H1B, H4 Visa

Hello Friends,

My Spouse h4 visa got approved at HYDERABAD Consulate. Below is her experience.
=====================================================================================

Arrived before 30 Minutes of Appointment.

At the Entrance (gate): The watchman checked my appointment letter and passport. Then I was asked to walk inside.

After that they did a security check.

Inside the Consulate: There was a lady who asked me "which visa am I applying?”. I said for H4. Then she asked me my passport, appointment letter, DS160 confirmation, my hubbyz I797 and I94. She then pinned up all these documents. After that I was asked to go to counter number #.

At The Counter: The person asked my passport and took my right hand fingerprints. And then I had to wait at the waiting room (for about 10 minutes) where they gave me a token (they call you for the interview when your number comes)...

My token number was XX and I was asked to move to counter number XX.

Counter:
Interviewer: Hi how are you?
Me: Good morning Sir. I’m good... How r u?
Interviewer: I’m fine too. Your passport please.
Me: Yes, Sir here it is.
Interviewer: So where does your husband work?
Me: Told him the Company name.
Interviewer: Can u show me his pay slips?
Me: Absolutely Sir (I gave him the paystubs/Pay slips)
Interviewer: so where are you going to stay in US?
Me: Told him the Address.
Interviewer: what’s your hubbyz annual income?
Me: YYYY X $ per annum.
Interviewer: how long has it been for your marriage?
Me: It’s been X months Sir.
Interviewer: Was it an arranged or love?
Me: Arranged.
Interviewer: Who arranged and how?
Me: Parents arranged our marriage. Through marriage bureau
Interviewer: Your visa is approved. You will receive your passport within a week :)
Thanks to Allmighty Lord!

Thank you for all the posts made by experienced applicants here. I did my interview well and it got approved.

Below are the details of H1 & H4 Visa interview process and suggestions:

With the new process taken by US visa offices, applicant need to take two appointments.

First appointment for submission of your finger prints and submitting your photograph(they are clicking your photograph in the counter itself still I would suggest you to carry 2 photographs of visa requirements).

Second appointment is for the consulate interview.

First appointment:

My appointment was scheduled for October 5th 2012 at 10:00 AM. Since its a new process to avoid confusions I reached the OFC location (For Chennai its the TPL house, No: 3, Cenotaph Road, Teynampet, Chennai) by 9:15 AM.

You will be asked to wait in the queue before the gate according to your appointment time. Please note that accompanying guests may not be allowed inside unless the person taking the appointment is either old or sick or child.

If the previous slot of appointment is not having much crowd, they may ask you to enter the premises even before the scheduled time.

I was allowed to enter at 9:30 AM itself. I was asked to move to first floor where a representative will make you stand in line according to your appointment time.

The representative will advice you to have ONLY your passport, appointment confirmation and/or DS160 page in your hands. The will not ask or look for more documents in the entry(but during the finger printing they may ask you some details so better to have the documents ready in a separate cover).

With your Passport, Appointment confirmation letter and/or DS160 you will be allowed to a security check (No carry bags,pen drives, CDs, Car keys with remote, mobiles, tablets,sharp items or any electronic gadgets are allowed. Polythene covers are allowed though.) immediately followed by few representative who will be checking your passport and confirmation letters. Once done you will be given a token number and be asked to wait in a hall where there will be counters through which the bio metrics and photo coverage will be done.

Once your token number is called you should visit the counter. (Even if you are taking your dependent with you, please walk individually to the counter one after another. They will not allow both of you at the same time). The representative in the counter took my passport and the DS-160 confirmation letter and the appointment letter. After taking the passport, they will ask you your date of birth and your full name. Following that you will be asked to submit your finger prints. (both the hands, total ten finger- four, four and two thumb). They will then take a photo of yours in the camera they have. The same will be done with your H4 as well.

Your passport will have a sticker affixed to its back which is your DS 160 confirmation bar code. (This will be verified at the time of Consular interview).

That is it for the appointment.

Note: For some people they were asking to show the I797, Petition and dependent details. So better to carry the docs with you.


Second appointment:

My Consular appointment was scheduled for October 9th 2012 at 7:30 AM. I have reached the consulate by 6:45 AM. (It is recommended to reach the consulate 40 minutes before your appointment.)

Since there were riots in Chennai few weeks back, now the wait area has be moved to the pedestrian walk of Oxford Press. One security person will approach you to confirm the appointment time.

Next you will be asked to show your DS 160 number to the police and they will make a note of it in a record.

A consulate person will visit you and ask to keep your passport, DS 160 and Appointment letter ready. Once that is verified there will be another person to check your DS 160 number against their records.

