H1B, H4 Visa

Above all, with Gods grace and immi help and a bit of preparation and confidence and planning I am through with my HIB on 1st Nov.

Ist Nov was holiday in BNG, so I booked my date on 1st so that I don't need to apply leave at my current company. I am going through my personal HIB and not through company. I have already B1 on my passport so not really worried about stamping initially. Also not aware of immihelp site. One week before my interveiew my friend asked me to go through this and to my surprise I really came to know that I was not really prepared well.

Went through each and every post in this site and prepared answers my self for all the qustions. Got my papers from the employer on this monday only. It is a real big bundle of documents. But went through each and every document.

started from Bangalore on 31st night and got down at spencers plaza. thanks to immi help again, got some hotel names which are really near to the embacy. Started walking towards LIC building. Opposite to taht there is Nirmala Dakshin. Got a room (for 700 + 70 tax). My interview time was at 11:15AM. So slept for some time and got ready by 9:30. Came out and had breakfast. got an Auto for 30Rs and was at embasy by 10:15. Stood in the queue and the x, y, z are over and inside the embasy office for finger printing.

Point to note:

Watch the T.V and know how to do finger printing. I saw people are very much confused even with such a silly thing and showing right hand, some body doesn't know what is index finger.

Every thing was done by 10:30AM and waiting for the security person to call me so that I can stand in the HIB queue.

Point to note:

Please sit in the First row so that he will call you first.

Finally I was in the que by around 11:30AM. The queue was really long and there were only 2 VO taking interviews. So it is moving very slow.

Point to Note:

If you are married and have a kid, then go with them. That will help you to reduce your waiting time.

Also that will be a plus point at the Visa Officer as I observed he was asking less questions.

Observe the VO who is issueing more HIBs and who is taking more time for each interview. Both the VO were really strict and almost they were issueing 221g blue form to every body. so I am mentally prepared to receive 221g.

waited....waited...waited.... till 1:20.

Both the Visa officers went for lunch. The counters were closed for 5-10 mins. Even I was feeling hungry, some what tired also by carrying such a big bundle of documents.

After 10 mins 4 new counters are oppend and new VO came. Then again started observing them who is issueing more HIBs. One VO is really cool and issue 3 H1Bs in a row. I wanted to go in that queue but the security guard asked me to stand in the queue next to that. This VO is rally a tough guy. He has been interviewing the person before me from 20 mins and I was witing to go next.

Suddenly.... the next queue was empty (where I wanted to go) and I asked to securty guy that I will go in that queue as I have been waiting in this fromm 20 mins. He said OK.

Thank GOD.

took a long breath. It was around 1:35 - 40 PM

ME: Good afternoon Sir. (passed the folder)
VO : Good after noon.
VO: What is your highest degree.
ME: told him.

Point to note: don't say BE, ME, MCA etc. Elobarate and tell him. That will give good impression.

VO: can you give me your Offer letter:

Point to note:

I have filed all the documents I got from the employer in a big file with proper index.

so what ever he is asking I am going through the index and taking from the file and giving him.

ME: took out from the file and passed it to him.

VO: Can I have tax returns of this company.

ME: Wenn through the index and passed the documens..

VO: saw that I have a index and giving the docuemnts he asked me to pass that index to him.

ME: passed the index.

VO: He ticked all that documents he wanted and said it is a very well organized list.

ME: I passed all the documents he ticked in the index.

Point to note:

Friends this is very important. It shows how well you are organized and gives a good impression. I saw people dumping all the documents in some carry bag, and facing hard time in finding documents. Waiting takes out anybodies patience and you will start shivering as you take time to find documents. So organize them properly and easy to find way.

VO: So on what what project you are going to work?
ME: Project name and what does in do. Only 2 sentences I replied.

VO: Any clients for this?
ME: This project documnet has been already reviewed by xyz company and they are interested in this. After the prototype is ready they may end up in contact. ( I already passed the supporting document from the proposed client, stating the same).

VO: Thank you I am issuuing..... after that my ears are filled with happyness and I really didn't listen what he told.
ME: Thank you sir

VO: He again said that thank yo very much for that well organized documents.

ME: Thank you sir.

