H1B, H4 Visa

First I would like to thank immihelp.com and all the people who post there exp. Its an wonder full site please keep up the good work.

My Visa Interview time was 8.00 AM, I reach embassy at 7:30 AM. After long waiting they called each applicant and arranged the folder and given a token number. There was a heavy security inside and outside the embassy.

Visa interview started at 10:15 AM; first counselor took finger print scan.

Q: Counselor: Hi
A: Answer: Hello

Q: Answer: Good Morning
A: Counselor: Good Morning

Q: Counselor: your first name is ZZZ
A: Answer: YYYY is my sir name and my name YYYYY

Q: Counselor: Why do this Indian passport people do this mistake always like this
A: Answer: Well yes you are right you can see my other booklets its some time they write YYYY in Last name or given name
 
Q: Counselor: any ways
A: Answer: OK

Q: Counselor: First I will take your finger prints.
A: Answer: did accordingly

Q: Counselor: I can see in your form (DS-156) you had a visa in YY and did not go why?
A: Answer: After the stamping I call the company to inform them I have got the visa, at that moment they said ok from today you have three months to fly to US, then after fifteen days they call and said we have a urgent project and you have to fly in three days, to which I replied well I at least need more fifteen days to complete my notice period of one month then only I can fly. After that I have call them many times, always they said please wait then nothing happen.

Q: Counselor: How did you apply to this job
A: Answer: I had registered my CV on Dice.com, from there they got may CV and contacted me

Q: Counselor: exactly when it was
A: Answer: Its may be December or January

Q: Counselor: Who called you
A: Answer: Mr. YYYY and Ms YYYYY

Q: Counselor: who first
A: Answer: Ms YYYYY

Q: Counselor: are you sure
A: Answer: Yes

Q: Counselor: how they contacted and what was the interview procedure
A: Answer: first they call and explained that they have a vacancy for Programmer Analyst & asked me whether I am interested to come to US and join ZZZ. And then I had attended three rounds of interview, first two was all technical & then the last was HR

Q: Counselor: what is the salary they are offering
A: Answer: VVVV

Q: Counselor: Wow, and how much you make here VVV
A: Answer: No its WWWW

Q: Counselor: how many employees US employer has
A: Answer: XX

Q: Counselor: All H1b
A: Answer: Yes

Q: Counselor: what education you have (he was looking into DS-156 form
A: Answer: Bachelors of Commerce Computers

Q: Counselor: that’s all
A: Answer: yes

Q: Counselor: For which company you are going to work
A: Answer: YYYY

Q: Counselor: where is this company
A: Answer: ZZZ

Q: Counselor: have you been to YYYY place before
A: Answer: No

Q: Counselor: where are you staying in Saudi
A: Answer: Jeddah

Q: Counselor: On what computer & software do you work?
A: Answer: I am working on IBM AS/400, Windows 2003 server, BPCS ERP software

Q: Counselor: What is AS/400
A: Answer: This is a midrange server computer

Q: Counselor: You mean (he showed his PC) computer like this connected to server.
A: Answer: Yes may be you have Unix server, AS/400 is a server

Q: Counselor: from how many years you are working
A: Answer: eleven years

Q: Counselor: from how many years you are in Saudi
A: Answer: plus ten years

Q: Counselor: ten or eleven
A: Answer: ten years

Q: Counselor: you start here with AAAAA company.
A: Answer: No, I started with BBBBB, then I joined AAAAA.

Q: Counselor: can you tell me when did you start your first job & where
A: Answer: after finishing my degree in 1996 my first job was in Bombay

Q: Counselor: current company name
A: Answer: NNNNN

Q: Counselor: do they have any project (US Company) or they are calling just like that
A: Answer: Yes, they do have a project, called LLLLLL. For client Name MMMMM

Q: Counselor: what is that can you explain
A: Answer: explained brief about the project.

Q: Counselor: can you explain what this BPCS software for
A: Answer: this is an ERP software solution for Manufacturing, Supply chain and financials, Payroll.

Q: Counselor: briefly explain where this is used example
A: Answer: Suppose a trading company where they require Sales system, Invoicing, Purchasing, Financials (he said OK fine) I was explaining more he said fine its ok.
 

