H1B, H4 Visa

Hi ,

Need help in my case.

I came to US on H4 visa and after few months I changed my status to F1 and now I am on H1b visa approved for an year(2013).I am planning to go India in March .Mine is EVC(Employer-Vendor-Client) model and have both vendor and client letters.

My Questions are:

1.Is it safe to go for stamping in India (chennai) on EVC model?

2.Is anyone with the same situation and got approved?

3.After my change of status I didn't go to India and this is the first time going on H1B.So,my passport have the h4 stamp only.Will the Visa officer ask why I have changed the status from H4 to F1?and other type of questions about change of status?

Please advice me.Appreciate your help.

I have H1B petition fillied from mumbai india but before giving the interview i came in munich germany.
Can i give the interview for H1B in Munich ???

Hi All,
          I had a strange experience with H1B interviewer. he had asked me that i am already in a foreign country and why i need to go to us and he had concerns issuing H1B visa to me. so he had given my passport back and taken all my company and education originals and told me that they will get back to me in some time.

Please share ur experience on this. Now i dont know what should i do?

This is my first time H1B experience

Thanks,
Vijay

Thanks for this blog and it had given me a wide range of information on the questions pattern and the kind of documents to be carried.Special thanks to all who have shared their personal interviews.

VISA Application -- H1B & H4

Day 1: Jan 02-- OFC Chennai

>>OFC is located exactly opp to Apollo Hospital and my appointment was at 8:30 AM and we have reached 15 mins prior.
>> Mobile can be carried but need to be silent mode.
>>No tensions things are preety cool,here the officer(Indians) will check our Visa Payment Slip,DS 160,Passport and Appointment letter.
>>After verifying the documents we will be passed over the counter to take our photographs and Fingerprints.

Day 2 : Jan 17 --- Chennai Embassy.

>> My Appointment was at 7:30 AM and I went by car and the car can be parked at Avvai Shanmugam Salai and it is by-lane next to the consulate.Lucky that police have no taken my car until I am back around 9:00 AM
>>Mobile,bags,Laptops,Remote Car keys are not allowed and it can be deposited at the counter outsside Embassy.
>> Reached visa consulate at 6:45 AM saw a big queue and the moment it started as usual people have by-passed and came before me to reach faster.Here the security person will check for your Appointment letter,DS160 and Passport must be in your hand to move to the next counter.
>>Security personnel will check again the same documents and will punch a seal of today's date and scan our body for any equipments if we had carried.
>>Only at this point we are allowed to enter inside the consulate.
>> Initial Counter checked the same Appointment letter,DS160 and passport and pasted a Token no back to the passport.
>>When the Token no is called The counter staff will ask for
Passport
Appointment Letter
DS 160
I 797
LCA Document......... And the counter person will infact say that these are the documents to be shown to the Visa Officer[VO] while interview.
>>Then we will move to the next counter the same Appointment letter,DS160 and passport and they willl take finger prints.
Till here the place was looking lousy.................

>> Then we were asked to move to the next building where Visa Officer[VO] are located a better place and will make us sit until we are being called on the screen of our token No.
>> Token N63 was my no and was being called to Counter No.20 and the Visa Officer[VO] was looking towards end of 40's.

Me : GM with a smile
VO : GM back with a smile not sure it was b'cos we went as couple as we was not smiling with others.


VO :Can I have your documents.
Passport,Appointment Letter
DS 160
I 797
LCA Document
Me : Produced.

VO : You work for ..... company as I was wearing my company tag
ME: Yes,Propably helped as I applied my H1b through a consultant.

VO :How long you have been working.
ME : .... Yrs.

VO : Which state are you going and salary.
ME : Answered

VO : Turned to my wife and asked does your husband cook.
Wife : She said no

VO: Looking at my previous passport information on his system.He asked were you a sailer.
ME : I said yes and replied the company name.

VO :Turned to my wife again and asked for my D.O.B
Wife : VO slang she couldn't understand and VO repeated again and finally replied.

VO : Turned to me and asked is this correct.
ME: Yes.

VO :Now the golder words "Visa is Approved"
ME : Thanks You.

To everyone be confident and have a ever smiling face without tension and remember US is not the only destiny we have life to live for those lost.

Firstly THANK YOU immihelp which help me lot to prepare for my Visa interview.
I was getting all "day to day question updates" on this site, so I was much confident while I appeared for interview.

Day 1: 14Jan13 : OFC

I reached there 30 mins before time with wife and 2 yrs kid. Straight forward process. As having Kid with me, they sent me directly inside(no need to stand in queue). Once I was in, they verified appointment letter, and DS160 confirmation pages, and Payment slip.
As per token I appeared for bio metric. Staff was cooperating in all the process.
They said persons below 7 yrs and above 70yrs not allowed to be at embassy for interview, only take their original documents with you.