A small security check manually is done(for both H1 and H4 - Ladies have a room to get the frisking done) - No carry bags,pen drives, CDs, Car keys with remote, mobiles, tablets,sharp items or any electronic gadgets are allowed. Polythene covers are allowed though.

Another Consulate person will check your passport and mark your place of passport collection in case of approval and stamps the DS 160 with "APPLICATION RECEIVED"

Once you reach the actual gate of the consulate, another security check manually. Then you will be asked to enter the and drop all your documents and belonging for IR scanning.

Another small frisking is done.

Now when you get into the hall, they will guide to get the token number. You can show your passport, DS 160 and Appointment confirmation letter to the person in the counter and they will issue you the TICKET NUMBER.(One ticket is valid for both H1 and H4).

Once your ticket number is displayed in the monitor walk to the counter and give your Passport, DS 160 and Appointment letter. The executive will later ask for your HDFC/Axis bank receipt followed by your I797, I 129 and LCA. The executive will verify the details against their system, bundles your passport, DS 160, Petition, Approval letter and will ask you to move to building 6. But before moving to building 6, you will have to wait for your turn near counter 12 to verify your finger prints. You will be asked to submit your right hand finger prints, get it verified and your bundle will be marked.

Now you have to move to the building 6 where your actual consular interview is going to take place.

You will be asked to wait for your turn. Keep an eye on the monitor for your ticket number to be called. Please be active as they will call three ticket numbers at the same time to a single counter. Go and wait near the counter with the bundle. When the visa officer calls you go to the counter and please submit only the bundle through the opening to the officer. Here your visa interview starts.

Below are the questions asked to me and my spouse:

H1: Good morning.

VO: Good morning.

VO: Are you going to work for your company or your client.

H1: I will be working for my company.

VO: Where is your company located?

H1: <<US Work Location>>.

VO:(After going through my documents) The petition says that you are going to work at some other location.

H1: Yes. That will be my client.

VO: That was my first question to you.

H1: Sorry, I understood the question wrong initially. I will be working for <<MY COMPANY NAME>> posted at my client's place.

VO: Great. How long you have been with your company?

H1: Past 6 months.

VO: (Turning to my spouse). How long have you been married?

H4: 7 months.

VO: Where did you meet your husband first?

H4: Sorry, I cannot follow the question. (mic was not clear at the VO end, so the question was asked to be repeated).

VO: Was your marriage arranged or love?

H4: Arranged marriage.

VO: How did your parents get to know each other?

H4: Matrimonial Agency.

VO: Can I see your wedding album?
 
H4: Here it is. Passed a substitute album of smaller size since our actual album is big enough not to fit the counter window. VO verified it.

VO: (Showed the white pamphlet on employee rights in US to me.) Did you go through this?

H1: Yes.

VO: (took our passports and returned all other documents including the I797/I129/LCAto me). I am approving visas for both of you. You can collect your passport at the location preferred by you in the application. You will receive an email and/or sms once the visa is ready.

H1/H4: Thank you so much and have a great day.

Note: This process is jotted based on the happenings in Chennai consulate. This may or may not suit for the rest of the consulates.

ALL THE BEST FOR APPLICANTS ! Be confident. Questions will be asked only that are related to you. All you have to do is make your answer crisp and clear !

- Rao

Hi All,
Thanks for sharing your experience. This site has helped me a lot to prepare for my interview.

Before posting my today's experience I will give you some background about my case. I work in EC model. My employer is very small company with hardly 10-15 employee.

And also my client is small healthcare related firm with around 2000-3000 employee. Now about my visa. Mine was visa extension. I had my previous visa stamped in Nov

2010 with same Employer and same Client and it was only for a year. So it got expired in Nov 2011. Then my extension petition was approved and in Apr 2011,I came to

India for some personal reason and went for stamping in May. That time my visa was not approved and received 221(g) instead. I had submitted all the documents as

requested within a week. Now comes the tough time. Wait time. No updates from consulate and no where to track the status of my case. Then in July I had received mail

from consulate that my case is being sent back to USCIS for further review. Now I had lost all hopes. I knew this is going to take forever. I spoke with my employer

and we decided to wait for two more months. So till Sept I did not receive any update from USCIS and hence we decided to file a fresh H1 B petition in premium

processing. And this petition got approved in Sept, so I went for H1 stamping interview today (9th Oct) at Mumbai Consulate.

Here is how my interview went :

Me : Good Morning
VO : Good Morning. (Took my passport and I 797).

He scanned my passport and of course found about my history on PIMS.

