H1B, H4 Visa

I am planning to attend interview on last week of this month , we scheduled interview for my self,wife and my kid, i am confused,i should take my kid for visa interview or not ? we have see a note on interview confirmation saying that below 14 years old is not required to attend for visa interview? pl help me to get clear information ,we need to take our kid or not .

thanks,

HI,

i attended my H4 visa interview today [Sep 12,2013] and the visa officer told me "Your petition is not showing up in our database. It might take several days. We will contact you". He kept my passport and the I797 form with himself.
I didnt receive any slip from him. What does this mean? My visa is under process or rejected?? Which side should i hope on? Also i didnt fill up the courier slip in consulate. Please help me!!

Thanks,
Seetha

Hi All, It is nice to see such huge experience list.

I need help in my case. I had visited US more than 5 times on business visa. My company applied for H1b and now I have the approval and i am planning to go for my stamping. My wife passport is yet to come while my 2 kids passports are already with me. My doubt is shall i go for my h1 and my family's h4 together or can I get my h1b done first as I have to travel next month and apply for h4 for my family seperately. Please suggest. I hope someone who were in same scenario can share their experiences. I wish to know the challenges for h1b and h4 seperately.

Thanks a lot in advance

First of All, a big thanks to this Forum and its members who has updated thier experiences so that it would be easy for the first timers like me to go through and relax a bit

OFC @ Chennai - 08-Sep Sunday - 4:30PM

Required Docs -- Appointment confirmation , DS160 , PASSPORT

OFC is very simple process as others said in this forum. Take all the above mentioned docs and be in place by like half an hour before the slot, I am not sure the Queue will be longer on the weekdays but on the sunday I went there was n't much rush I did not wait any where in between.

Security will instruct you on where to go as post which you ll be checked for any electronic Items (You can carry your cell phones as well until there but you might need to give it to the security and get it back when you leave . but it s safe to leave it outside as they don t seem to have much lockers for cell phones).

There will be multiple counters inside, you ll be given a token and once your number is called, you ll be asked to scan your finger prints and they will take your photo for Visa as well.once that is done they will stamp the date in your DS -160 page and give it back to you.
 THis is the process for OFC and you can leave once these are done. PS: Carry two of your pics (US VISA Measurements) for safety as I heard in case of much crowded days they may use the photographs that we bought as well.

Day 2 - 10-Sep-2013 @ 7:30 AM

Required Docs
Passport, Interview Confirmation Letter, DS -160 , I797 and other Supporting Docs (Degree certificates etc)

I reached the venue 45 mins back which is at 6:45 am and still surprised to see around 50 + members standing already but remember there will be people standing for the next slots (8 o clock slots) as well in the crowd but the preference will be given for earlier batch.

you will be given a Token (Pasted in Passport) before you proceed and that wil be the reference until your end of the Interview . There was a security check inside and no electronic items as usual was allowed, so better don t carry any electronic items or any sealed items (yes, we need to unseal it before we carry them inside). once the security check was done you will be allowed to first counter

Applicants with Childs or kids will be given first prefernece and you have to wait until your token was called here, once your token was called, There will be a finger scanning once again to confirm whether we are the same applicant and then we will be send to the original COunter where the interview happens

At the Main Interview hall, there were around 20-24 counters each with different applicants and Visa Officer (VO) interviewing, please watch your screen carefuly for your token number to display and stand in appropriate counter.

Finally I got to the Interview at 8:20 AM with the VO

 Me : Good Morning Sir
VO : your Passport Please
VO : what 's your CLient Name
Me : Answered
VO : your I797 pls
Me : passed the Docs
VO : Your Visa is Approved ( here comes a sigh of relief to me)

and the next guy was called..

Though the questions to me was very less, it does n't mean the same for others as well , seems the company we represent during the interview also matters but B1 and L1 holders be very careful and ready for all the Questions . you ll be fired with much questions so the smarter you prepare , you will have more chances of through.

Be Confident and Casual during interview.

Hope this Helps.

THanks,
Yuvaraj

Hi All,
This forum has helpled me a lot in building my confidence and helping me gather required and accurate information.I would really like to share my experience and help someone who is seeking the same.
Always remember SMILE, SMILE and SMILE even though your nervous always try to have a SMILE while you are facing visa officer.

OFC @3-sept-13:
Nothing to worry on this day.They will click your pics and take fingerprint.

