H1B, H4 Visa

Hi,
Can i take photo with Tshirt? or is it mandatory that it should be in Formal shirt?

Hi all,

I am following this forum from last couple of months. Thanks to immihelp for providing such information which help a lot in preparing for visa interview.


Here i would like to give every minute details which may help others for their prepartion.

My interivew needs to reschedule from 6th Sept in Mumbai consulation earlier. Due to some personal problem I cancelled it on 5th Morning but was already late and you cannot cancel the appointment

So I called VFS call center in Mumbai and explained the situation. (Its better to give your name and phone number first, since they will ask for this in the end).and explianed them situtaion.

The process is I may not go to interview on appointed day,after that your HDFC receipt gets de-activated, then you have to activate that receipt after 2 working days by visiting a VFS office and book a new appointment. The reactivation charge is Rs 155/-.I booked the appointment for 21 Sept on 12.00 pm time slot.

I am working in pune. So catch deccan-queen at 7.15 am. I was in CST @ 10.30 am. I took a taxi after comming out of CST station. You can ask police man sitting inside station for help like where you can taxi.

At 10.55am, (taxi took around 30 mins to reach VFS with 60 RS fare ) Reason for this option was to save time since you are travelling in opposit e direction and avoid local trains.

I was at VFS office(opted for longue facality).You have to show your appointment letter to get entry. Once enter I kept my lagguge in locker room. Its a very small room including 2 changing room. I put all my document in a pastic carrybag and folder. I suggest to purchase a Harmonium folder since that is allowed inside the consulate and you don;t have to carry to many bags and avoid confusion.
Then I enter in waiting longue. Here there are too many people and lot of noise. At my time the consulate is running behind the time by 45 mins.

At @ 12.45, they called for 12:00 batch. It was raining. I entered bus with wet shirt. I suggest you to carry a Umberlla which is allowed in Consulate.

At 1.00pm, I joined the queue for security (They will ask you take out your passport and appointment letter.)in hand and entry into consulate. When it was my turn, he checked me physically and found a Glue-stick inside my shirt pocket.He asked me throw out in a dust bin and come back in queue.I was bit suprised and neveous too but helpless. I went outside and threw it in dust-bin which was a 2 mins walking distance from the consulate. All I was carrying in my two hands was my folder,a plastic bag, analog wrist watch( digital watchs not allowed ). belt, appointment letter and passport.
My appt letter got wet in the action. Since I was carrying a copy of it. there were no problem. By the time I came back, there was no one in queue. so after sometime He handed over a wodden stick to me and allow me to enter into consulate.

Inside Consulate
=================
At 1.35pm, A VFS person inside asked to give a orignial I-797 and passport. He folded it vertically and kept in passpost and gave back to me and asked me to got to Counter number 1. after fingerprint officer ( american ) gave a pink token and other VFS lady asked to take a seat and wait.

Interview
===============
My toker number was called on counter number 12 at 2.40 pm.

They called around 9-10 people togther. I was 5 th person in the queue.
1st & 2nd Person- granted visa,3rd person rejected.4th one granted. now I turn.

(I stand till the time he singal me to come in interview booth)

VO,A young american man with specs,

Me: Handed over the pink token.
VO: Hi, How are you?
Me: Fine. Thank you.

VO: What are you currenly doing?
Me: Working as a YYY in ZZZ,Pune.

VO: Is YYYY Company is your petioner.
Me: No, its YYY.

VO: YYYY is a pertty good company why are leaving it?
Me: For Better growth and direct internation exposure.

VO: How long you have in IT Feild.
Me: X and half Year.
I guess he did'nt heard the second part clearly.

He took my - I797 and confirmed

VO: Do you mean YYYY and half year.
Me. Yes.

VO: Have you ever been to US?
me : Yes ( I visted in 2001)

Then he typed something insidde computer. For @ 20-30 Seconds he did that without saying that.
Then giving back My I-797,
VO: Ok Your visa is granted and the passport will be couired to you. Good Luck
Me. Thank you, have a nice day.

That's all.

(Tip : keep simling, be confident, and present yourself like a professional since you are going to work in Professional envrioment in US )

The actual interview was less than 2 mins and not a single document was asked and I do not opened my folder.

I immediadtely came out of booth, kept my I-797 drink water and came out of consulate. took bus and reached VFS office.

Below I am sharing my experience while I was waiting for my turn

Waiting Time:
===============
a) While I was waiting, I would like to suggest all H1B asparaints to take seat away from families/groups of people and students
applicants.This is to have better concentration.
because these people talks a lot, make this place a like a food joint and will comment on each applicants coming out of booth.which will unneccasry make you nerveous.
I was two female with kids came out of interview booth with tears in eyes. and people commenting like which visa and what not in local langauge.

b) While I was in queue on counter number 12, a group of people standing on counter no 9, starts dicussing @ the intervewing which was going ahead off them I suggest you please refrain from such activities as VO is looking you.

HUMBLE REQUEST:
===============
1. Once you interview is over, avoid staying inside consulate, but if you have to then don;t distrub others people and don't start experssing what do you feel and how it was. It will unneccasarly create a discomfort for others.

Friends, I am telling this, because I found a lady came for H4 with few friends from one of the most Top IT company. Her interview was around 10 mins and visa approved. when she came out. there was a big smile on her face and a friend of her was sitting in very first row,she joined him and starting dicussing something in local langauage loudly ( making others uncomfortable) and thinking that she is only person in counsulate and once her interview was over, there is nothing important left here . I understand that is very difficult to hide such things but please please don;t do that.

After Interview:
================

I came out of consulate around 3.10 pm, took coffee and snacks and went to Mahalaxmi Temple.