Day 2: 15 Jan 13 : Embassy
1.My interview time was @ 10:00 am.
2.I reached venue around 09:10 AM.
3.I found lot of crowd hanging outside main gate, and I guessed being in queue should take much more time.
 
4.At main gate, person checked my appointment letter and passports. He allowed/asked me to take my kid(2 yr old) along with me inside. ( As i was told at OFC, I was expecting they will not allowed kid in embassy).
5. Routine Security check happened.
6. Then they sent us next to security hall. I found a big covered area under which around 100+ applicant was sitting in queue and those all were guided by Embassy members.
7. I also settled on chair and one of Embassy member came to me, and ask my Passports, Original Petition and Appointment confirmation, Arranged by his way and handed over to me.
8. After 2 mins, he came and asked me to go ahead to Next gate. ( I think because of child with me, he allowed me directly inside and no need to wait in queue).
9. At one window I was asked for Language of interview. Then they sticked token to my passport and asked me to wait in last line.
10. While waiting in line, one officer come and asked for passports. HE asked me how old your kid is. I said 2 yrs. He taken my passport and he talks with guy in main Window. He asked me to sit for sometime. I think he found some wrong Token on my passport. He come back after 5 mins and he said you are having NEW token now. For this token number I have to wait only for 2 members interview( both of them were with their kids).
11. I guess they are having separate tokens for applicant with kids.

12. As per my token number, I appeared for interview:

VO: Good morning
ME: Good Morning

VO: Which organization you work for?
ME: Answered

VO: Since how long you working with this organization?
ME: Answered

VO: what is your highest degree?
ME: Answered

VO: Which location you going?
ME: Answered

VO: What kind of work you will do there?
ME: Answered

VO: How much Salary you will get there?
ME: Answered

For my Spouse:
a) When did you get married?
b) How old is your kid?
c) What is favorite food of your kid?
d) What is favorite food of your husband?

Then, he done something on his Screen for seconds and he said " Your Visa is got approved and you will receive it in next 3-5 days".
He asked me to read White pamplate(Human RightS) and handed one paper about Women's Rights to my spouse.

We both said him "Thank You" and smiled.


Key Points:
Keep all documentation ready and arranged properly. Be confident and smily.

Hope this will help for those who going for stamping.

All the best.

First of ALL,Let me thank "Immihelp" for sharing very valuable information to all the H1B aspirants here.
I have gone through all your posts and get confidence and cleared my VISA interview today.

Let me share my experiences here.

OFC Interview date : JAN 15th 10.30 AM @ Hyderabad

We need to carry the DS-Confirmation page,Appointment letter and Passport.Except these no documents are required.
I stood in the queue by 10AM and after 10.30,I have been allocated for a counter.

At the counter, they will ask you "Did you go through the Oath ?".
and we need to say "YES" :).

The Photograph and fingerprints took only for 5 mins and they stamped the seal on the DS-confirmation page.That's it with the OFC interview.
We need to carry this to the interview.

Consular Interview Date : JAN 16th 9.30AM @ Hyderabad.

We need to show the following documents at the outside gate

1.Passport
2.DS-Confirmation letter [ Which is stamped with the OFC seal ]
3.Appointment letter

After that,you will be allowed inside and a security check.

After that,we need to go to inside the Consular Office and there we need to show the following documents.

1. Passport
2. BEP Letter
3. I797 Document

They will pin these documents and assign to a counter.Here,they will crosscheck the data.We will not get many questions here.

After that,you will be allowed inside and there they will give a token and we need to wait for the turn.


After waiting half an hour, my turn has come and my counter no is 14.VO is 30+ American.

Me : Good Morning
VO : Good Morning

VO : So,you are coming from YYYY company ?
Me : Yes,I am coming from YYYY company.

VO : From how long you are working with the org ?
Me : From the last 2 years 10 months I am working here.

VO : Where are you going ?
ME : Redmond,Washington

VO : Is this the first time you are going to US ?
ME : Yes,this is the first time I am going


VO : wild guess , I think you are going for Microsoft Corporation ?
ME : Yes,I am going for Microsoft Corporation

VO : Are you married ?
ME : No,I am Single.


Next,a finger print check and thats it.He said " Your VISA is Approved" and took the passport and kept aside.

So guys,Please be confident and maintain eye-to-eye contact and dont be nervous.Surely,You will be through.

Good Luck,
Srikrishna

Attended my H1B Visa stamping on 15th Jan 2013 in Hyderabad. OFC was on 14th and and its pretty straightforward as everyone explained.

