H1B, H4 Visa

Hi,

Thanks for ev'1 who has helped a lot in boosting confidence by sharing the experience. Here goes mine.

PLEASE GO THERE ONLY JUST 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME
OR ON TIME. They will be letting in people according to their appointment time. However you have to stand in the queue outside the consulate, on the footpath under the hot sun with no shelters provided, so if u go just a few mins b4 the time, your wait time can be reduced.

I went to Chennai consulate with my wife on Nov 21st. Our appointment time was at 2pm.
We reached there at 1:30. There were two queues. The first long q was for people with appointment time upto 1:45pm. The second q behind it was
for people whose appntmnt time was 2 and aftr 2. By around 2:30 people who had appointment at 2 were moved to the 1st q. by 3:20 we were able
to get inside the consulate. Do not take any digital devices (mobiles,pen drives, CDs... are not allowed) and sealed covers. In the first
building they will ask ur passports,appointment letter, DS-156, 157 and I797 for verification. We had seen a couple of people been told that their documents would reach them in the second building. For me, they gave these documents tied and asked to go the second building.

In the second building there were people waiting for their documents to arrive. We were sent to counter 1 for finger print, then to counter 2 as
q was short thr. Some people got there visa approved from there itslf.
Whn it was my turn, the officer who was taking the fingr print pushed off for the day n a very pleasant jovial officer took charge instead.

VO: Hi,Good Afternoon
I : Good Afternnon with a smile. I gave him the docs
Vo: How are you today?
We: we are fine thanks, how about you?
Vo: Great
Vo: did you have to wait for a long time?(with a great smile)
I: Yes, for sometime(smiling)
Vo:Will you accept my appologies( again with a smile n an expression)
I: oh..that was not an issue at all. We know, it's a part of the process
Vo: good. I will take your left index finger scanned first n then right
I: did accordingly
Vo: now your wife's please
She did it
Vo: Thanks tht was excellent. I would like to take your visa interview but there is long queue behind. Please go to any of the other counters or ask the monitoring guys to help you out.
We: thank you..


We were asked to stand in other counter. The VO was a lady n she was speaking in Hindi to a middle aged lady '...hum apke madath karoonga..' with a smile which vanished soon.
we were called next

I: hi, good afternoon
Vo: hi, Good afternnoon
Handed over the documents.
Vo: (looking at I-797) whts this XYZ (US company)?
I: It's a blah...blah..
VO:no... I do not want to know whts it. I want to know wht do they do?
I: They are into blah.. blah...(she was not listening... was typing
something )
VO: what are you going there as?
I: told designation
VO: wht will you be doing?
I: told the role in the poject n wht will be doing in 2 sentences
VO: which is ur present company?
I: ABCD
VO: whts ur designation there?
I: answered
VO: give me ur degree certificate
I: gave
VO: (just looked at it n again continued typing something)
VO: Your passport will reach you in courier in a few days
we: thank you..

Hi All:

Here is how my H1 Int happend on 22nd Nov in Mumbai

Int Time: 9 AM
I reached there at 8.15 AM and they let me in at 8.30AM

After security check they handed over all my docs which was submitted to VFS.
then i was asked to go for Finger print
They gave a token number. and asked me to wait will that number is called.

My number called and went inside the cabin for the int.

VO: How r u Sir
Me: I am good, Thank you
ME: How r u madam?
VO: I am good, Thank you.
VO looked at my papers
VO: Why r u going to US?
ME: I am going to work with ... co as ... position
VO: have u been to US?
ME: Yes, once in 2003
VO: How many years exp u have?
ME: ... years
VO: How many years you want to go to US?
ME: 3 years
VO: Good, Your visa is approved. Have a nice trip to US
ME: Thank you

Thats all
she didnt asked for any docs, certficates, Client letter, offer letter.

Be confidant and u will get the visa.

