H1B, H4 Visa

This forum was very useful for our interview. Its my turn to post my experience.

Background:
I have a B1 stamped on 2011. Mine is a mid-size software consulting company and there has never been a H1 rejection in our company (though this gave me confidence, I was a little nervous as I did not want to be the first one :) ). I have got 6 years of experience.

OFC [17 June 4:30 PM] -
We booked a cab from our hotel and reached there at 4:00 PM. We did not carry mobile, wallet etc. Just the file and some cash.
Though we reached 30 mins before, they allowed us in.
This was very simple. Document verification, fingerprint and photo. Thats all.
My wife and me were sent to different counters. Actually she was made to wait on two occasions making me wonder if something was wrong - once outside as they were searching for the sticker and next time the ink got over when they put the stamp in ds-160. My wife became a little nervous after this as she was the only one who was made to wait there (that too twice).
Overall this was very easy. We came out at 4:15. We were thinking that we could have asked the cab to wait.
In Chennai, cabs are cheaper than autos (even with the waiting charges). Also the auto guys drive very rashly.

Interview [18 June 10 AM] -
We reached there at 9 30 AM and saw a big queue. We got down at the side gates and we had to walk some distance to reach the main gates. I started sweating in buckets after walking as this was Chennai and I usually sweat a lot. So, make sure you go to the main gate.
The appointment letter was checked and they allowed us to join the queue. Though the queue was long, it was moving at a decent pace and there was shade. There was some breeze too.
We reached another counter where they give the tokens. We gave both the passports together and got a single token which was pasted to my wife's passport.
Then they allowed us in after the security checks.

In the first building, they checked the docs, verified the fingerprints etc. The staff here were very helpful. After this, we were asked to go to the next building.

We waited there for few mins before our token number was displayed. We went to the counter and found that there was no queue. We were the first one at that counter.

But the Visa Officer(VO) was talking to another guy (American) for a while. We were just standing there with a smile.
After sometime, the VO turned to us and smiled.

(Pleasantries exchanged)

VO: Which company will you be working with?
Me: YYYY (I asked him to repeat the question as I could not understand it first time)

VO had a puzzled face as he did not get the name. Then I spelled it out.

VO: Oh, ok. What is your job about?
Me: Computer programming

VO: Can you pass the petition?
I passed the petition docs alone.

(he checked that for sometime)

VO: Can you pass the entire bundle?
I did.

Then he called the other guy again and started discussing with him. I just heard 'He is going to YYYYY' before switching off the mike. This was taking a while, but I was confident and patient. Then he turned back .

VO: Is this your first H1B?
Me: Yes

VO: What is the project about?
Me: Explained in 3-4 lines. Mentioned about my client as well.

VO: Oh, so ZZZZZ is you client?
Me: Yes

VO: Where will you be working in YYYYY?
Me: In client premises.

VO: How many people in your team?
Me: Answered

VO: So will you be joining the onsite team?
Me: Yes

VO: Were you interviewed for this?
Me: I'm working in this company for 3 years. So there was no interview.

VO: No, I meant were you interviewed by the client?
Me: Yes (I said 'No' first by mistake)

VO: Was that face-to-face?
Me: It was telephonic and the interviewer was based on client's India location

VO: Oh, I see. What will be your salary?
Me: Answered.

VO: Were you in US before?
Me: Yes. I was in US for 4 weeks. ( this was on B1)

VO: Were you working that time?
Me: No. I was there for design discussions. I went on Business visa.

VO: How long have you been married?
My wife: Answered.

VO: Oh. Its quite some time. (Looked like he expected us to be newly married)
(Smiles)

VO: I'm approving your visa. Please read this before you travel (handed over the 'Know your rights' pamphlet)
Me: Thank you. Have a nice day.

Then we filled up the form for courier, paid cash and came outside.
There was a huge sigh of relief from both of us as there were some real nervous moments inside.

Just be confident and have the docs ready. Do the homework well as a minor goof up here will ruin the long wait. I was very confident as the docs were all proper and there was nothing to lie and convince them. I had prepared for almost all the questions. So it was easy.

Again, negotiations with auto drivers!!! The auto guy asked me whether the visa was approved. Then he asked me whether it was L1 or H1. He congratulated me as well. I was surprised that this guy knew all these. They were trying to charge some super high fares and I could not negotiate much though I knew the local language. Then we settled down to realistic fare (still very high). They think that people would be happy and will not hesitate much to give more at that time.

Thanks for reading my experience. All the best for your interview.

Thanks to immihelp and to those who posted their experiences. I read the experiences of people attended from past 3 months to have an idea on current interview trends and it helped me a lot.

