H1B, H4 Visa

Thanks for this website. It had been a great source of the information for H4 stamping that my family had planned

Background – H4 stamping for dependents only (spouse and 11 year child). Principal’s H1 has never been stamped. Converted from L1 to H1. Working on H1 for last 1 year 2 months (uninterrupted). H1 start date April 2011. EVC model

Consulate – Mumbai, Interview date: 06/20/2012

VFS Mumbai experience – VFS refused to accept documents at first. They wanted copy of principal’s stamped H1 which is not there. After convincing with great pain, VFS still wanted to see previous L1 stamp on principal’s passport and L1 797. The L1 was expired sometime in 2010 but I had I-94 valid through 2012. The H1 petition (797) start date is April 2011. VFS once again refused to accept documents stating that principal was out of status since there is a gap between L1 visa stamp expiry date and H1 petition start date. They did not bother to ask I-94 and apparently were not aware that I-94 date supersedes visa expiry date;. At that time spouse did not have L1 petition (797) and corresponding copy of principals I-94 that was valid until 2012

I asked spouse to return home and go next day with copy of L1 petition and corresponding copy of I-94 which was valid until 2012. I had send scanned copy of these two documents

Next day – Same story, VFS again refused to accept documents that included L1 petition and corresponding I-94. They wanted to see the date that can bridge the gap but did not know that they can find it on the I-94. Spouse got really nervous now came out of VFS and called me. I suggested spouse to show the date on the I-94 that was handwritten by the immigration officer at POE. With that explanation VFS finally accepted documents but not before putting post-it note on the documents saying that this is a contingent approval based on the copy of the I-94. Original I-94 of the principal is needed at the time of interview.

I believe it is always required to keep I-94 with the individual but I had to take hard decision. Since this I-94 is for the L1 which is not my current status I decided to go ahead and send the original. I FedEx-ed it (fortunately we had enough time to receive it before interview date).

Visa Interview – Everything went as a fairytale. Visa was approved without any issue. Not a single document including the I-94 that I FedEx-ed was asked
Questions asked to Spouse – Name of the Employer, salary, and residence address
Questions asked to Child – Age and school grade

Stamped passports were received on 06/21 by Bluedart.

Hope our experience will help you prepare better for your own case. All the best!

hi

I went to h4 visa interview 21 st june ,2012.
they asked the following questions

what is the company name
how much ur spouse is earning
where is ur spouse located now
which state ,which city

but after interview he didn't reply anything
he didn't even asked for any documents
whether it is rejected or approved..?

please help ,what could be possibility..

Hi Everyone!

I appeared for visa interview on 20th june 2012. It was a very good experience. I would like to share my experience here as this forum helped a lot to boost my confidence.

My employer took care of my travel, accommodation and cab bookings. I traveled to Chennai from Bangalore on 19th in train. A cab was waiting for me at the Chennai central when I reached there. The cab driver took me to Nova Scotia guest house, T Nagar. Us consulate is very near to this guest house. The guest house is very good and neat. I liked it. I got fresh, had dinner and watched TV for some time. Then arranged my L folder with relevant documents for H1B new. My employer had given a checklist of documents to carry. I cross checked my L folder to verify documents according to the checklist. At 11 pm , I slept off. Had a very good night sleep.

Next day, that is on 20th, I woke up at 7 am. Got ready by 8.30 am. I was looking my best. How you present yourself matters. Had breakfast and started at 9.15 am. Took an autoriksha and reached the consulate by 9.30 am.

My interview was scheduled at 10.30 am. Since I reached the consulate an hour before, I was asked by the security there to wait outside. A lot of people form different time slots till 11.30 am were waiting outside, I joined them. The interview process is well managed at Chennai. If i had known this, I could have planned to reach there just half an hour before the scheduled time. Outside, there was lot wind that day as rain was showering in Chennai from past 2-3 days. I had left my hair free and this wind was making me impatient by blowing my hair. Need to have patience:-) Better reach just half an hour before the scheduled time.

Around 9.50 am, all people from 10.30 slot were called to go inside the consulate. For that also there was a queue. I stood in the queue for 5 min. Then i presented my ds160 page and appointment letter at a counter near gate. A lady gave me a token, two copies. one for myself and another for the embassy people.

After receiving the token, there was security check. It didn't even take a minute for me as i was carrying only my L folder. Its better not to carry stuff like mobile, plastic covers or bags.

Once security check is through, I was told to wait for my token number to be flashed on LED scree for document screening. I might have waited for 5 min, my token number flashed on the screen to go to 11th counter. I went there and stood in queue. There were already two people before me in that queue. There was a guy in front of me. For him, some problem was there with photo. So the office told him to go and take a new photograph and come back. This facility is available at embassy itself. Next was my turn. He asked me to handover to him passport, ds160, hdfc receipt, i-797 and support documents. He asked me how old is my photo. I told him that it was taken two weeks back. Photo needs to be a recent one. He was fine with it. He gave me back all those docs bundled in a rubber band.

Next step was finger printing. My hands were sweating may be because of humidity or body lotion that i had applied, dono:-) Took a tissue paper dried my hands and gave finger printing.

After that, i was told to go inside second building for interview. I went there, waited for 2-3 min, my token number flashed on LED screen to go to counter 24.

