H1B, H4 Visa

Hi Friends

I want to share my experience about H1B Visa. I had earlier been to US on H1b in June2000. Due to various reasons I could not get a job there but I survived by doing some freelance jobs there. I came back just before expiry of my VISA. For good 4 years I did not apply again for H1b under the impression that since I don't have any pay stubs or tax documents from my US stay, I would be refused Visa.

I went for my Visa again this year and secured my VISA again, thanks to very good counseling & support I got from my current employer.

If you have a similar problem and the company which had sponsored you last visit IS CLOSED or NOT EXISTING anymore, then you should try again becaz filing taxation is responsibility of the employer.

Please donot hide your last visit info.

So bottom line is, if u did not overstay in US, did not break any law there, u do not have any tax papers you can still get the Visa.

Please share this experience to ppl u know so that the can also try again.

Regards

Hi All,

when a 221g form is issued, and several documents have been asked to submit, is that the consulate really visit the employer's/client's place or verify through someone? If not why they take so long to approve the Visas for such cases?

Does anybody has this kind of experience where the checking has been done with the provided information? Please let me know.

A quick response from all similar experiences will be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Neeraja

Hi,

Can any one guide me what are the documents need to send for H4Visa? I-797 original is mandatory to send? I'm attaching 3 months payslips and I-94 xerox. Pls suggest me on this.

Me GudAfternoon Officer
VO did not rply just shook his head
vo how long have you been working with YYYY Comp.
me told
vo is that the only comp. you have worked for
me no I have als worked for YYY comp.
vo what is your current role
me Mentioned my designation
VO I also know that but wat do you do funtionallly
me told
vo (then he probably opened the website n started browsing)wat does ur current comp. do ?
me Told
VO Clients...?
me probably he was expecting one or two...but I told him atleast 8-9,that really brought in me confidence
vohe did something on the PC and then said...I am apprving your Visa you'll get it in sometime
me How much time will it take officer?
VO 7 working days
me thankyou Officer

It was just a peice of Cake......although one couple was rejected before me n one H1B applicant was isssued a 221g(blue form)....I was confident about wat I said...n I looked straight into his eyes..I did not even touch the documents......whole Interview lasted hardly 90-100 Seconds and thats it.So the key is to be confident........

Hi,

Me and my wife got H1 and H4 visas.Our interview was at 7.30 AM and we were there at 7.25 AM, the security people were just started sending in. We need to show our Interview letter and passport in the counter which is outside the building. After entering we need to pass through the security check there will be different line for males and females. Then we need to stand in queue where we show all the relevent documents for H1 we need to give DS156,DS157,I797,passport and DS156,DS157,Passport etc they will cross check with the form online which we have filled and will ask to fill if any info we have missed.They will take snap of your photo on the DS156 and put all the documents in a blue folder and ask us to go to the main building.
There we need to stand in queue to give finger prints,first they will ask to put left index finger on the scanner and then right.
We need to sit in the chairs in front of the main counters whereever there is place. A attendent said all 7 AM candidates please come and stand in front of the counters(between the chairs and counters) then he called all 7.30 AM candidates. We were ninth in the queue. Our turn came she was lady.
vo: Hello
We:Good morning
vo:Good morning
vo:How long have you been with xyz company
Me:almost 1 year
vo:Oh 1 year.
vo to my wife:Its been how long you been married.
My wife: 3 years
vo: Was it a arranged marraige or love.
We: With a smile answered arranged.
vo: What is your highest degree
me: Engineering
vo: In which faculty
me: Mechanical
Then she looked into my DS156 and DS157 for details, I have done PGDCA after my Engg. She calculated something and said fine.
vo: What would be your role in US company
me: explained the role
vo: Are you going to a client or...
me: No, I am going for a inhouse project
vo: do they have any client
me: Yes, so and so is our client
vo: again she asked what is your role
me: explained with some more details adding to the first one
vo: do you have any other documents apart from which are in blue folder
me: My employer gave me some documents addressing to the Visa officer.I have passed all those to her including my offer letter.
She looked into it and checked something on her computer and returned them back.
vo: Any more documents
me: I gave her Tax return papers which were there with me.
she again looked into them and gave back
vo: Any letter or document from any client
me: Gave the client letter.
she looked at it and checked some details in her computer and said
vo: I cant see any details of this client is that a single person organization or what?
me: I do not have much information about client but I had a conversation with them and I hope it is not a single person company.
vo: Switched of her mike and took that letter with her and went back to talk to some one.
she took about 10 minutes and I was able to see her from the window chatting to some lady about this letter.She came to the window with a gentleman as talked at the counter showing him her computer. After 5 min
vo: Thanks for your patience.
me: no problem
vo: Is this company your client.
me: yes, I tried to explain more but
vo: I have no concerns as long as he is your client.

