H1B, H4 Visa

Consulate: Hyderabad
Interview date: Dec 16-2019

Background: Did my masters in the US and been on H1B since 2015. This is my H1B extension visa interview. I work in EVC model and been with the same employer and client for the past 5 years. My last H1B visa approval was in 2017.

Appointment time: 10.30 am
Actual interview time: 12.20 pm

Questions asked:
Is this your first H1B or an extension?
What is your designation?
What is your highest level of education?
What was the major?
Who is your employer?
Who is your client?
Where is your client located?
What is your salary?
Tell me about your job.
Do your know your worker rights?

The VO was either typing or looking at the screen throughout the process. Did not ask me to show any documents.

At the end, he handed me a 221(g) white form with the second checkbox marked and said he cannot issue my visa at this time and that it would need additional processing. He kept my passport and asked me to contact the embassy if there is no update in two weeks.

Hope it does not take too long to process.

People who previously received 221(g) and passport retained- please share how long it took to get your passports back. Thank you!

I am writing a combined experience for me and my wife here. We both work on H1-B and had separate interviews at the Delhi consulate. Our experience was very much the same except for the questions we were asked, given the separate interviews we had.

Our profile
We both work as Software Engineers (Direct hire) for US based firms.

OFC Appointment
Nov 5 3:30 pm Delhi
The OFC center is in a shopping complex, so it feels very casual and is a nice stress free environment.
Pretty straight forward process.
No need to dress up (formal).

Consulate Appointment
Nov 6 8:45 am Delhi
Arrived only 30 mins early. So, had to wait only 10-15 mins in the queue. I recommend not carrying mobiles phones and bags to keep things simple. Else, there is a hassle of depositing those things.
After a basic security screening, they let us wait in a staging area for a good 20-25 mins.
So there was enough time for restroom breaks. They also had a water cooler and a small food stall in the staging area.
Anyway, onto the important stuff.
You have a total of 3 stops really, at separate counters/windows. 1st stop is just a general check (passport + petition). 2nd stop is Biometrics and the 3rd is for the Interview.
Unlike other consulates, there is a common line here that goes right across the interview windows. So, you can hear everything. All the questions, the answers and also the rejections. So, stay in ur fighting mode and be positive so as to not be affected by all this. We both personally were confident about our cases and prep. So, seeing multiple rejections in person still didn’t affect us much.

Here are the interview questions.

My Interview

Me: Good morning.
VO: Good morning. How are you?
Me: Doing good. Thanks.
VO: So, which company do you work for?
Me: <my company>
VO: What’s your role?
Me: Sr. Software Engineer
VO: What does the company produce?
Me: Software solutions for <domains eg: productivity, banking etc.>
VO: Ok. Who are the clients of your company?
Me: <Companies that need *** solutions (I recommend providing real names
 eg:Cisco, IBM, Fedex etc) >
VO: Nice. Thanks. Actually, we just have a slight problem with our own records. There is absolutely no need to worry. Your visa might take 1-2 days more than usual. Normally it takes about a week to process. Sorry about that.
Me: No problem. Thanks. Have a great day.
VO. You too. Thanks.

Wife’s
Me: Good morning.
VO: Good Morning. How are you?
Me: Doing good. Thanks.
VO: Tell me about your role.
Me: I work as a software developer at <my company>. My actual designation is <my designation>.
VO: So, you work for <my company>'s IT dept?
Me: yes.
VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: Masters in <>
VO: Did you graduate?
Me: yes.
VO: Did you work on OPT?
Me: yes.
VO: Were you ever out of status?
Me: No. Never.
VO: Can you show me i20 or any document about your OPT?
Me: Sure. Here are my OPT EADs.
VO: Can you give me your old passport?
Me: Sure.(handed over my old passport that had F1 visa on it. VO put a stamp on it as 'cancelled without prejudice')
VO: What's your salary?
Me: <my salary>
VO: Do you know the H1B rights?
Me: yes.
VO: Your Visa is approved!
Me: Thank you. Have a good day!
VO: Thank you. You too.

Later, we both had our application status updated to “Issued”. In my wife’s case, that took a week and for me, 2 days more like the VO had told me. Later, we both got our passports delivered to us at our home in a couple of days as we had chosen the premium deliver option.

Our takeaway: Prep well about commonly asked questions and read a few visa experiences ahead of time to stay confident. That should also help you answer the inevitable unexpected questions in a fairly relaxed manner.

My timeline - much faster than what I had thought.

Employer change, new employer is reputed product company. Mumbai consulate. H1 and H4 together.

11 Dec - Document submission
12 Dec 10 am - Case Received
12 Dec 3 PM - Admin processing
13 Dec 9 am - H1 issued
13 Dec 11 am - H4 issued
13 Dec 3 PM - Passports dispatched.