Q: Counselor: who are the clients for the company
A: Answer: they have both government and private sector clients

Q: Counselor: can you name few
A: Answer: IBM, Oracle, Crysler motors, Toyota, sir I have client list if want to see?
 
Q: Counselor: yes show me
A: Answer: I was taking out the list which I printed from YYYY web site, by seeing that he stopped me saying that I can also take from internet that list no. no I don’t need that.

Q: Counselor: sir please you have a seat I will call you again.
A: Answer: called after 15 minutes

Q: Counselor: you will work where
A: Answer: YYYY co

Q: Counselor: you will be based in BBBBB
A: Answer: Yes

Q: Counselor: what was the client name you said
A: Answer: MMMM


Q: Counselor: Sir I need to do administrative processing on your case which will take approximate two weeks since it’s a holiday season.
A: Answer: O.K but sir I have all the documents with me like client latter, contract, LCA,
(Counselor: He stopped me and told me no sir I don’t need any documents) I said even H1 petition you don’t require sir. He said I have a copy of your petition its fine I can do my job on copy. He starts writing 221g. Here I tried to ask him do you need any thing like my certificates or any thing else ( He Said no sir I am convince with you & I know are able for job but want to make a routine check on this company we do this for all H1b’s normally)



Q: Counselor: we will contact you on telephone with in two weeks (return back my passport and retained my Form DS-156, copy of petition, with the bank deposit slip) then he said, you can send all the required documents by FedEx or this paper will allow you to come to embassy with out appointment.
A: Answer: OK. Thank you, have a good day.

Note: He did not ask for any documents just my old passport and he was writing few of my answers on a white paper.

 
Please seniors help to understand this process what could be the reson for 221g and what could be the result. In 221g they did mark for any document, Your application required additional processing. Please wait to be contacted by Embassy before returning to present the documents requested above.

I am also given the 221(g) and asked to drop the following docs in drop box.

1) Petitioner's Income Tax Return for the last two years and financial statements. (Even after I told him I have them he did not bother to look at them).

2) A copy of the employement contract or letter of agreement signed by you and the petitioner.

3) Unemployment wage reports for the past two quarters as reported to the state of Indiana.

5) A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which you will be assigned. Include a complete technical description of the project, employer, timeline, current status, number of employees assigned, worksite location and marketing analysis for the final product.

If I I provide all the docuements, What is the chance of getting the VISA. Dose he make any notes/remarks/comments in Visa Officer System when he was interviewing personally.

I am really worried what is the prcenatage of chance if I provide everything. Pleae revert back.

Thanks,
NJGUY.

I am also given the 221(g) and asked to drop the following docs in drop box.

1) Petitioner's Income Tax Return for the last two years and financial statements. (Even after I told him I have them he did not bother to look at them).

2) A copy of the employement contract or letter of agreement signed by you and the petitioner.

3) Unemployment wage reports for the past two quarters as reported to the state of Indiana.

5) A detailed and specific description of the internal development project to which you will be assigned. Include a complete technical description of the project, employer, timeline, current status, number of employees assigned, worksite location and marketing analysis for the final product.

If I I provide all the docuements, What is the chance of getting the VISA. Dose he make any notes/remarks/comments in Visa Officer System when he was interviewing personally.

I am really worried what is the prcenatage of chance if I provide everything. Pleae revert back.

Thanks,
NJGUY.

The lady who took my interview was very skeptical and was not issuing many visa's.moreover she was giving 221(g) to the most that too after atleast 15-20mins grilling.I was trying to move to other counter but i was asked to go that counter itself.The same lady has issued 221(g) to one of my friend.I was scared.But all I could do at that time was to pretend as cool as I can with 1000KWatts of confidence and smile.And Ofcourse praying GOD.With the grace of God,she just asked 3 questions and then she granted the visa.
So the keys are..
1.God's Grace
2.Full confidence.
3.Smiling and pleasant behaviour

Hope this helps to all my friends...

UUUUUUUU ( not I - a correction in my previous note ) can proceed with ur H1 interview.... there will be no issue if B1 was rejected. Infact they will not even ask u why it was rejected.

