H1B, H4 Visa

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.

First i want to say thanks to all the members of this forum. to give me a gr8 confident ant knowledge abt the visa interview.

My visa interview was on 29 th oct at 9.00 and i went there at 8:15 at vfs application center after that they ask for interview latter and by confirmation they took in to the inside the hall at vfs application center at mumbai . they give me a one cup of coffe and sandwitch and after 30 mins of waiting at 8.45 people from vfs told me that pls seat in to the bus and then bus dropped me at visa consulate at mumbai. then after they check again visa interview letter and they give me a my application packet which i submit before 5 days . then i proceed for the fingerprint after that she told me to pls seat and go for interview when your token no called up.
after a 45 min 10:13 mins from counter no _ they called me up and my interview was

ME: GOOD MORNING SIR
VO : GOOD MORNING AND SMILE

vO : PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR I 797
ME : PASS THE I 797 FROM WINDOW
VO : SO YOU ARE GOING TO WORK FOR ......
ME: SAID COMPANY NAME
VO : HOW LONG YOU ARE WORKING IN CURRENT COMPANY
ME : _ YEARS
VO : HAVE YOU OFFER LETTER FROM COMPANY?
ME : YES SIR THEN PASS THE OFFER LETTER
VO : HOW MANY EMPLOYES ARE THERE IN YOUR USA COMPANY
ME : THERE ARE __ EMPLOYEES
VO : lOOK IN TO MY FORM DS 156 AND ASKED IS THIS CORRECT SPELL OF YOUR i CHEK AND REPLIED YES SIR

THEN GOLDEN WORDS COME
vO : I GRANT YOUR VISA AND PLEASE COLLECT PASSPORT FROM VFS TODAY
ME: THANKYOU SIR THANKYOU VERY MUCH

mY ADVICE: bE CONFIDENT AND DONT BE NERVOUS AT THE INTERVIEW AND BEST WISH FOR OTHER CAND,

HI,

Iam a 3 year degree holder(B.Sc. Computer Science) from India.Prior to B.Sc i have completed my 3 year Diploma in Electronics and Communication Engg. In addition to this I have 3 years of work experience( 2 Years in Banking domain and 1 year in Software field). Now my question is with this 16 years of education and 3 years of work experience am i eligible to apply for H1B in 2008 or a 4 year degree is mandatory.

Please kindly let me know.

My H1B was approved in June 2006 but i got visa rejection in July 2007 stating that my employer is not capable enough to provide me job in US. I just want to know if i can reuse my approval with any other employer?? This is my first H1B approval.