VO : Why are you going to US
Me : Going for temporary work assignment

VO : I see that your visa was not approved in May this year. What was the reason.
(I was 100% sure this question would come so was well prepared)
Me : During last interview, the officer was not convinced that I work for this particular client. So this time around I have requested client letter in more detail.

VO : May I see this new client letter.
Me : Sure. In the letter they have also mentioned about location and probable duration of the project. You can see it there.

VO took at least 5 minutes to read the letter. It seemed he read entire letter carefully. And he got convinced about it this time.

VO : So anyway. What is your highest qualification.
Me : Answered appropriately.

VO : Salary?
Me : Answered

VO : Employer name and location
Me : Answered

VO : Who manages your work at client location?
Me : My manager ZZZ. He works for Maantic.

VO : Where does YYYY work from?
Me : From our main office. But he visits client site twice a month. And we discuss about any issues during his visit.

VO : How many employees from your company working at client location.
Me : Answered.

To my surprise he asked me to provide few names of my collegues as well, which I provided. And then he typed it on his system. Very strange ! ! ! And then again he has

started reading my client letter.

VO : (reading letter) So I don't understand. This letter says your client doesn't have any authority over your work assignment or your day to day activity. Then why do

they require you to work in their office?
Me : Actually we need to interact a lot with the client people to understand the requirement. And also I train end users on the different product which we are developing. So client requires me to be available in their office.

And that was it. I think my answers was convincing enough for him.

VO : I am approving your Visa. You will get your stamped passport within 3-4 business days.

My suggestion is to make sure you know all the possible questions and then prepare their answers properly. Talk to your employer if you have any doubts. In fact create a questionnaire and try to put as many question as you can find on all the forums. And then write down exact answers also. It will be helpful in building your confidence for the interview. In fact I think it worked for me because none of the above question was unexpected. I was prepared for all the questions VO might ask.


All the best to all of you.
- Vivek

Hi,

Before H1 visa interview, do we need to submit any original document?

Thanks,
SP

Hello,

I've done my OFC on Oct 05, and having VISA interview tomorrow. Little nervous as I see lot of rejections and 221G after this new process.

I've been living in US for 13 yrs and this is my 5th extension. Last stamping was done in Hyderabad in 2009 without any issues. Mine is EVC model with one of the biggest company.

Can somebody please share? I'll share mine tomorrow once I'm done with the interview..

Thanks,
Praveen

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for posting the experiences.

I had my interview 2nd October, and OFC on 1st.

I have the same case as Sameer who went for interview on 4th October( Post date: October 07, 2012)

I was even asked the same questions what Sameer has posted and at the end of the interview, the young VO took my passport, Copy of I797 and DS 160 confirmation page and told me that he has sent me a mail and I need to respond to that.
I did ask the VO again about any confirmation number( was making sure if any admin processing as I have a common name) that he would give me to track.
VO replied the same: Please respond to the email and we will start processing your VISA. I came home I see an email with Privacy notice 222(f) asking me CV, invitation letter and experience letter and other travel details.

Also, no case number is mentioned in the email.

I am an FTE, I have a common name. Now where do I stand.
I would really appreciate if any one can help us on this case.

Thanks,
Imran, Hyd, India

I went for H1b visa interview on 20th December 2011 visa officer slapped me with 221(g) and took all the documents(LCA,I797-B,Client letter and so on).After 10 months they have contacted me to submit the passport
Now i am submitting my passport

Interview Date : 20-12-2011
Response from consulate : 05-10-2012

Tomorrow i am going to submit my passport

My H1B & Dependent H4 Visa got approved. I appeared for the Visa Interview on 5th Oct morning and Ten-Printing on 4th-Oct-2012.

Day 1 - At OFC:
- Need to take Passport (Original), DS-160 Confirmation copy and Appointment Letter along with you.
- Reach OFC Center and Confirm your Name & Slot from Embassy staff-cum-Security Guards stationed there.
- Take entry into OFC Site and Security check will happen.
- Give your documents over the counter to Embassy Officer and after verification, he/she will apply a white slip on back of your passport and will put your DS-160 Barcode Number on that slip. Then he will give a token number slip to you (mine was of Yellow Color).
- Enter into Main OFC area with that token number slip and give it to another OFC officer and Go to Counter# he/she tells you.
- At the counter, make sure your hands are perfectly dry. They will take your photo and then Finger print scanning or Ten printing will be done.
- Now, you are free to go back.
DAY 1 OVER.