Sudersan,

I can proceed with ur H1 interview.... there will be no issue if B1 was rejectedd. Infact they will not even ask u why it was rejected.

best of luck
Shiyam

Hi I am Reddy
I need Information About the port of entry.

1. Do we need to enter US within six months from the date of visa stamping...
2.Do we need to enter US within six months, i.e. what we have mentioned the date at the time of interview...
3. Do we need to enter US within six months from 1st OCT2006...

I got Visa on 1st week of sept 2006.

Hi All,

   im working in a big MNC, i attended the B1(personal) to chennai consulate, september, it was rejected and they given 214(b) form to me. once again im going to attend for h1.is there any problem with my b1 rejection?

what type of questions they may raise regarding b1 rejection.

Thanks in advance
Sudershan

I got my h1 filed by a consultant based from Fair fax for 2005 quota. Due to non availability of dates, got my first (and has been the last due to the employers response) appointment in february 2006. This consulatant hasn't sent me any company related documents other than 200 pages of technical documentation for inhouse project and company photos showing 2-3 rooms with 1-2 computers and a meeting room.
This consultant files about 200 h1s a year(based on foriegn labour site). When ever I asked them for more documents before the interview, they always said nothing is required and we have people who got stamped w/o any other documents.
The saddest part is I have to take my wife who was pregnant and in her 4 months. I repeatedly said my employer I can't take her again if I got a query. he made all promises.
At the visa interview, the counsuler hasn't asked me anything about me other than my PG degree. Not even my current company(amongst top 10 companies in the world) or anything else. The counsuler said your employer has many employees working with them and I don't think they may really require you. So I want to know how they will use you. Finally I was given the 221(g) asking many documents from the employer (active projects and how they will use me etc.. ) including few company related documents.
After calling this employer many times (rather only one guy used to respond for my repeated mails and calls and always used to talk in air. Later he stopped picking my calls. If I call from a different no. he picks up and talks as though he is not aware of my earlier missed call), after 3 months they sent some documents like list of projects etc but with no company documents. They asked me to plan for second visit to chennai consulate. I planned my travel accordingly booking air tickets/hotel etc.. Just before the day of journey they said we are working with our attorney to resolve the issue with chennai consulate, so that again we will not get any more queries for any of our employees... They kept on saying we will send the documents by the end of day.
That end of day has never come for me.. After 6 months I have said, send me the documents or give the deposit back. They said they will give and this continue for 1 more month and finally they returned the money.
They took all the big names of the attornies.. finally said that the documents are crucial to the company and we can't disclose them to the consulate.. So, looks like something fishy about the company..who can't disclose to the US home office.
As per my understanding looks like the company files as many visas as possible and what ever they gets thru with the simple queries they respond else discard.
Due to this consultant I got 2 yrs wasted in my career, as the quota got over very soon before I look back.
So my humble request for others is don't go by the consultant who is big (or claims big). For them 10-20 visas are not a issue if they don't get. You will be a looser finally. Go with companies who file fewer h1s, as they value each and every h1.
And probably I request other users to go with consultants who give client letters but not with inhouse project. if not atleast who can give all the documents the consulate asks.

Also, i request others to post the employers name who can give client letters or can give all the documents the consulate asks. This will help others in choosing the right employer.
I don't think the employer will dislike his company name being advertised for good.

My appointment was there at 12:00 O’clock .I reached there at around 11:30 AM.

The security officials checked the Appointment letter and I entered the first building at 11:40 .

It was a long Q. A lady was asking about the passport and 156,157 docs. She asked me the I-797 doc also. After that I entered in to the 2nd building, where again I found a huge Q waiting for the finger print..

Once the index finger scanned I joined another Q for the Visa Interview.

VO: Hi sir.
Me: Hi.
VO: Give me your passport and the docs.
Me: I gave my passport and the docs (156,156,I-129,I-797, LCA… etc)
VO: You have done Bachelor’s degree right !
Me: Yes.
VO: Can you please show me your Degree certificate?
Me: Sure..(Showed my Degree certificate)
VO : Your Visa has been approved. You’ll get it in 3 days. Have a nice day.
Me: Thank you very much sir…

Guys….Really what I think is you should be confident, that’ll do 50% of your interview done and you should have the genuine documents.

Take care guys,

Ranjit