H1B, H4 Visa

A big thanks to all who posted their experience here. Long story short, main interview on 8th April, 2013 and OFC on 5th. Key takeaways - play it with confidence, be clear, loud and concise. Prepare well and that will take care of everything. Now to the main interview -
VO: Good morning sir
Me: A very good morning sir
VO: Which company?
Me: Name of my new employer.
VO: Looking at the company tag, are you not going for the company you are working for?
Me: Its a new employer
VO: Which place?
Me: Answered
VO: What are you going to do for them?
Me: Inspite of explaining the responsibilities, I said I am gonna develop software for my new employer
VO: How much are they gonna pay you?
Me: Answered
VO: Did you read the white pamphlet?
Me: No sir
VO: You must read it before you got to the US! I am approving your visa, have a pleasant stay in the US and a great day!
Me: Thank you so much and you have a wonderful day too.
It was done within a minute and I realized how important the confidence and being to the point are. All the very best to those who are going for the interview and congrats to those who did it.

Any kind of informational help on this would be highly appreciated.

I was eligible for the DropBox interview waiver program and dropped my documents along with original I-797 and passport at the VFS location here in Chandigarh. Got an email from UsTravelDocs 2 days later saying "You are requested to appear for an in person interview and fingerprinting".
I attended the H1B visa extension in person interview yesterday at the US Embassy at New Delhi office. After a question answers round Visa officer then asked me for the petition approval I-797 copy. I handed it to him and he said it's not valid it's expired. I told him the future dates it is valid for and that date has also been mentioned on the 797, he said ya that's right but it's not showing on my system. In My system I see the expired one. Then he issued me the 221(g) which I never wanted to have. I told him officer I've submitted the originals already along with my passport. He told me it's something for us to verify and You'd get an SMS once it's ready for pick up.

I said thanks and walked away. Then I called UsTravelDocs and told them I've already submitted the approval notice of 797 which is valid until some future date with the passport. They told me it's Petition Information Management Service(PIMS) which is needed. I asked them where would I get it from then they told me "talk to your employer and then your employer woud talk to USCIS as ask for PIMS copies and submit those copies to us".
I did some research then I found that PIMS is a system where your approved Petitions get uploaded by the KCC. read this for more information https://hr.ou.edu/ifss/PIMS.asp
VIsa officers can't approve a VISA unless your petition has been uploaded into this PIMS system which they access during the interview and see if your petition is valid and approved.

DId anyone else face this similar problem or have had this 221(g) saying "Need to attach current PIMS petition" ?

Please do reply if you have and I wish you never do face this again in future or if you haven't yet.

Wish you all happy times ahead

God Bess
Amrit

I came to US for MBA on F1 in 2007 and I got my first H1B approval in oct 2009..with I-94 attached to it and than had to transfer to a new employer in Oct 2010.... there was a 45 days of employement gap between my transfer so the attorney filed a visa petition for me to avoid any denials (I dont understand) which also required me to go back to India and get a visa stamping done or I will not be able to work for the petitioner. The ISSUE is i just realised this problem today April 10 2013. yes, TODAY ! I have been out of status since Oct 2010 (That is when they filed my H1 Petition for transfer) My employer did tell me in 2011 to go to india and get it stamped but he did not tell me that I MUST go to india or otherwise it is not Valid.
I know it is very complicated situation to even explain it entirely... but has anyone even been in this situation or something like this.
I met an Immigration attorney for consultation and he said I have been out of status since oct 2010 and unlawful since Oct 2012 (based on my original H1B which had I94 to it and was valid from Oct 2009-Oct 2012) but I can still go to Inidia and try stamping (it is unlawful but nothing is illegal)

Can anyone please help. I am lost !