Then that golden words "Your visa has been issued and it will be delivered in 2 days"

me and my wife: Thank you

Today my wife went to H4 stamping at chennai consulate. Appointment time was morning 11:30. She reached thr at 11 and she was allowed to enter immediately as our 10months old kid with her.
Documents verified immediately and proceeded further to another building for interview.

Lady officer was politely asked questions
Simple questions askd.
1. Where is your husband working rightnow
2. Why there is two I797(i did H1 transfer recently)
3. Whether marriage was arranged

Verified marriage certifacates and marriage albums.

Then officer told, she is not going to cancel L1 visa on my wife's passport which she got from currect employer.
Finally she asked for my paystubs.
Thatsall no other questions. She will get visa soon.

Thanks for the immihelp and all members contributions for reference.

My interview was scheduled at 9:30 AM on Thursday 25th Oct and I reached there at 8:30 and I join the line, Initially they have checked my passport and the appointment letter and allowed me into the consulate (this will happen at entrance of consulate).After entered into the first building security people will checks and allowed me after I joined in the line where the paper checking is going on. There, I have submitted the passport and HDFC receipt and DS-156, DS-157 and LCA. They have taken sticker in the HDFC receipt and attached to my passport and they arranged all these documents in small folder and handed over to me. Next, the people who wear the "V" tags are asked me to go to the next building. I entered into the next building and there were 7 counters, in first 2 counters people are taking the finger prints and rest of them is taking the interview. I joined in the line where the finger prints are taking. After I completed the finger prints I have joined in the next line where the interviews are taking and my turn is came after 30 min. VO asked me the following questions.


Me: Hi Officer, good morning, how r u doing today
VO: She just says, hi.
Me: passed the folder given by the first counter which contains the Passport and DS-156, DS-157 and LCA
VO: Asked me something (I did not understand what she asked)
Me: Sorry
VO: Again the same question (Still I didn't understand)
Me: Sorry, I didn't get u.
VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: MCA from SV University
VO: Why u are going to join in the YYYY Company.
Me: I am joining there to work for the project called "ZZZ" and explain the brief about my project.
VO: How many employees are there in YYYY Company?
Me: 50 plus
VO: Any Customers for the project.
Me: Right now no customers are there for this project. We are developing the solution, once the development is completed then they will do the marketing.
VO: Your visa is approved and u will get the passport in 2 days.
Me: Thanku, Thanku very much.

Today I got passport with visa stamping.

This is all about my interview. VO didn't ask me the single document. One thing I will say to all, be concentrate and listen properly what VO is asking u because There were so many people are standing behind u .Don’t think there are listening your questions and answers. Be confident and answer the questions slowly and confidently loudly.

Thank you for this site and people who were posted their experiences before. This site helps me a lot.

Hey Guys, First of all thanks for sharing your experiences out here, it really helped.

Well Few points to be noted before i write down my experience.

* No Need to wear Suit or a TIE, Just act normal, I had my sleeves up, was wearing a Jeans, and a T-Shirt Inside. No need to pretend.

* We are not beggers, have some pride and act professional.

* Make sure you dont have any cuts on the index fingers.

* Avoid wearing a Belt and a Watch, they will make u remove them and pass through the security check and then u might have wear them again in front of 200 people. Looks Odd.

* Dont carry Coins.

* Atmosphere inside the Hall would seem like as if u are sitting in Gujarat, Every second announcement would be made in gujarati which goes something like this " Keshubhai Patel baari number 12 par aavo..", so just enjoy the expressions on everyone's faces.

* Dont Lie and they purposely ask stupid Questions, Just Back Answere.