Hi All:

Here is how my H1 Int happend on 22nd Nov in Mumbai

Int Time: 9 AM
I reached there at 8.15 AM and they let me in at 8.30AM

After security check they handed over all my docs which was submitted to VFS.
then i was asked to go for Finger print
They gave a token number. and asked me to wait will that number is called.

My number called and wend inside the cabin for the int.

VO: How r u Sir
Me: I am good, Thank you
ME: How r u madam?
VO: I am good, Thank you.
VO looked at my papers
VO: Why r u going to US?
ME: I am going to work with ... co as ... position
VO: have u been to US?
ME: Yes, once in 2003
VO: How many years exp u have?
ME: ... years
VO: How many years you want to go to US?
ME: 3 years
VO: Good, Your visa is approved. Have a nice trip to US
ME: Thank you

Thats all
she didnt asked for any docs, certficates, Client letter, offer letter.

Be confidant and u will get the visa.

Hi Friends,

How r you doing. I am Vijay Sekhar. This site has helped me a lot in preparing for my interview. I thought I will update my experience even I got a bad experience as well, as I was more desperate to read 221g cases rather H1B successful one’s, so that we can learn from other’s failures. It would be great help, if our failures can be used as stepping stones for other’s success. Anyways we can’t change our fate of failure/success, why not we help others with our experience.

Sorry friends, if you feel that I’m taking some lecture. ;-)

My obedient request to the readers is that, please share your experience irrespective of the output. I got my H1B approved from Chennai on 22 Nov 06. My interview was at 11:45 AM. I reached consulate by 10:15 AM. It's always good to be there just before an hour or less.
I was a bit tensed as I don’t have my company photographs and the project document for which I will be working.
 
VO asked me very few questions. This is how it went:
 
Me: Good afternoon sir (with a mild grin on my face)
VO: Good afternoon.
Me: how are you?
Me: I'm fine, how are you doing?
Me: I'm doing good sir. Thank you.
VO: So, what are you going to do in US?
Me: I will be working as a soft eng. for XYZ.
VO: hmmm...okay and, (I guessed, that he want me to continue further with my roles and responsibilities)
Me: and I will be responsible for design, implementation and modification of various modules in the project. ( I gave a little pause and observing his face to check whether he's still expecting some more info)
VO: Which project are you going to work? ( He started this question in my short pause, and I thought that he's okay with my answer)
Me: It's called 'title of the project', blah blah blah…. (explain abt your project)
VO: Okay, that's fine, what is your highest degree? (seems in a hurry to ask many questions, not letting me talk much )
Me: It's Master's Degree in Computer Applications.
VO: Can I see all your certificates along with the transcripts?
Me: Sure sir ( Took out the bunch and handed over)
VO: Asked for my Original degree ( he was watching very carefully at each and every paper in the bunch)
Me: I haven't yet received my OD sir, I will be expecting it by next convocation ceremony of the university.
VO: Fine, keep these things with you (returned all my certificates. )
VO: How long have you been working with this company? (current employer)
Me: 2 Months
VO: Ooh, only two months?
Me: Yes sir
VO: How about PQR? (referring to my previous employer)
Me: It's around one and half year.
VO: All right, Can I see your appointment letter?
Me: It's with you sir. ( Here, I misinterpreted his question, I was thinking of the US employer's letter, where as he was asking for my current employer's)
VO: No, it's not there
Me: (still I was thinking about US employer’s letter) I elaborated saying "It's there at the end of the documents (Passport, DS-156/157 etc) that I have submitted to you sir.”
VO: ( He looked pissed of a bit, and told me ) you are working currently for XYZ right?
Me: Yes
VO: Where is the offer letter?
Me: I'm sorry, I will just give you sir. ( This time I understood and gave him the offer letter of current employer.....)
VO: It looks everything fine, you will get your visa in........(he slogged this word while writing something on my papers and said).....3days
VO: Thank you , Advanced Happy Thanksgiving sir.
 