This is my first H1B stamping- extension beyond 6 years based on approved I 140. I was on couple of L visas earlier and changed to H visa in Year 6 to a company in EVC model (Was in IT Project management then). From there I moved to my current Company on H1 transfer and after I140 approval through my current company, got 3 year H1 extension.

My profile in current company is Supply Chain (Non IT) though most of my previous experience is IT related. Here are the questions from Visa officer.

exchanged pleasantries

VO: Please give me your passport... after a while asked for I797
VO: Why you are going to united states..
Me: To work for my employer . YYYY
VO: What is your role
Me: xxxx
VO: what is you Pay .. then asked you previously worked for YYYY why are you moving to YYY
me: This is a better opportunity and will give me global exposure. also obviously better pay
VO: Where do you stay
VO: Are you married .. Is your Wife travelling with you.. Any children
me: Yes.... No, She is already in states on H1B.... No
VO: Kept typing some stuff and said your Visa is approved.. Didnt say how many days to collect passport but I am guessing in a couple of days I will get a email

All the best for everyone.. I think quite a few people kept saying that and I do believe it strongly too.. confidence is the key.. and by that I mean the calmness with which you answer the questions with clarity in your mind. If you do not understand a question ask him to repeat and answer to the point..

Hello All,

I got my H1B approved today, Jan 15, 2013 in MUMBAI. So just wanted to share my exp with you.
My appointment at OFC was on Jan 10, 2013 @ 10 AM, i reached OFC at 9:40,
Outside the building there was a security person who checked my OFC Confirmation (DS 160) and PASSPORT.
He ticked all my details on the confirmation and directed to go inside.

After going inside there is a security check, after that a person checks the DS 160 again and sticks a barcode on the passport.
Finally your photo and fingerprints are taken and you are done.

On the interview day i went 45 minutes before my interview time.
Initially security check was done. (This time they said the belt is ok, don't remvove it. Other belongings we scanned)
After that, i was made to sit in an open space, where row wise seating arrangement was nicely made, with a shed on top of it.
While waiting there, a person came and checked my Petition Copy, Appointment Confirmation and Passport. Returned it back to me.
Another person came and handed over a booklet which stated RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE while working in US. Just go thru it once.
(If you already know them, i will not force to)

After 35- 40 minutes i was let inside (where actual interviews are conducted).
i was made to stand in a queue and then issued a token number (which they stucked to my passport. My number was 559)

After that, i had my left fingers scanned again (on another window) for confirmation and then off to a waiting area where i was waiting for my turn.
(it was 482 number going on, unlike breach candy waiting area, at BKC,there is a screen where token numbers are displayed along with the window number, glad to see that)
I took a nescafe and was enjoying every sip of it, (as i wanted to divert my nervousness while waiting for my turn)
Then after waiting for 30 mins (approx), i saw 558 on screen and my heart started pumping, and then next number : 561
(my brain started processing, is my number there? did they add my token number to their list? etc. etc.)
But after that i saw my token number and i prepared my files and went on to a window (like Munnabhai...remember the dialog which CIRCUIT says to parsi doctor - "darne ka nahi re, aise confidence ke sath jaane ka")

QS

ME : Good morning officer, how are you?
VO : Good, how are you
ME : I m fine, thank you
VO : My machine is not responding, give me a minute
ME : OK
VO : Can i see your petition? (Becoz his machine was not repsonding, He asked me for my petition and i gave the entire bunch to him which was arranged by travel dept of my company. )
(He just saw first page of the petition and said)
VO : OH you are working for XYZ?
ME : Yes
VO : For which client are you going to work?
ME : PQR
(Returned the Petition bunch to me, As his machine was not responding he took a break and asked me to wait)
VO : I am sorry give me a minute, I ll be right back
ME : OK no probs.
VO : Alright, are you going to work on clients location?
ME : Yes, i will work at client's location in <city>, <State>
VO : What are you working as?
ME : I am working as Computer Programmer Analyst. I will be responsible to coordinate between my client and offshore team here in india. I will also (VO asked next question)
VO : Whats you US Salary ?
ME : USD YYYY X per anum
VO : Are you married?
ME : yes
VO : Did you get this booklet? (Refering to a booklet attached to a bulletproof window - RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE)
ME : Yes i did get.
VO : Ok, I am issuing you a visa, it will take 2 - 3 days bla bla bla. Have a nice stay and all the best.
ME : Thank you officer
VO : Have a good day
ME : Thank you. have a good day.

I hope this was not boring.