* Watch Friends TV serial in your preperation days to understand their accent, DVDs are available for Rs. 50.

* One majot point, people generaly mis-understand this question: Who are ur clients?
They are asking about your employer's client provided you are going to work at their clients place else you could just tell them that its a IN-HOUSE JOB.

* Make sure you have the following documents:
a) A letter from your Employer addressed to Consulate describing your duties.

b) Agreement letter on company letterhead between you and the comopany.

c) Original I-797 Copy

d) Passport, Interview Letter and HDFC receipt.

e) Evaluation Letter that compares ur Education and local experience with their UNiversity degrees.

f) Certified copies of Labor agreement and I-129.

g) ALL Markesheets and Certificates, and Diploma Certificates.

h) Work Experience Letters and Salary Slips.

i) Your updated Resumes

j) Pictures of Company and the Company
Owner/President/CEO

Well, now my interview time was at 9, they took me in by 9.10, After passing through Security Check they ask for ur passport and interview letter along with I-797 and then a folderwill be handed over to you which will have your DS-156 and DS157, After that I was forwarded to Window No. 1 for my Finger Impressions and there they take away all the above papers and folder, after which a token is given, and then you wait for your token be called. My token was called at 10.15, till that time u wait in the common hall area packed with Gujjus (I am myself a gujju, so no offense), My interview lasted for 20 seconds, not a single paper was asked and this is how it went:

Me: Morning
VO: Morning

VO: So what Do u Do in your current company?
Me: Bla bla bla

VO: Who is your Employer?
Me: XYZ Co.

Vo: What are they into?
ME: Blah Bla Bla

VO: Your Package that is been offered?
Me: zzz Per Annum.

Vo: The company you are working currently in is not a good company right???
Me: No, Its a good Company. (He smiled)

Vo: Alright your visas been granted, please carry ur I-797 at the time of entry in USA.
ME: Thank a Lot.


Well, there is nothing much to worry about, just be casual.

If you have any questions then just email me at kedar00[at]yahoo.com

Regards,
Kedar

Hello Everybody,

I Thank you for all the help and confidence I received from the forum.

My Interview for H1B was at 0930 on ---th Oct.
I reached Chennai the previous day and checked into a hotel(350) about 1.5 km from the embassy in Royapetha. I went to the embassy to get a feel of the place later that evening.
I left the hotel at 8 am the next day and reached at 0815 (Took an auto(20)).
I had a Coat and tie on me.

I had organized all my documents in a Folder with each document in each leaf
I was at the security where they checked my pp and app. letter and receipt.
Then there was a frisking check and a metal detector check
(I left my mobile in the hotel and was just carrying the folder)
Initially my documents were checked and put in a folder.
Then I went to the next building first queue for the finger printing and
Then another for the interview.

At 10:45 my turn came and I waited at the line for the VO`s nod.
VO :Good morning.
Me: Good morning.
VO: Can you pass me the folder.
Passed it through.
VO: What is your educational qualification?
me :Bachelors in ....... and Masters in .....
VO: How many years of experience do you have?
me : around .... in ..... and ..... years in .......
VO : What are you going to do in usa ?
me : Told him me abt my project and job description .

He Was checking through documents.
VO:I don’t have the I129 here.
Me: let me check
Opened the folder and gave it to him.
VO : sorry , What are you going to do in usa ?
again Told him about my project and job description .
VO: ... Yr visa is approved....
me: Thank you.

Came out at 10:50
Went to VFS in the evening at 3:45 picked up the Passport.

Hi all,
 I appeared for the interview at the consulate on the 10th of Sept.
After waiting for 2 hrs after the formalities my turn came. The consular was a lady who began asking me questions like how did u come to know abt the company,who is the owner ,who is the client , what type of project , what would be ur role etc.
Then she asked for client letter i said no. then asked me to explain whatever i knew abt the client. i could not. then she picked up the infamous 221 g , ticked some of the boxes , took my ds forms and told me to drop the docs at window no5 without the passport.
I was stunned in silence .
the employer send me the docs on 10th of october (one month after) . i submitted the docs on 17th october. on 23rd i got a mail to return the passport . And today 26th i got my passport back with Visa stamped . WOW !!
Thanks to immihelp and all the people for their experiences which kept my hope alive all this time !!