At 4.15pm I join the queue for people collecting passport, friends do carry umberalla all the time. because here I was waiting in rain for 1 hour. Thanks to guy standing in front of me who shared his umbrella at 5.10pm. VFS office opened and they allow in, Here you have to show them the PINK HDFC copy.(Here also they will not allow mobile and stuffs). They will hand over a yellow coupen, and allow you to get inside. In underground they have a VFS office, they will ask you take a photo-copy of pink receipt, signed on it. After announcing your token you need to give them a yellow token and xerox copy and return your passport.

I then collected my luggage and took bus in night and came home.

Friends, I narrated the whole story to help you to get into more details about the enviroment.

Thanks for reading such a long text and sorry for typos and my personal view if you anything found offensive.

Thanks
user12.

**** **TRUST GOD AND IN YOURSELF **** *

VERY IMPORTANT KEY TO GET VISA IS "CONFIDENCE"

>With in 2/3sec VO can make out person status.
>Keep smiling face when standing in Q as they can see from inside glass
>Carry proper folders (avoid colourful plastic)
>Dress in corporate standard (They must feel yes working person)
>Dont think Mumbai consulate are easy compare to others consulate.this will make you over confidence.
>Try to give one line answers,they take only 2/3min per person.
>Look straight to them not in there PC or your paper.

Nothing to tell about my interview,he asked me 5/6question ,but made me very cool. they wants to give you visa as it is approved by USCIS but because they are not satisfied yor best candidate compare to there homeland they wont give....Best part he was very cool american and didnt ask a single documents...

Lastly VO said>> I issue visa,all the best go & enjoy...Me>> thaks with big smile.....VO >>with smile welcome.

Collected passport from VFS centre same day as i am from mumbai itself.

Possible visit Mahalaxmi temple before interview

REST LUCK,GOD,CONFIDENCE

All the best and good wishes to all applicants

FEMALE H1 VISA

hi,

I got my visa After issuing 221(g) blue on 23-aug-2007.

I got my Visa with in 8 days after droping my documents in drop box.

I have attended Interview on 23rd Aug, i have issued 221(g) blue form, on sept 5th i droped my documents in drop box and i got my visa wth in 8 days i.e on 13 sept.

Thank's for immihelp for giving such experiance.

Thank you
Vamshi Krishna

I attended my H1B interview at chennai consulate today. My interview was at 4:15, but i went directly inside at 3:45. After verifying the documents, finger prints.. i stood in queue for my turn.
No blue token.. red toke.. blah blah.. it's straight and simple.. stand in queue.. and which ever counter free.. go there..

My interview was lasted for 5 minutes..
1. show me your certificate.
2. your current experience.
3. what is ur current job.
4. what project ur going to do in US.
5. how many people are working in US.
6. How you came to know about this employer?

then... she said.. we will courier your passport in weeks time..

Provide all correct information.. no need get tension..

All the best.
venkat

Hi guys, i know this is not a discussion forum but reading some of the comments below i could not stop myself writing this.

I do understand that the situation in the US for jobs may not be very good but this is also true for any other country be it UK, australia or even europe. The job situation keeps changing..sometimes its good sometimes not. It all depends on an individual experience. Some have had very good experiences and some had not been that lucky. Its better we do not judge the market on the basis of a few negative responses. I feel if your skills are strong and you trust your sponsoring company then you will have no problems in getting yourself a job. I encourage people to sharpen their skills before landing in US and make yourself prepare for technical questions that you will be faced when there and everything will go smooth.

Obama is not wrong. He is pretty correct in his analysis. And ya as he said it is not to disappoint or to discourage people. That info is just to make you prepare for the worse.
If things go well you can get job in 2-3 weeks.
Good luck to all.

Hi,
This is for my friend whose H1B got queried today.
She went to Chennai consulate, as usual :-), here case got queried for few more documents from comapny filed H1B for her.

Now she is having chances to apply L1 Blanket from a very good company, normally will ahve no questions at interview.

But, our doubt is, this H1B query and status has any impact on her L1B interview at consulate?

Please let me know.

Thanks,
With Kindest Regards,
Soujanya.K

I went to chennai consulate on 16th.
My interiewer was a lady without expression :)

Me: GM
Lady: Which company r u going?
Me: ZZZ
Lady: Which company r u currently working for?
ME: YYY
Lady: How did u come to know abt this company?
Me: Blah blaj blah
Lady: Whts ur highest degree
Me: M.Tech from IIT
Lady: Can I see ur degree?
(Saw my certificate)
Lady: What was ur thesis?
Me: (One phrase answer)
Lady: Did u do any part of ur thesis offcampus?
Me: No
Lady: When was ur passport issued?
Me: 200X
Lady: Is this ur first passport?
Me: yeah
Lady: Have u ever been here before?
(I never expected this question, so asked her to repeat)
Me: No
(typed on here PC for abt 30 secs)
Lady: Who is ur client?
Me: Its an inhouse project. I donno abt the client details.

Immediately took out blue form and marked everything and wrote "Need client info"
Lady: Get me the Client info and u need not come, use drop box facilty. Have a good day.

Me: Thank you

I think we need to have client letter or the project description proof. !!!!

Dear All

As per the communication received by the US consulate Chennai - Applicants suffering from infectious diseases like conjunctivitis should refrain from attending the US Visa interview. I therefore request all our Associates and their dependents who are affected with conjunctivitis (as the condition is extremely contagious) to refrain from attending the Visa Interview.

Please note applicants will not be allowed to enter the consulate and their appointments will be cancelled & a fresh appointment will be booked for them once they recover completely.

Request you all to bring such situations immediately so that proper step can be taken for rescheduling of the Interview.

Thanks for your understanding and co-operation

Always Yours,
Chow