I went there and stood in queue again. The VO(Visa officer) was an old lady but looked intellectual. She was drilling one family with many questions. I was not cool, so started taking few deep and long breaths. That calmed me. After that family, another couple were interviewed. I was concentrating on next counter 25. There VO was a young beautiful girl may be of my age. She interviewed 3 people but my VO was still interviewing that couple. I waited with patience this time:-)

Now was my turn. I greeted her with smile and passed the bundle. there was some problem to pass the bundle as the window slide was very this. She was explaining to fold the bundle and press it through slide like explaining to a child:-) very loving.

Here goes one to one conversation...

Me: Hi, Good Morning.(with a smile)
VO: very good morning.(with a smile)

VO: Whats your designation?
Me: Told both internal and us designations(since question was general, was not clear which one to tell)

VO: Who is your client?
Me: XYZ

VO: come again plz.
Me: XYZ(loud and clear)

VO: oh XYZ!
Me: It used to be YYYY before. XYZ acquired ZZZ.

VO: wow! YYYY was such a big company. Didn't imagine anyone could buy it..
Me: Smiled.

VO: Whats your highest education qualification?
Me: BE in E&C

VO: Who is your reporting manager?
Me: ABC

VO: Which is your client location?
Me: Atlanta, Georgia.

VO: How do you report to your manager?
Me: I report to him directly. He assigns me day to day tasks and supervises them.

VO: Where he sits?
Me: Atlanta, Georgia.

VO: Have you read the white pamphlet?
Me: yes It talks about labour rights for non immigrants in US.

VO: oh! you have read it. your visa is approved. It will reach in 5 business days.
Me: Thank you. Have a nice Day.
VO: Thank you, Nice day to you too.


That's it. i came out. The whole procedure took 1 hour.

Suggestion:
Dress well, be calm and confidant. Do prepare well and plan your day properly.
Wish you all good luck...

cheers

Asha, Bangalore

Hi All ,
Recently I had my H1B visa inetrview at the US Consulate,Nungambakkam,Chennai .

The following questions were asked to me :

* Which company are you working for ?
* Who is your Client ?
* What will be your US Salary ?
* What will be your job responsibilities ?

NOTE :
He did not ask any questions to my wife .

Final Decisison from Visa Officer :
You are all set and your visa is approved , passports will couriered to your office in 1-2 business days !!

I and my husband went for Visa Interview in Chennai consulate.

They asked me (H1B applicant) four questions:
1.Name of your Client?
2.Your Highest Qualification?
3.Your role and designation in US?
4.How long with the Current Organisation?

To mu hUsband (H4):
1.When did you got married?
2.Where did you first time meet?
and then officer informed to my husband that we rquire some additional information about you therefore this is pink slip and then he went to the other conuter where the Indian lady took his height,details of brother and sisters and told that you will rceive your passport in 4-6 weeks.
 Thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot to immihelp. This site helped me a lot in my preparation for the interview.


I had my H1B visa interview at Hyderabad Consulate office.
 I was bit tensed as my L1 visa is rejected previously.


Below are the questions asked by VO:


1) Did your HR file an L1 individual or they went straight ahead with H1B.

2) Who is your end client
3) How many people are working at the client site

4)Who is your reporting manager

5) Does he work in the same location as you are.

6) If he is in a different place, how would he supervise you

7) How often do you interact with your onsite manager

8) What is your highest degree of qualification.


Finally VO said, "your visa is approved and you will get your passport in a week".

Thank you very much to immihelp. The interview experience shared in this site were very useful.

I had my H1B interview at Mumbai consulate office. It went smoothly without any issue.

Below are the VO's questions

 What is your onsite designation?
 What is your Education qualification?
 Who are your employer and client?
 How many people from ABC are working for this client?
 Are you single?
 When are you planning to get marry? Your parents are looking for girl?
Then she (VO) said “your VISA is approved” and “have a nice day”.

I would like to thank this forum for helping me prepare for the interview. I had my interview on June 13th. Unlike most of the feedback mentioned here, the interview was tough. Partly because I forgot one of my document....prior I-797.

Questions asked by VO not in any specific order:

. What is your highest qualification?
. Whom do you work for?
. What's your salary?
. What's your work experience?
. Who is your end client?
. Who from your employing company is at the client site?
. Whom do you report to on client site?
. How many times has the person from your employing company visited client site?
. How do you report to him? How often?
. How does he get feedback on your performance from the client?
. Please provide prior I797?

After that, the VO said your visa is approved.

Please do not forget your prior I797 as I did.

Hi
I am planning to appear for H1 interview at Mumbai Consulate. But in my case my petition was filed by client A and I am working for ClientB. Now I have LCA with me. But the address of work location mentioned in LCA is of client whereas my company is forcing me to add Company's US office address (nearby of clients address) in DS 160. I am confused as I am not sure what to enter because I think mismatch in addresses may lead to rejection.

Also If I mention Client address in DS 160 (same as LCA) whether I will need client Letter?

I faced L1 interview earlier where I told VO that I will be seating at client location and he asked for the Client letter which I didnt have. So he handed over 221 g blue slip.

Please help. I want to submit DS 160 ASAP

I had visa interview on June 13th. Below are questions asked by VO

1. Purpose of travel?
2.Who is your client?
3. What is your highest qualification
4.how long your working in current company?
5.where you worked previously?

Finally VO said "Your Visa is approved".