is your salary?
5. Which location you are traveling to?
6. What is your role?

After sometime, VO said "your visa is approved" and then handed over me a white pamphlet. Just have your answers very short and relevant.

Also I received a message from OFC office that my passport is ready for pickup in the same day Oct 3rd @ 4:20 PM.

All the very best folks.

Finally got my via stamped from chennai consulate on october 1st. :):)

The interviewer asked me my 1797 and client letter.

Questions asked in the interview
1. Why do you want to go to US.
2. Company name which i will be joining
3. Client Name

And than the golden words came "your visa is approved" and than he handed over a white pamphlet. The stamping interview just got over with in 3 minutes.

I feel it also depends on the interviewer also. In some other queue next to mine the interviewer was asking many questions and he rejected two to three cases in front of me.