Here is my whole story on h1b till date

I had attended my interview on
jan 24 th : attended interview at consulate give white 221g to submit all docs.
 
march 4th:submitted 221g with all docs asked.

march 14 th: 2nd 221g asking for client letter and itenary.

march 28th: submitted docs with 2 nd 221g they didnt asked for passport but the lady there got it .

april 4th:passport was returned along with a 3rd 221g blue to return passport. passport returned to ofc center in a hour.still waiting for the passport. My case in CEAC still shows administrative processing.

 whats the chance of getting visa ???any one who can help me out in this r give suggestions

OFC- 04/08/2013
Interview- 04/09/2013

It was a very smooth experience
Just two questions asked for me
BEP company
Who is the client?
What is your highest qualification

2-3 Q's for me wife and visa is approved

Be confident and all the best

First I would like to thank all people who had updated this forum; it was of great help for me.
Background,
This is my VISA extension after 6 years H1B, on the basis of I140. I had changed my company once in the last 6 years.
Now about my experience,
OFC – April 1st
Had appointment at 10:30, reached OFC office at 10:10 was a small queue, got in at 10:20 there was a person checking your DS160 & passport after the security. They asked us to go the first floor.
In the first floor there was a queue, but got in 10 minutes, there was a security search
After that there was a person confirming your appointment with your DS160 and passport, later got a token from another lady. I was in a queue and my wife and child in another queue. There they asked for the DS160 and the appointment confirmation.
Asked your name & DOB, took my picture and figure print. Stamped the date on the DS 160 and asked to take it to the consulate when going. Was out by 11:00.
Chennai consulate – April 2nd
My appointment here was at 7:30. Reached there at 7:10, waked staring to the friend of the line. Asked to go to another line in front of the consulate. In 10 Min a person was checking my passport and DS160 got a token number. Once I entered the consulate. The security person done a check of all the files you had in your hand, made a mess but asked to get it sorted at the other end of the table.
Went inside waited there was a monitor showing the ticket numbers, went to the counter which showed the ticket the person checked the I797 and passport there. Asked to go the counter in line 12.
There was person checking your finger print with the passport. This was an American person still now all were Indian. Asked to go the adjacent building.
Again people were called on the token number given first. There was a nice person I got.
VO: Called my Surname.
ME: Good morning
VO: Good morning how are you?
ME: Good, (Gave my passport)
VO: Please give me your I129 & LCA
ME: Gave the I129 file and mentioned the LCA is in the file.
He checked the date on the LCA was typing something on the computer.
VO: who is your client?
ME: YYYY X
ME: I said I have the client letter and took it from my file.
VO: He said that is fine and did not even take it.
He again checked the system
VO: said that everything is OK, but his system is no update. It should be updated in 2 days time.
VO: Asked if I had a copy of the I797
ME: Gave him a copy.
ME: I said do I need to give you any document? Would I need to come back here as I am not from here?
VO: He said everything should be fine; it’s very unlikely you would have to come.
Took the copy gave me a white pamphlet
ME: Where can I pay the money for the passport postal?
VO: It’s on your way out.
ME: Thank you
VO: Have a good day.
I went to the postal counter, there was no one after 10 min person came asked to fill the form, asked to pay RS300 per passport. (Please make sure to have cash if you need this service.)
Was out of the consulate at 8:30
The status in the website was showing as administrative process for two days.
Changes to issue after that. Got the pass
I got the passport today with visa stamped.

Hi

My wife attended interview for H4 visa. It was a renewal.
OFC was straight forward.
Next day was the visa interview date and VO asked pretty much standard questions.
I had moved three companies from past 6 months so she had confussed seeing mt paystubs but nothing alarming.

So please organize your documents and go.

Thanks immihelp

Hi,
First thanks to everyone for posting their experiences which helps a lot.
Little background about me, I have H1B visa which got expired on 31st Dec 2012. But It was extended in time. Had to travel to India due to a personal loss in family. Working for same employer for almost 5 years. My case was eligible for drop box/ Interview waiver programs. Company associates suggested for personal interview route.
My OFC was scheduled on 4th Apr and Interview on 5th Apr 8AM.