Visa Interview @4-sept-13:
Questions:

I greeted the officer by saying good morning and he returned the same with a smile.He asked for my passport and I-797 original

1. What is my employer name?
Ans:XYZ

2. What is my client name?
Ans: ABC

3. Location and place of my client?
Answered accdngly

4. Salary at my client place?
Answered accdngly

5. When will i return back to india
Answered accdngly

6. Are you married or Single?
ans:Single

7. Any immediate plan for return?Marriage?
Ans: next years for marriage

8. Any plan to take your wife?
ans: No

9.Why?
ans: Planning to settle down in india

and then he was doing something in his personal computer and after 5 min he asked me to read a pamplet and asked me whether i have the same with me and then the golden word "Your visa is approved.have a pleasant stay in US :)"

Note: Make sure you have all the required document.carry all the photocopy and originals so that you dont panic when the same is asked to you.Arrange all the document accrdignly so that you can provide the same when the same is asked.

Best of luck!!

Hi Everyone.

Had OFC on 05/Sep at chennai

Visa Interview on 06- Sep at chennai

Here is how the interview went.

VO: To which company do you work
Answered accordingly

VO: How many employees work in this company
Answered accordingly as per LCA

VO: Have you ever worked with this employer
Answered accordingly

VO: what do you do at the client palce?
Answered accordingly

VO: Where are you to stay in US
Answered accordingly

VO: I am approving your visa.
Thank you.

Regards,
Rajpavan

Hi,
immihelp helped me lot to gather all the info regarding end to end H1B procedure. I got my visa approved and would like to share here, might help someone:

Location - Chennai
OFC Interview - 3 sep 2013 10:00
Consulate interview - 4 sep 013 7:30

I was quite nervous as i was unknown to chennai, had hotel and air ticket booked in well advance. I stayed at Mount Residency near to LIC (15 mins far away from Consulate), was okay hotel but very approchable. The biggest challenge i faced in Chennai was dealing with auto rickshaw driver and finding good food.

For OFC -
reach there before 45 mins, as you might see the long queue,
let us not carry all the docs, as it's not at all required. passport, DS-160 and appointment letter would suffice (as there's no space there to keep your other stuff safe, else you will have to leave your luggage outside of gate with big risk).
This is only for taking photograph and finger prints, that's it.

For Consulate interview -
please be there at least before 1 hr, at your given time slot there are at least 100 ppl standing in long queue to be interviewed. I believe 7:30 the first slot is good, less people and the whole process would be winding up in less than 45 mins.

I reached there at 6:45, then went through the docs and security checks.
Please avoid taking cell, extra luggage, hotel room key and anything which is sealed, bcoz any sealed thing security enforces you to un-sealed it outside of the building.
I got the token and reached to the first room for preliminary interview at 7:35, that indian lady checked my passport and I-797 and told me in advance that your visa already approved, i thought i am done, but then she asked me to go at counter 12. At counter 12, VO verifies my finger prints and allowed me to go into room 2 (where the actual interview to be happened).

I reached room 2 at 7:40, and none of counters were open, people like me were waiting for counters to open. out of 25, one of the counter opened and VO's monitor blinked with the token nos, so they gave first preference to those who came with family irrespective of token nos and visa type.

Like me, single applicant were waited till 8:15, then my token no showed up, i stood in a queue in front of counter and worried what would happen, we all stood in queue were for H1B applicants, started one by one, few applicants were for H1B extension/renew, few of them got the yellow slips after facing so many questions based on their history.

I was more tensed and was my turn now, i was ready with docs handy with LCA, 797, 129 etc..I was fresh H1B applicant, greeted him well, he asked me to show the passport and 797, and only asked two questions - your US employer name and client name, that's it.
Then he took some white pamphlet and returned it along with my 797, he put my passport in back side and said am approving your visa, you would receive your passport in 5 working days. I thanked him and the volunteers showed me the exit way. I observed that applicants whose visa were approved, they had carried that white pamphlet mentioning the terms and conditions of the visa, so if you get the pamphlet you would have reason to smile.
i was out of the consulate at 8:30, went to hotel and collected the luggage, hired auto and all the way to domestic airport to catch flight for Pune at 11:30. Received passport in two days, am impressed!!