Background:
I had my H1b stamped in Dec 2007 but did never traveled
Later I had my B1 from my current company and traveled once.
Now I applied for H1b in Cap Exempt category on my previous visa

Here is my experience:
Visa Interview Time: 8:30am
Came out: 9:50am

Q1) Are you from YYYY company? (read it from system)
A) Yes, I am
Q2) How long have you been working for YYYY company?
A) I am going to work for ZZZ. Currently I have been with YYY company for AA years?
Q) What is your highest qualification?
A) ZZZ
Q) Do you work for client?
A) I work for ABC client, based out of XYZ city, State
Q) Can I see your client letter?
A) Yeah, Here you go
Q) What is your US sal?
A) $xxx per year
Q) Are you married?
A) Yes
Q) will she travel with you?
A) she will join me after a month

Then the golden words came from VO: "your visa is approved, have a nice stay".

got white slip and submitted required documents along with the passport
where can i check the status ? please guide me

Hi,
Currently i am working in Mexico and get my H1B stamped here in Mexico this week and will travel to US next month and will join the new job, I want to apply H4 for my wife as she is in India right now. Could i apply her H4 before travelling to US and if, then what documentation is required for her to carry in original and copies.
Thanks in advance for your valuable advice.

I have used this forum a lot when I was preparing for H1B visa during stamping November 2012.

In 2008, I came to US on F1 Visa to study MBA.
In 2009, My wife applied for F2 visa.
She got rejected...afterwards, in one year we tried 4 times..But, she was rejected everytime.

In December 2010, I completed my MBA in Dec 2010. I got OPT work permit of 1 year.

In April 2011, I got job in SAP field.

My employer applied for my H1B in June 2011 when I was working on OPT in US.

My H1B was approved and I started working on H1B from October 2011.

In November, 2011 My wife applied for H4 Visa......
Here is what they asked !

- Tell me about your husband's job....
- His roles and responsibility...
- Where does he work ? who is client ? etc....

It's true that, during applying her H4, we clearly mentioned that, she was rejected for F2 earlier.

After interview, she got her passport back with RFE !....So we had to submit, my MBA transcript, my emloyer's tax forms, employer's emplyees' list, I didn't have any tax return so I wrote letter saying
I didn't file any tax return in US because I started working only in April 2011, next year I will file return for this year. In addition to this,
I didn't have any proof of experience in SAP so wrote letter saying how I got job in SAP and about my SAP certification ...etc...

Once we submitted all documents, after 2-3 weeks, she received email saying, 'please mail your passport to embassy'.
We did that...and this is how she got H4 Visa in December 2011.

She came to US in January 2012. I was in US and I didn't have H1B stamping in my passport yet..

In May 2012, I changed employer and transferred my H1B to another employer...and started working with new employer from May 2012.

In November 2012, I went to India for H1B stamping first time with my wife ! We were very scared because of this past situations...
This time, My wife also joined me for H4 interview, because I changed my employer. (she got H4 when I was working for 1st employer).

We both went for interview in November 2012. Question asked to me were :

1. What did you study ?
2. Tell me about current job responsibilities....
I prepared that answer very well....he interrupted and asked questions about something what I said ! I could explain because I was telling what I was doing in US !
So suggestion...don't just say......anything you say...you should have reason to say....Be prepared to handle new questions...Simple way is ...know about your situation/key points/key actions
and find reasons/justification to explain all of them.

3. To my wife he asked
 - show me marriege album ! (She wasn't asked this question anytime in last 6 interviews!)..
then she was asked...when did we marry......

I thought he is about reject her visa..

So I jumped in and said..can I add something, Sir?....she have H1B visa...and she was with me in US for last one year...and I need her help to work in US....and so and so...

He cut down me saying ok... and asked to my wife, what's your education background....she studied BHMS (bachelors in homoepathy)

and Finally...he approved H1B & H4 Visa !

Hope this will help ! Good Luck !

Hi all,

First of all many thanks to all the members and administrators of the immihelp.com. The posts in

this forum really helped me to prepare better for the interview process.

Now it is my turn to share my visa stamping experience.

Little bit about my background:
-----------------------------
I am working for one of the top software consulting firms in the US as a full time employee for

the past 3 years. I am in my 6th year of my H1. I recently got 3 years extension based on my

approved I-140.

OFC appointment:
------------------
4th June:
My appointment was at 10:30 AM. I have reached the Gowra Grand building at 9 AM. All the 10:30AM

people are asked to wait outside the gate in the sun (luckily it was not that hot on that day)

until 10AM. The security guys let us in at around 10AM. The finger printing and photo were taken

at the same counter. Entire process was done in 15-20 mins.

