H1B, H4 Visa

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

Background:

-Worked on EVC model for 2.5 yrs.
-Currently working as a FTE fom 4 months.

OFC appointment May 26th 2013:
Done in 20 min. My appointment was at 3pm, I was out by 3:05pm :)

Interview on May 28th 2013:
My appointment was at 8am.

-Got to the location at 7:30am.
-They started a line outside the gate to get inside.
-The appointment letter was scanned and then sent I was sent in.
-Had to sit and wait, until they started calling people to stand in line to get the token number.
-Once we get the token number we had to stand in the line again for security.
-I was wearing a Nike Fuel band and forgot to leave it outside.
-I was sent out. I had to tell the person who was giving the tokens to remove my token # from the queue so that I don't get called when I was away.
-Went outside and left the Nike Fuel band outside.
-Came back inside and told the person giving the tokens to put my token # back in the queue.

I was waiting for almost 2 hrs. My number didn't get called. There were 120 applicants that were called in between (I'm talking about only english appointments, not sure how many translation one's were done during that time).

I went and asked the VFS representative to look why my token # isn't being called.
Apparently it was never put back in the queue.

Then they put it back in the queue. I was call within 5 min.

I was exhausted by then... It was 10:55am by then...

Now, here's how the interview went...

Me: Good Morning! How are you doing?
VO: I'm good, how you doing today?
Me: It's been quite a morning, I've been waiting for almost 2 hrs for my token # to be called.
VO: VO looked at my token # and said, oh you're right! Sorry about that.
Me: (passed passport and i-797)
VO: Where are you working?
Me: X company
VO: What do you do?
Me: Answered in 1 sentence.
VO : What's your salary?
Me: YYYY PA
VO: Do you have a B.Tech or a Masters?
Me: Master's from US.
VO: How did you like it? (by then she put the passport in the basket)
Me: It was ok...
VO: Did you read the white booklet?
Me: Yes, I did. I had plenty time to do that
Both Smiled.
VO: You're visa is approved and sorry for the delay.

It lasted less than a minute.

The VO was asking questions and was expecting answers to the point. The VO's have only a couple of minutes to say YES or NO.
All we need is confidence.

** Dress well and be presentable**
** Be confident **
** Answer to the point, be crisp **
** Keep a smile on your face and maintain eye contact at all times **

Good luck to everyone!

First of all, a big thank you to all the members for sharing their experiences. Your posts really helped us prepare for the visa interview.

Timelines:
-- OFC Appointment: May 14, 2013 at 4:30 pm [Done is 20-30 minutes. There were some problem related to missing Surname in my passport, but I was prepared. Read more details below].
-- Consular Appointment: May 15, 2013 at 10:00 am [visa approved after a short interview]
-- Wife received her passport with H4 visa stamped on May 17, 2013 in Pune.
-- I received my passport with H1B visa stamped on May 23, 2013. My passport was with US consulate for almost a week while my wife received her passport in just 3 days. During this week, passport tracker used to show the status as – “Your passport is still with post.” While visa tracker used to show that my passport is undergoing "administrative processing".

OFC Appointment: May 14, 2013 at 4:30 pm:
We reached OFC around 4 PM. They do not allow you to take any electronic device (like mobile) inside. All you need here is your passport (both husband and wife) and DS-160 form barcode. They will scan the DS160 barcode and put a sticker behind your passport. Then they issue you a token and ask you to remain seated. You’ll be then called for a photograph and finger print. That’s it. We were done in 20-30 minutes.

Consular Appointment: May 15, 2013 at 10:00 am:
We reached there at around 9:00 am and had to wait outside. They let us in at 9:45am. Again you can’t carry electronic devices/mobile etc. with you. After security check, they make you sit outside under the shade. We went inside after about an hour. There they verify your finger print and give you a token number. Our turn for interview came after 30 minutes. About the interview, it was a short one. The only documents VO asked for were passports and original I-797. She asked me the name of the client, my current Indian salary and salary being offered in US, my designation and my education qualification. She asked general questions to my wife - how many people attended the marriage, when did you get married, whether marriage was arranged or love, how did you guys met. She then congratulated us for our marriage(as we were recently married) and asked me one last question - what's her favorite dish, which I answered. She then told us that our visa is approved.
 
Misc. items:
Existing B1 Visa and multiple US visits:
I have 10 year multiple entry B1 visa. I was afraid that they might cancel my B1 Visa (as mentioned in few posts by other members) but they didn’t. I think they didn’t cancel my visa because the date of expiry of my B1 visa is well beyond the date of expiry of my H-1B (my H1B expires in Feb 2016 while my B1 expires in April 2016). I was also concerned that they may raise issue about my multiple B1 visits in 2012 and 2013 (almost 5 months in total) but they didn’t. I have read about few cases where they have canceled B1 visa citing the long duration of stay in US. Nevertheless, I was not too much worried about this because all my B1 visits were purely based on business reasons and I had proof for the same.

Filling up DS-160:
I don’t have any surname printed on my passport. My full name – YYYY YYYY is printed under “given names” on my passport. On top of this, my existing B1 visa and H-1B petition has YYYY as my surname and YYYY as my given name. So I filled up two DS-160 forms with following details:
DS160-1: Given name : YYYY , Surname: YYYY.
DS160-2: Given name: FNU, Surname: YYYY YYYY [FNU stands for First name un-available].
I first gave them the first DS-160 form (as described in DS160-1 above) which they didn’t accept as asked me to “go to a cyber café” and fix the error. Then I gave them the second DS-160 (as described in DS160-2 above) which they accepted. This saved me the hassle of going to the cyber café and getting my DS160 fixed. In case of any confusion – don’t take any changes, fill up as many DS160 as you want and take the bar code printout of all the forms with you. You can give them whichever you like based on the situation. This saved me lot of time and money.

Trackers [In-case your visa is approved, please use following trackers to track your passport and visa. Note that there are two different trackers, one for the passport and one for the visa !]:
-- Passport tracker : Please use following link to track your passport - http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-passporttrack.asp -OR- send an email to [email protected] with your passport number is subject.
-- Visa tracker: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx - You will need your DS-160 application number.

First of all I would like thank "immihelp" for providing an opportunity to share all the personal experiences in this forum, so that remaining people get benefited.

I had an OFC appointment@3:30 PM on 17th May 2013, completed the formalities and was out by 4 PM.

The US Visa interview was on 24th May 2013 @ 11:30 AM

Reached the consutlate at 10:30 and they allowed me inside.
Waited in the line till 11:00
Had a security check and completed the document checking formalities in 30 mins, as they ask me to go out and open the sealed envolope and bring it inside.
They are not allowing any documents which were enclosed in envolopes.
Waited again in line for 1 hour 30 minutes as there were 70 candidates in front of me :-(

Finally they called me at 12:55 and the interview went as below:

VO: May I have your passport
Me: Provided

VO: Which company are you going to work for?
Me: Answered

VO: How many years, you were there in US before?
Me: Answered

VO: For how many companies you worked in that duration?
Me: Answered

VO: Do you work for any client?
Me: Answered

VO: What is your role?
Me: Answered

VO: What is the salary?
Me: Answered

VO: Are you married or single?
Me: Married.

VO: Is she not coming with you?
Me: No, she will join with me later.

VO: Will she come on H1/H4?
Me: H4

VO: Place left hand four fingers for Finger prints.

VO: Your visa approved and you will get in 4 business days. Have a great weekend.
Me: Thank you very much and you too have a great weekend.

Note: Dress well and be confident while speaking with VO officer. All the best