Hope this helps!
Thanks

addition:
Visa dates 4th and 5th sep 2013

correction:
? mark added in place of :) as copied from word doc..

fingerprints completed and I am out by 8:35am. :)

VO : Ok. I am approving your visa.
Me: thank you :)

VO: Pointed to Know your rights pages and told read this before you reach to USA.
Me : Sure thank you . Have a nice day :)

-Be prepared as we always do for exam :)

Thanks,
Amit

Hi ,
First thanks to this forum and members for sharing experience. So I am doing same. :)

In my case I got refusal for my B1 visa a year before so I am worried about same. I prepared for all questions regarding refusal and cause of refusal. But thankfully VO doesn’t ask a single question on that.
So RELAX there is no such relation between your previous refusals and H1 visa.

I prepared for this interview as all of us doing; so below is my experience about two days of Visa process

Day 1: My time 3pm OFC
I went at OFC in morning by 8:30am and they allowed me to enter and within 2 minutes my process of photo & fingerprints completed and I am out by 8:35am. ?
   •They just stamp your interview letter and verify DS 160 confirmation page with Passport
   •Before photo & fingerprints they stick Barcode at backside of passport i.e used to enter in center for next day
As I understand the appointment for OFC are schedule afternoon but they allowed completing process in first come first serve basis. So better you go early and compete this simple process and use your remaining time for FINAL exam preparation i.e. consular appointment.

Day 2: My time 10am
I reached at center by 7:45am, they verified passport and scanned barcode number and allowed to enter in building. As all you know no electronics allowed they just check pockets and scan bags (plastics) and ask to move to waiting area, here they verify your visa type and ask to take only require papers outside with passport. I have to wait for 1 hour as some of previous appointments are still in progress. After an hour by 10 am I enter in consulate main building and they stick the token number to passport front side.

Now they take our fingerprint again for verification and our turn to wait for token number to display on TV screen. This is the time were I can heard my heartbeats and those are almost doubled, after 30 minutes my token number displayed and I went to that window and waiting for my turn, VO is young and very friendly so I am little bit RELAX. Now My turn

Me: Good morning
VO: Good morning

VO: Passport
Me: Passed passport

VO: Pointed to my File and asked I-797 page
Me: Passed same

VO: Which company are you working?
ME:@@@@

VO: Who is your client?
Me: $$$$$

VO: How long you are working with your current company?
Me: * year * month

VO: How long you are working for your current client?
Me: * year * month

VO: What is your salary?
Me: $$$$ per annum

VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: ^^^^^^

VO: Are you married?
Me: **** *

VO: Is your spouse coming with you?
Me: **** *

That’s It. Time for Golden words.

VO : Ok. I am approving your visa.
Me: thank you ?

VO: Pointed to Know your rights pages and told read this before you reach to USA.
Me : Sure thank you . Have a nice day. ?

Some of point I want to mention:
-Be specific to your answers
-Use formals if you are going for work/Business visa & office ID card
-Be prepared as we always do for exam ?
-Speak slowly so that VO can understand your accent
-Do not give descriptive answers to questions this will open new questions in VO mind
- There is no such requirement about your documents files need to be transparent; you can carry any type files or folder with documents. (For transparent look I brought 3 files :) )

BEST OF LUCK …

Hope this will help.

Cheers,
Amit

Dear All,
Thanks to IMMIHelp.
My company applied H1 B Visa for FY 13-14, I was lucky enough to get the application picked in the lottery process. Now I feel more unlucky, because I got a RFE notice asking me to submit a valid MSA / SOW / LOI (Letter of Intent).
The current MSA / SOW is going to expire on 31st October’13. As of today, customer did not commit for further renewals, however by considering our good performance, our company is expecting further renewal of the project. The current situation is little sensitive, and the customer is ready to provide LOI or revised SOW etc at this point of time, as the contact renewal is nearing.
Our ISG (Immigration Service Group) Support team sending me reminder mails to respond with the necessary documents to reply back to RFE. As per the notice I have time till 31st Oct’13 to respond back to the RFE notice to USCIS. However since we have couple of review stage before the ISG submits the response to USCIS, they are requesting me to expedite.
I have the following document, but the ISG team is not accepting any of the below docs and they are insisting me to get the LOI from the client.
1) Valid Invite letter issued, in Dec’12 by one of the Directors of our client, (The Director is no more with the clients organization) he clearly mentioned that they need my services in the US till Oct’15.
2) The current MSA has a clause that, if there is no issues between client and our company, the contact would be renewed for another 1 year automatically.
Can someone advise me how to address my above situation and respond to the RFE notice.
Thanks in advance and much appreciated for your valuable time.
Regards
Ram