--------------------------------------------

List of documents I took from the employer:

1. HIB pitition copy
2. Employee offer letter/ contract
3. Federal incometax returns
4. List of employees
5. Payroll summery
6. Form 941 ( Quarterly federal tax returns )
7. Quarterly wage reports
8. Prospective client letter
9. Itinery of service
10. Project description
11. Job announcements
12 Business lease
13. Business plan
14. Bank Statement of the company
15. Certificate of incorporation
16. Organization Chart of the employer
17. Sales journal
18. Aging reports
19. I797 (most important)
20. Request letter from the employee to the consulate.

--------------

My education certificates
Current employee offer letter
this year (10) montly salary statement
Last 6 years Saral forms (Tax return)
My 6 months bank statements
My resume
2 additional photos (in case of any problem)

--------------------------

other documents

Form 156
Form 157
Interview letter
(additional copy of 156, 157 in case of emergency)

------------------

Some more documents to help

Chennai city map
Near by hotels list and phone numbers
VFS office address (in case if you want to collect passport)

thats all my dear friends.

Be confident.
Keep observing VO who is issuing more HIBs and try to be in that queue.
Be patient.
Have as much as possible before going in to the embasy.
Be prepared to stand and wait for atleast 3 hours.

some more observations:

The guy before me got 221g because he has breaks in his education and he didn't convince the VO (the same VO who interviewed me) so he got 221g.

Another guy who came with his family and some blabla blabla happend and he got 221g and he was asking the VO " If you don't mind can I know what is the problem?. Why did I get 221g?". Don't do such things.

After coming back to the hotel, I was relaxing in the lobby, some body sitting next to me asked me wether I came for HIB, and I said yes.

He shared his exp.

He didn't sign on the contract (which is very important) and the VO issued 221g to him.



Thats all from my side.

thank you very much to immi help. I thought I can contribute to immihelp by sharing my exp.

good luck to all the HIB people who are going to Chennai. Be ready for the battle.

I have a strange scenario.
I received 221(g) query for which I have responded. Consulate asked me to send passport.
After receiving the passport I have seen for H1B petition there are 2 H1B stamps. One with "CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE" and Annotation as "OVERCOME"

Just against this page same stamping is repeated as normal.

What does this mean? As there is no spelling mistake also. Is my stamping valid or cancelled?

Has anyone came across similar thing?
How does a refusal stamp looks?

Any prompt reply is helpful. Thanks in Advance.

The information given in this site is really helpful and makes one prepare well for the interview.

Me and my wife had appointment at 9 am. Our interview actually started at 10 pm.

VO: How are you doing?
Me: Fine, How are you doing?
VO: Good
VO: What are your responsibilities in your current job?
Me: XYZ
VO: What's the salary you are offered in new company?
Me: XYZ
VO: (To my wife) Why you didn't try job in this company?
Me: XYZ
VO: (To my wife)You will forget everything if you are not working.
VO: Your visa is issued.
Me: Thank you.

I might take some of your precious time, but I hope you don't mind.


On 30th Oct 2007, started from Bangalore to Chennai by Brindavan express (2:30 PM) reached Chennai central 8:30 PM, In train while about to get down met a gentle man Named Rajendra he dropped me near US embassy by his car (but didn't notice that time that this is the US embassy) and hired an auto for me. Thanks a lot for his kind that way I didn't had any language problem in Chennai.
I was at my Hotel Palm Grove (Real good) at 9 PM, and then I was very curious to know how far it is from my Hotel, at reception they told me it’s at five minute walk only.
After getting fresh I gone to visit the US embassy at 9:30 PM to make myself comfortable, I met one policeman outside the embassy and I asked him Where is the embassy, he was real good gentle man, he asked me initially some questions to make sure that I am right person or not.
Then he asked me about my interview time, I told him tomorrow at 2:40, he told me come one hour before by that gate and given proper instruction what to take with you and what not, it was a good revise for me. Then he wished me also for interview.

On the fine morning of 31st Oct 2007 at 10AM I again started for US embassy to get a final look and feel before my interview, then I had seen lot of people waiting outside.
I asked there G4S security person I have interview at 2:40, what time I should come, he told me to come at only 15 minutes before.
Then I again gone back to my hotel to relax then planned to start from my hotel at 2:20 PM, My mind was proper set for coming events, then I gone for sleep, watching TV, reading some books to pass my time.
At 2:15 PM, I was just going through all my docs and accidentally checked the interview time and found that it was at 2:30PM not at 2:40PM.