OFC was smooth took arnd 20 mins. DS-160 confirmation, Appointment letter and Passport were required.
You get a token and then finger printed and photographed.

On 5th Apr we reached embassy well before so had to wait for almost 45 minutes. US embassy has created a covered seating outside of the embassy for waiting, it was very comfortable and weather was nice in Delhi. After checking of docs entered into embassy.
Lady on the counter punched my I797 , BEP letter and DS-160 confirmation page with passport same for my wife. Again waited for most 10 min inside embassy and finger printing was done.
My VO was a nice gentlemen in 40s.
After exchange of pleasantries , he asked for passport.
VO ; Its a renewal.
me : Yes.
Vo Where are you going?
Me: X, Y .
VO : Same company?
Me: Yes, told the company name.
VO: Same client?
Me: Yeah, told the client name.
VO: What client does?
Me: Although my client is a very big and well known company :). Explained him about client in 2 sentences. He smiled.
VO; to me and wife do you have any child?
my wife : Nodded in negative
Me : No sir.
VO: What is your salary?
Me ; ABC,
VO asked again same question.

Then he took green pamphlet which had golden words"your visa has been approved".
Actually it took less than 5 mins. Now we are waiting for passports.
Hope it will help others.

Hi

I hope My experience will be useful for every one. Sorry I did not get time all these day to post my experience.
I went to India after 4 years. I had only one stamping with my very first employer. after that I changed 2 employers. From A employer to B employer to C employer.

I am currently working with C employer last 3 years.

I booked finger prints appointment on 24th Feb Sunday and 25th Feb Monday Visa interview for my wife H4 and me H1 from USA only and I have baby born in USA. We planned to go with baby to consulate.

We landed in chennai on 23rd night and stayed in relatives house. Basically I am from AP since my home town is near to chennai, I selected chennai consulate.

Finger Prints: We had an appointment on 23rd Sunday 3.30 PM. We reached to the center around 2 PM but due to heavy crowd we stand out side they allowed us to go inside 3 PM. They did finger prints and photo for my wife and me in different counters. I saw for some couples they did same counter. We are done finger prints and photo by 4 pm and came back to home.

Visa Interview: I had an interview appointment on 25th Feb Monday 7.30 AM. We reached by 5.45 AM I did not expect we will reach so early. I thought will reach by 6.15 AM. We went with my baby she is 2 years old. There were so many mosquito bite my daughter since we stand out side after 2 days my daughter got infection we ran to hospital for 4 day in my home town.

I don't see any body there by the time we reached there. There were couple of cops standing there. We stand near to bus stop for some time, my daughter was playing there. around 6.30 people started to gather there for interview. Then Cops asked us stand in line near bus stop. We are the first one standing in line. Then around 7 AM they checked our documents and allowed us to go inside. After going inside they took all my documents for scanning purpose they put in to tray by mixed all the documents, what ever order I did everything gone. They gave token with Number N1. I am first guy for H1b that day in consulate. Then I arranged all the documents in order took time. Then after 10 min they verify my finger prints and directed to in another building. By the time we entered no counter is opened. At 8 am started open counters.

They started calling one by one, I think they are all visitor visas. My counter 22nd is opened by american lady and my token number is displayed and I am the first one.

My selft and wife and kid went to near counter, then VO asked us come.

I : I said Good Morning.
VO: Asked passports.
I : I gave passports, DS 160, appointment letter and I-797. She scanned DS-160 and verifying information
VO: who is your employer?
VO: how long have you been with current employer?
VO: Can I see your 2012 W2 form?
VO: are you applying for visa for your kid?
I : I said " she is us citizen"
VO: Who is your client?
VO: are there any middle vendor? I said no direct client.
VO: Who do you report?
VO : Can I have your LCA?
I: I was searching for LCA in my packet.
VO: Can I have all the document which you got from your employer?
I: I gave all the documents which my employer gave. except Purchase order and Client letter.
VO : she verified for some time in her system around 5 mins and then she asked go and have seat some will be with you shortly.