Played hide and seek with Blue Dart for some days but received stamped passports on Dec 16th.

Background:
Completed 6 years of H1,
Recently extended H1 for 3 more years.
Eligible for drop box.
Worked for a staffing company (employer - client relationship) (before and current)
Different employer from previous stamping.

Dropped of my documents and submitted a copy of H1b(Nov 12, 2019 Tuesday).
Nov 13, 2019 (Wed) - Documents sent to consoluate
Nov 18, 2019 (Monday) - Approved and ready for pick up.

Background
4th H1b Extension
Same employer since first H1b
H1b amendment was filed in 2017 because of client change. That amendment was denied after specialty occupation RFE(Computer Programmer). So, went back to previous client.
Applied for 4th H1b Extension in September 2019 with same client with Software Developer title.
Client doesn't provide client letter. But, client gave email confirming project and responsibilities for extension.
Extension approved in premium processing(NSC) in 3 days for 3 years.
Employer-->MSP-->Client.(No layers)

Decided to go for stamping.

Interview Date: 11/26/19
Is this your first H1b?
Employer?
Are you working for same employer since first h1?
Do you work for end client?
Who is your end client?
Same end client?
Where do you live and work?
Highest education?

Picked up passport on 12/03/19

No questions asked at port of entry.

I believe, Strong and Genuine petition is key.

I had my first H1B stamping interview today. But the officer gave me a letter 221g and asked for more documents even though the initial application was approved. He said to email the documents and that they would then process it and let me know. Has anyone else been through this? Does anyone have any inputs?

Nov 25th - biometrics
Nov 26th - visa interview at 8.30 am

The interview went really smooth. VO asked basic questions like salary, no of years with current employer, location, degree when n where. Approved my visa.

Dec- 3 - passport picked up.

I was really happy that everything went smooth and then comes a shocker. Dear embassy has printed the annotation wrong on my visa.. in other words, Printed someone else’s receipt number Instead of mine. I sent an email to support india @ travel docs on 3rd December and received a reply to resubmit my passport at vac for visa reissue on 9th dec. I was supposed to be traveling back to us on 15th but I am still here waiting for my passport. No ETA yet.

I never saw something like this happen to any of my friends and I am really worried when it happened. So I thought to post my experience as it might help someone on same boat but I really wish this won’t happen to anyone else as I know it can be really frustrating.

Hello friends, here is my experience on my HNSC after my extension denial from US and H1/H4 Chennai drop box experience.

I have I140 approved and applied extension on my 6th year (maxed out)

H1B/H4 Extension from US:
Jun 26 - H1/H4 filed in normal mode at Nebraska
Jul 2 - Receipt Notice Received
Jul 23 - Upgraded H1 to Premium processing
Jul 26 - Received RFE from USCIS
Aug 19 - RFE responded
Aug 23 - Petition Denied

Travelled to India in a weeks time on Sep 1, 2019 with my family

Filed HNSC from India:
Oct 26 - Petition filed with USCIS in premium mode at Texas Service center
Oct 30 - Receipt notice received
Nov 8 - Petition approved for 3 years without RFE

Timelines below with DS 160 / USTRAVELDOCS status:

Nov 26 - Submitted my and my wife's passport thru drop box option at chennai (11 AM)
Nov 27 to Dec 2 - No status / Passport still with embassy
Nov 3 to Nov 11 - Application Received / Passport still with embassy
Nov 12 - Changed to Administrative Processing (3 PM)
Nov 13 - Changed to ISSUED for both H1 and H4 (11 AM) / Passports ready for pickup
Nov 14 - Collected the passport with stamped passport at 11AM

It almost took 3 months end to end to get my stamped passport in hand it was really stressful and no other go, we have to wait. Each case will be different from each other and we can't compare.

Nov 25: OFC
Nov 26: Interview

VO(Lady): Took my passport and asked for my petition
VO: Asked company name
VO: Asked location
VO: Location of work. Ie client office or company office
ME: Answered
VO:Checked my other documents
VO: Asked for client letter told her that my client has a very strict policy of not giving client letters
ME: Told her that my client has a very strict policy of not giving client letters
VO: Gave me 221g(blue slip)
VO: told me that she need two documents to be submitted.One from my company and one from my client
VO: Gave back my passport and told that once AP is done I would need to drop off my passport

My company submitted all the required documents on Nov 26 and the client has also submitted the required details.

My case is in AP from Nov 26. I was supposed to go back to US yesterday. I am worried now. By when can I expect my visa to be issued.
 

I got my photo back while picking up my passport from vac and they gave me a green slip for an interview
I gave my interview on 10th and was approved it is still in admin processing

Do anyone know how much time does it take for it to update to issued
Also as my photo was returned to me how will they print it on Visa.