Thanks

Here is my H1-B visa stamping experience in Mumbai. Visa is for non-IT, Mechanical Engineering (M. S. from US).
First of all, Thank you very much immihelp for providing guidelines for getting US Visa. Thank you all for posting their experiences. It was very helpful.
OFC on Dec. 17 2012 @ 4 pm and Visa appointment on Dec 18. 2012 @ 7:45 am in Mumbai.

{OFC pretty straightforward. But unfortunately, I made a severe mistake while completing DS-160. In place of Given name I put my first name only (instead of First and Middle name). However on passport the Given name was my Fist and Middle name. The passport name and DS-160 name should match. The person who was checking my documents for OFC notified me about that. Fortunately, I reached OFC @ 3:15 pm and he said I have 45 minutes to change the DS-160. He told, to go outside and I will get help from somebody to rectify the error. I went outside and an autorickshaw guy asked me about modifying DS-160 and took me to the net-cafe, where they told me to pay about 400 INR for using their system and a guy would help me with DS-160. I was worried that I might have to fill new DS-160 and reschedule my appointment. But the net-cafe guy assured me that he would take care of everything. I was sitting next to him and we filled new DS-160 with almost all information copied from the previous DS-160. He updated DS-160 and printed new DS-160 confirmation and updated Appointment letter (with new DS-160 confirmation # on it). I rushed back to the OFC and reached their @ about 3:45 pm.}
 Everything went smooth after that on that day.

Visa appointment Dec 18, 2012: Reached @ 7 am. Stood in a line for 7:45 am appointment. Went through procedure mentioned by others in their experiences. Got the token number and waiting for my number.
I have taken almost all the documents including my thesis copy and what not. I was completely confident and positive about the interview.
I and The visa officer greeted each other. I handed him Passport and I-797 Approval Notice. For some reason he thought I am going for F1 and asked me about why am I going to this university and why am I going to US? I just smiled at him, he immediately looked at I-797 and realized that I am going for H1-B. I responded him why I am going to US.
Here is the brief discussion we had (Questions and Answers):
Q: What your company do (manufacture)?
A: Briefly informed about company's products.
Q: What do you do (job role)?
A: A: Briefly explained my job role and responsibilities.
Q: Where will you work?
A: Answered properly. (I am already working there since 12 months).
Q: Are you single or married?
A: Answered.
Q: How much the company pay you?
A: Told my salary USD/year.
Q:Can I see your recent Pay Stubs?
A: Sure (Showed all previous pay stubs).
He said "I approve your Visa". 'Give me just 1 second to update that into my system and you will get your passport in 3 business days'. He was done in few seconds.
I Thanked him and wished him Happy New Year in advance and that's it.

{I intentionally put Passport delivery method as Pick Up from Pune location to avoid delays because of Blue Dart and stuff. I read it in few experiences about delayed passport deliveries and difficulties in tracking passport.}

I got email on Dec. 20, 2012 @ 5 pm stating that passport is ready for pick in the mentioned hours @ location requested. I picked up my passport from Sohrab Hall on Dec. 21, 2012 by showing Photo ID and submitting its photocopy and also took Appointment letter (as mentioned on http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-loc-passportcollection.asp&#x29;.
Good Luck to all potential H1-B candidates.
Please feel free to email me and ask questions if you have.
Cheers!

Firstly a big THANK YOU to immihelp for coming up with such an fantastic platform that allows people to share their H1B/H4 interview experiences and helps H1B aspirants to prepare for the same.

Day 1 - OFC - 09th Jan
Straight forward process which will not take more than 30 mins. Passport, DS-160 confirmation page and appointment letter are the only docs required here. I had gone with my spouse and 2yr old son. They said its fine if we do not bring him for consulate interview.

Day 2 - Interview - 14th Jan
I went there only with my spouse. Process starting from the consulate gate to the interview counter are same as already mentioned by various other members. Hence will not mention that.

Interview conversation
Me - Greetings exchanged and handed over our passports with original I-797 document. But I-797 was returned back as he said it was not required.

VO - Which co. do you work for?
Me - Answered

VO - Will you work at client/your co. location?
Me - Answered

VO - Who is your client?
Me - Answered

VO - Your responsibilities there?
me - Answered

To my wife
VO - How long you have been married with him?
Wife - Answered

VO - What is your hubby's favourite food?
Wife - Answered

VO - How old is you son?
Wife - Answered

VO - What is your son's favourite food?
Wife - Answered

VO started typing something in his computer. Here I knew that we have almost made it :-). Then came Golden words - "You VISA is approved and will get your passport in 4-5 working days."

As mentioned by other immihelp members, confidence is the key. But that can go for a toss when you see rejections happening (for various other categories) infront of you. My VO was very cool that helped me gain some confidence while waiting for our turn in queue.