Now I was in full motion, did everything in timeless fashion and started from hotel at 2:25 PM and reached consulate at 2:30 PM. In hurry I forgot to comb my hair and also forgot to carry comb, but no problem combing is not the way to get VISA, thanks God.
Security was very cool person, he told me you are on time, its Ok, gone inside directly at counter after initial security check, he arranged my folders and typed something in computer and he gave me back the folder.
Then I sat for 5 minutes on chair in that room and saw many people with good faces, then one person told, "persons for 2:30 go for fingerprint", which is done in next building, we waited there in queue outside the next building and then was allowed to go in next building at 3:30, then queue in the that building for fingerprint at 4 PM it was also over, then set down in the same room for 30 minutes and at 4:30PM one person came and said "2:30PM timing first row go in line"
For interview, I was in first row, I was packed with big Harmonium folder and excited in queue, There were 6 parallel counter 2 for fingerprint and one 4 for interview in that room, there were other counters also in other room.
I was watching all the different personalities behind the window, I selected one person in mind, I thought I should go in that window and luckily I got that window only.

While in the queue, one VO person came and cracked some jokes to make you cool, guy was really good, he was doing his job nicely.

One person (VO) was real fun to watch the way he was taking interview, he was trying to jump in interviewees eyes by different penetration angle, he was standing and smiling all the time, he was trying to jump in their eyes but thank God, thick glass was there and he was lean also so could not come outside the glass otherwise...

At my window I was watching him very carefully and he was scanning all the person in his queue behind window:

Now my turn at window at 5:15 PM:

ME: Hi sir, Good evening. (Passed folder parallel)
VO: Hi, How are you?
ME: GREAT
VO: So you work in x.y.z.
ME: Ye...
VO: What is B... then? (Keeps on firing question without listening my answer)
ME: ...s
VO: O', you work for B currently (seeing my petition and Keeps on firing question)
ME: wordless...(waiting for him to stop so that I could answer.)
VO: Which Project? (Keeps on firing question)
ME: wordless...(waiting for him to stop so that I could answer.)
VO: O' you working in A...(Keeps on firing question)
ME: wordless...(waiting for him to stop so that I could answer.)
ME: [Now my turn of firing] NO (I was tough that time, but I didn’t had any choice), listen I work for x.y.z. Currently and will be working for A.B.C. in US on project L.M.N.
VO: Typing something in computer, scanned me for 2 seconds.
VO: Ok Sir, your Visa is done (Real golden words as you all agree.)
ME: Can I collect it in evening?
VO: Not today some problem with computer, he gave me one paper then he said if you want to get it tomorrow then collect from this address other wise you would get it from courier.
ME: Get it couriered then.
VO: ok thanks.
ME: Thanks a lot.

No documents asked from me.
Total Interview time at window: 45 seconds
Total waiting time inside consulate: 2 hours 45 minutes.


Tips: Your interview starts when you are in the line in front of VO not only when you are at window.
To make yourself cool, imagine that you are going there on window to take your passport with a good stamp and to give that he might asked some questions, which you anyway know.
And he also really feels happy in giving you that.

Came back relaxed to Bangalore from Bangalore mail, which starts from Chennai central at 11:15PM.
Wish You all the best to all the people going for interview in coming time.

Thanks

Hi friends,
Let me thanks this site and seniors who are helping H1B aspirants.

I attended to H1B interview at chennai on 1st Nov, 2007. It was scheduled at 8.45 am. But I reached there by 8.00 am only. Initially I was thru security checkup and prescreening.
At the pre-screening desk, they will verify DS156, DS157, I797, I129, Passport and appointment letter. (This list is for H1B). Once its done, went for finger print. There are 2 counters for finger printing and another 3 for interviews. I am 10th person in the queue. Observed carefully the persons who are infront of me. VOs were taking around 5 to 20 mins for each person. One aspirant was hardly trying to convince VO that he is eligible for Visa. But after a long discussion, she gave the well know 221(g) to him. I was guided to join in a queue for which VO is gent. I was invited to the desk for interview. The conversion is .................
VO: Good Morning! How are you? (with smile)
Me: Good Morinng! I am good how are you? (With smile and confidence)
VO: --- No reply----
Me: Passed blue folder (which is given at pre screening desk which is having DS156, DS157, Passport, appoitment, I797, I129, LCA).
VO: Verified DS156, DS157, LCA, I797. He Verified some data in his system and asked me to provide my degree certificate.
Me: Yes, this is my MCA certificate, (given it)
VO: Dont you have convocation?
Me: Yes, this is (given)
VO: Are you going to work at inhouse project or client side?
Me: I am going to work at client site, YYYY client YYYY location. (Mean while I took all supporting documents like client letter, offer letter and project description from my folder, of course I did not hand over to him as he didnt ask) He browsed some thing and suddenly, he took 221(g) and was marking all the petitioner side documents.
Me: I have all those documents with me.
VO: Sorry, but I dont have time to see all those. Please drop all the documents at VFS WITH THE PASSPORT.
Me: WITH THE PASSPORT?
VO: Yes, WITH THE PASSPORT.
Me: Ok, thanks.