DAY 2 - At US Consulate Office:
- Reach @ US Consulate atleast 45 minutes early.
- Join the line just outside the embassy.
- Keep your Passport, Passport Copy, DS-160 Confirmation Page, Appointment/Interview Letter, I-797 Copy (Good if you can take original one along with you) ready in your hand. Rest all documents can be carried in a Plastic bag.
- Embassy Officer will come to you and will verify your documents in hand and will give you your docs-bundle after properly arranging them in sequence.
- You will get inside Embassy front gate.
- Security Check: Remove all your belongings and put in to a basket for security scan. Get through Security Scanning.
- Enter into EMBASSY WAITING AREA (OPEN AREA) and wait.
- Embassy official will come, note your passport number and collect your DOCUMENTS-IN-HAND (docs-bundle) from you except Original Passport and DS-160 Confirmation page.
- After that, Embassy officials will take you inside MAIN EMBASSY AREA.
- Go to a Counter where embassy official will take your passport & DS-160 Confirmation Page, will ask your language preference and then will put a white slip on your passport front cover which contains - Your Token Number and Language Preference.
- After that, go towards another counter where Ten-printing will again be done for cross-verification purpose.
- After that, wait in the MAIN EMBASSY SITTING AREA until your token number gets displayed on the LED screens put up there.
- Once your token number gets displayed, go to the respective counter for Visa Interview.
- Keep your I-797, Original Passport, DS-160 Page, LCA and other important docs ready with you.
- Give your passport to the VO (Interview Officer).
- He will take your interview and will tell you the result on-the-spot.
- After Interview, come out of US embassy.
DAY 2 is OVER!!!

IMPORTANT NOTE:
1. Please do not carry any bags or mobiles or anything apart from your documents. They DO NOT have any Locker Facility as of now.
2. Take atleast 2-3 xerox copies of Appointment Letter, I-797, DS-160 Confirmation Page along with you. At anytime, you may require them.
3. Be on or before time.
4. HDFC Receipt will be taken when the candidate will go to collect the stamped passport from his/her city's Passport Pick Up Location.
5. Keep all documents mentioned in the Immigration Team Mail along with you - original as well as Xerox Copies. VO can ask for anything.
6. It will be VERY GOOD if the Candidate carries ORIGINAL I-797.

Best of Luck to all other candidates.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to immehlp for giving opening this forum, it help lot to gain confidence for applicants I believe.
I had my Interview on 4th Oct, OFC done on 1st Oct.
Appeared at consulate gate at 7AM for 8AM slot. Hyd.
Once entered into the consulate, waited for 30 min. manual issuance of token as the machine was not working.
got my token as first applicant. person asked me to go window 5.

A young VO was waiting for me, I've given my Passport, DS160, I979.
Me: gm
VO: gm how r u
VO: so xxx company good
me: yeah thanks,
VO: which city
Me: XX
vo: Your designation
me: so n so
Vo: salary
me: xxxx
VO: your academics
me: BE CS
VO: loolked all documents and after 2 min. took my right hands bio metric again.
VO: you'll receive email, pls respond to that.

then I see a email in next 10 min with 222(f) in privacy note. asking me CV, Invite letter, Client letter. all details.
I sent them every thing, on same day.
He kept my passport also. Now when check in the ustravel.in website no status. I checked with helpdesk if 221g issues against my case, they said no 221g. I'll receive my passport in 10 days they said keep checking.
Totally confused on this new process.
Also I've common name.

pls help if anyone suffered this way? Thanks

Hi Guys,
I had my OFC on third and interview on 4th at 7:30 slot.
Its a long interview.
I was at the consulate at 7:05 by that time every one was in line @7:15 they allowed us inside.
After security, they gave us a token no and the number was called after 15 mins. They checked the HDFC receipt and arranged 797, DS 160 and passport in order and gave them back to me.
Then they asked us to wait in another Q for 15 more minutes to confirm our finger prints by American lady.
Then i was directed to another building were i waited for 30 minutes to get my turn
She asked me
-Designation
-Location
-Which company
-Client
- What does they do
-What i do
--LCA and I - 129
then she asked me to wait so some one will come and have a closer look at my docs.
So i waited 1 hour then they called me at a new counter where Indian lady was there .. she asked me to show all the docs.. My bachelors .. masters in US .. and what did i do in the gap of 1 year between bachelors and masters.. all my experience letters in US... All my 797's... then the clent letter... contract between client and my company..my pay stubs and the pay is given according to my LCA or not ... i have taken a advance for premium processing ... so they asked me about it ... and asked me to sworn in a sheet of paper that for what purpose i have taken it.... so atthe end she returned all the docs and asked me to come to the counter at which the initial american lady was there ...then the american said... thn ks for you patience.. you will receive your passport in 7 days