We went and sit for 40 min Then I again call from one more counter.

There were 2 Indian ladies. They asked my wife and kid and go and sit, they told to my wife it will take some time with me. Then my wife was so tensed and went and sit. I did not worry, Just I pray the god once. That's it.

They asked same kind of questions and on top of it they asked the following question.
1. Who is your employer?
2. Are you working client or employer?
3. How long are you working with this employer?
4. How long are you working with this client?
5. Are there any middle vendors?
6. Are you sure aren't there any middle vendors?
7. How many years of experience do you have?
8. can you please explain me the dates of experience?
9. Can you show me all previous H1B Petitions?
10. Can you give me 2012 W2 form?
11. Did you pay for your H1B?
12. What is your highest Qualification?
13. Can you show me your original certificates?
14. how did you find this job?
15. What are your roles and responsibilities?
16. To whom are you reported at client place?
17. how frequently do you meet your company manager?
18. Who will allocate the work for you?
19. Who owns the Data Concepts?
20. Is she Indian?
21. what about your daughter visa? I said she is USA citizen.
22. What date you started first job after your education?
23. What is the duration of your first job?
24. Who is next employer after your first Job?
25. Can you tell me the dates of your all of your employments?
26.Can you show me your all previous experience letters? They entered all the dates of employment details in their system.
27. Can you show your contract between your company and client?
28. Is there any client letter with you?
29. Can you show me client letter?
30. I don't see Data Concepts name client agreement, I don't think this is client letter? I said this is what I got from my employer.

They took all the my educational and experience and client letters and offer letter all most all the documents and entered all the information in their system then they asked me go and sit. I was so vexed with all the questions but I answered with patiently without any tension and with relax. Then they went to original Visa Officer and discussing with her around 10 to 15 min. And then she continues to interviews other guys. After some time She called to sitting hall over phone some VFS guy picked up phone in sitting hall. Then shouted my token number and asked us to go to original counter to Visa Officer.

We stand for some time in line, then she recognized us and called, then she was enter in her system around 5 min and then she told me sorry for keeping wait for long time. Everything looks good your side and I am issuing your visa. you will get passport in 3 to 5 business day. and then she gave my old passport and all my papers certificates and exp letters and everything. We came out around 10.15 out of consulate with relax mind.

Be confident.

Regards,
Vish

Hi Everyone,

First of all, a big thanks to immihelp. This forum was good enough for me to get the visa without any issues.

I had my OFC on 25th March and PA on 26th. OFC went fine, reached on time with my little angel and wife, and the whole OFC process was completed in 2-3 mins. Photos, finger prints etc.

On 26th we could reach on time, with a 30 mins buffer time, we stand in the queue for sometime then finished the security check, completed the DS 160, passport and petition verification by an Indian lady, took finger prints again and moved to next building for the actual interview.

As our passports were stolen, we had an additional interview at counter 13, cleared after showing the required docs for the same.

Then waited in for 30-45 mins, saw all the drama, relaxed and after reminding a VFS guy about our token number, we got the slot.

The VO was a nice guy, we were watching his activities for more than 30 mins, so it was not a surprise for us, when we got his counter.

Just 3 questions asked to me.

1) Who is your client ?
2) Salary in the US ?
3) Your highest qualification ?

Then turned to my wife, and asked

1) Your highest degree ?
2) Are you working now ?
3) How long did you work ? and Why are you not working now ?
4) What is your subject (As she is a lecturer)
5) Whom you are teaching ?

Then he started typing something like filling a form, he was moving the cursor here and there and typing....and another person for his side interrupted our conversation, he switched off mic then talked to that person. We were waiting for his comments, then he came back after a minute, typed something and said "Your visa is approved, have a nice day". That's it....!!!!!

We payed VFS fees and came out happily. Go get your visa...my best wishes to all readers....and visa aspirants.