Friends, eventhough I am having all the tax and financial documents, client letter, project description, I couldnot get visa at first time.

Was issued 221(g) and asked to drop them with PASSPOST. As he was asked to drop the PP, I am now confident.

Hoping for the best.

I was issued 221(g) a few months back asking me to submit client letter and project related stuff. My employer sent me the documents at their convinience (:
I then submitted all the required documents through VFS Bangalore in mid August.
a) Unemployment wage reports
b) Letter stating to which client i would be working for along with agreement between my employer and client.
c) Employer tax records
(Make sure your employer gives you the client letter before you go for the interview along with all other documents. If you are attending the counsulate under unavoidable circumstances without the client letter DONT WORRY you still could get, but its safe to take ALL documents.)

On october 18 or so I received another 221(g) with all other documents returned to me.
This time they asked me to submit Passport and photo along with DS-156 and DS-157 forms which i did on Oct-29 through VFS.
I got my passport stamped on 31st-Oct :)

This site is of immense help to every one. Thank you Immihelp for providing this medium where people can share experiences and others can learn from them.

As many people have said , for anyone on either 221(g) or otherwise just make sure you have all the documents in place and you will get your visa. For 221(g) cases some times people got it in a few days and some times it takes longer.

US visa is not the end to means, with the rupee appreciating against the dollar it is not as rosy as what it was before (pre 2005), but it still is better than any country in terms of number of opportunities coupled with salary.

All the best folks and wish you ALL the very best in life.

Hi,

 Recently I went to chennai to attend H1B visa interview for non-IT job.After the interview they gave me a blue 221g form and asked me to send all the documents along with passport thru VFS.After 3 days thet sent the passport back with PINK 221g and asked a set of questions to be sent via e-mail. I have completed that also.Now I don't see my case number on status update page. Please let me know if anyone has similar experience with Chennai consulate and what I can expect.

Thanks.

Monika S

Hi All,

I am watching this forum for the last 2 months..
Its really the happening place for the Visa.

One thing i would like to know "There were many instances, where people have mentioned documents to be carried in Blue Folder."

I am confused about this.. Do we need to carry it or Consulate people are going to give us the Blue Folder.

Thanks in Advance..

Dear All,

I have attained interview in last week of Sep in kolkata. They asked.
1. where are you going?
2. for which company?
3. where r u working and from when?
4. what is your qualification?
5. and about project

As I didn’t have wage reports and project details, they issued 221(g).

Yesterday, I went with all documents which all were mentioned in 221 (g), they didn’t ask any question. They checked all documents and told “We are issuing visa”
I collected my passport from VFS office.

So guys, be confident and tell truth in front of VO.

Hi Everybody
first i wolud like to thank all the people who posted their experiences here.It really helped me to know the process in side consulate.

My interview was over on 25 oct.
My appointment was at 8:30.
I utilized VFS service by paying 200 RS.But it is a great help who goes alone to MUMBAI.You can keep u r luggage in vFS center and to have some snaks and coffeee.
On that day consulate was running 30 minutes late.so VFS people took us to consulate by 9 o clock.
After completeing all the process like pinger printing all those i entered into main area where u r supposed to sit for u r turn.
At 10:30 my number was called.My interview took only for 30 seconds.
The visa offcer was really cool and funny.
Me:GM
Vo:GM
Vo:r u working for YYYY this company.(Because at present iam working for very big MNC)
ME:Yes
Vo:from how long
Me: YYYY years and YYY months.
Vo:ZZZ company is very good then uy u want to leave
Me:some lublub told...
Vo:iam approving u r visa
Me:Thanks
and i left the cubical.

My suggestion is be positive and get the all possible docs from u r employer.VO are there to give VISAs not to reject until u have proper docs.