Consular appointment:
----------------------
5th June:
My appointment was at 10AM and I have reached the consulate at 9:10AM and stood in the queue. The

security guys checked the passport and let me in immediately. All the 10AM guys were asked to sit

in the chairs in the waiting area in the shade. They were still sending the 9:30AM guys for

security check. We were called after waiting for around 30-40 mins. There was one counter just

before the security check where they attached a token number slip to the passport. After that we

were proceeded to the security check. Once the security check is done we were asked to sit in the

final waiting area where token numbers are called in the serial order along with the counter

numbers.The token numbers and the respective counter numbers are displayed on the TV monitors

there. There are restrooms there and a small snack bar where snacks and drinks are available for

purchase. My token number was called after waiting for 15-20 mins. I entered the main consulate

area where all the counters are located. There were already 3 people standing in line at that counter. I think one is H4 and other two are F1s. All three are approved. Finally it was my turn.

Me: Good morning sir, how are you doing?
VO: I am good..give me a moment..
he checked something in the system for a minute.

when he was ready, I handed over my passport, DS 160 confirmation page, Interview appointment letter and I797

He again checked something for a minute and returned the I797 to me.

VO: so what will you be doing there?
Me:xxx

VO:who is your client?
me:xxxx

VO: which city in US?
me: xxxx

VO: are you married?
me: yes

VO: any kids?
me: 2 kids

VO: are they travelling with you?
me: one kid will be coming next month(for stamping) and the other kid is a US citizen.

VO: Please place your left 4 fingers on the finger print reader
me: did so..

VO: Your visa is approved, have a nice stay in the US.
me: Thank you sire, have a nice day.

No documents were asked.

Dear all,

Thank you very much to all who has shared the H1B Visa Interview experience.

Also a big thank you to immihelp website for doing such a great job for helping people all the way.

Here is my exp with questions.

VO : who is your employer ?
VO : What are your roles and responsibilites ?
VO : Show me the docs which indicates your duties to be perfomed.
VO : what will be your salary ?
VO : Are you Married ?
VO : Is your wife coming with you ?
VO : How many childrens you have ?

And after that golden words : your passport will be delivered to you within 5 working days.

Thank you all again for sharing the questions/answers and thanks to immihelp.

Thanks.

Hi All,

I have a valid work permit for H1B.
Due to some reasons i didn't choose stamping option (no H1 b visa and not travel to US) and now it is about to get expire.

Want to know can i get H1B work permit extension or H1B extension in future after H1B work permit expiry?
Also, if I want to travel to US with same employer: is there any way I can use my expired work permit to get H1 B visa / stamping

Thanks

Hi Team,

This is Siddu here , I got my H1b approved for this year.

But there is two mistakes

1. In approval notice my name is mentioned as murali shiva , Siddu mur but my name is only murali shivaa , siddu I don't no why they have again typed mur after siddu .
Please let me know will it cause any issue during visa stamping and feature.

2. And in I129 form my employer done a small mistake , in middle name field they have entered last name and in last name field they have entered middle name.
Please let me know will it case any issue.

My employer said he will work it on approval notice correction but I129 he said no need worry let it be like that.

Mine is premium processing what can be done so that both forms are corrected.

Please kindly provide your inputs and steps to take care . waiting for your reply

Hi,
 I am having valid H1B with Employer A; Iost the job due to downsizing in the organization and I have last payslip from them as on 1st Feb'2013. Then I have applied my H1B transfer with Comp B by Feb 19th which is still in process and had a RFE on Apr 5th. I started working for that company and also did work on a project but they did not pay me anything still. My first employer A revoked my H1B which was done on 19th March.
Meanwhile in March I got through a FTE position with company C which was ready to move me to their H1B even after explaining them my situation. They told me that they can file a H1B from Emp A to them with a condition that I need to go to my home country and get it stamped because I was nto having any payslip in March. they have also mentioned that they don't want the payslips from Company B. Once Company C received the receipt, I have resigned from Comp B and started working for them recently. But recently Comp C, my new employer received DHS query in I9 and they were asked to submit all 3 H1B receipt (empA, B, C) and that is still in process as they have mentioned that they don't understand the situation; they need time to investigate it. Now meanwhile my new employer COMP C updated the H1B application as premium to get the results soon and they are saying me that I may need to go to my home country and do the stamping and come back which is fine with me. I have my I94 valid till Nov'2014.

But after listening to these from attorney I am not sure whats happening and what is the possible things may happen on my case.

Can any of you help me to understand what could be the possible outcome of this situation. I really need help; I have my daughter with me who is on H4.
Any help/suggestions are very much helpful for me to understand the things better.

Thanks