Friends, my observations are, make your first (best) impression, and listen to him carefully (unlike me ;-) ), and if you want VO to repeat the question, be careful that you listen properly in the next time and answer to the mark. If you have seen any 221g's or rejections or anything don’t get distracted, keep faith in self and god. Ensure that you answer to the mark. Judge your answer (short or lengthy) based on your easiness and VO’s convenience. I suggest, you elaborate at your strong areas (like your roles and responsibilities, current employer, past work experience, education, other certifications, etc.), to eaten away some time and let him feel that your are communicating confidently and your are the best fit, and shorten at the grey areas where you are not possessing much of the documentation.
 
I came out by 2:30 PM.
Take care friends, have a great day!!! All the best for your interviews, I will pray for you tooo…

Hi All,

I have done my B.com from Osmania University and MBA fomr Sikkim Manipal University (Distance Education) and i have total 7 trs of exp. and 3 yrs as SAP Functioanal Consultant.

1) What are the chances of getting H1 Visa?
2) Do they consider only B.E & B.Techs and MCA??

If any one in this group cann clarify this??

Regards,
Arun

Hi All,

Please let me know whether form 156 and 157 can be editable at anytime before interview.

Note : Filled the forms online (now i want to edit certain fields).

Hello thanks to all of you who have posted therir experiences.
Below is my Schedule.
My appointment time was 10:00 am on 22 nov.I have been there by 9:30am. No need to go early try to go exactly by the time.
after that they have made me to enter 2n building where they have collected my Documents like I797B,I129 Appoinmtment, Passport, Petition details,HDFC receipt.
And made to wait. After i have waited for about 30 min They have called my name and tehy have directed to the counter where they are taking finger prints .

after finger print is over they made me to wait in another line. But to my luck i have been placed in a line where i am the 2nd member.
This is how my Conversation went on.

Me : goodmorning mam.
Vo : good morning.
Me : i have given the folder .
Vo : what is your highest degree.
Me : B.Tech (Production engg)
Vo : How much exp u have got.
Me : 5.4 out of which 2.9 as SAp consultant and 2.4 as field engineer.
Vo : what do u mean by field engineer.
Me : explaine reg my previous job.
Vo : What is your present company.
Me : indian company i answer.
Vo : what are they into.
ME : It is an IT training and consulting firm.
Vo :Show your degree certificate and ur markslist.
Me : gave those documents.
Vo : have u got exp letter from ur present employer.
Me : gave the letter.
Vo : offer letter.
Me : gave the offer letter.
Vo : then asked who my petioner
Me : i told my employer in US.
Vo : what is the project u worked here.
Me : explined the project and my roles and responsibilities.
Vo : She asked what is ur US employer into.
ME : Explined reg my employer.
Vo : how big is the us company.
ME : It is a growing company.
Vo : How many are there in present comapny.
Me : 70-80.
Vo : what is the project u r going to work in US.
Me : Explained reg the project.
Vo : then asked my evaluation of credentials.
Me : given tose documents.
Vo : asked my petion details.
Me : gave her.
Vo : She went inside taking all my certificates .and came after 10 minutes.
Vo : She handed all my documnets except the pass port and said u will be getting ur pasport within 2-3 days
Me : have a nice day.

So friends who all are going for H1B please ensure that u have got all the documents right.If you have all the documents correct and if you can present before her when asked and you try to be confident when answering then.One more thing dont say u dont know rather u try to tell something related to that technically.

So friends if you do all the above things perfect then automatically luck favouirs you.

So dont be tense or over exited.take deep breath while asnswering them, and also see that u talk with them in a casual way like If u dont give visa also it dosent matters me, and at the same time do be negligent also.

Thats all .

I wish all who are attending H1b a very best of luck. if u follow the guide lines what i have told then VISA is urs.

Plaese ensure u take the following documents.
Appointment letter,
HDFC RECEIPT,
PASSPORT,
I-797B FORM,I129 FORM,
PETION DETAILS,
OFFER LETTER FROM US EMPLOYER AS WELL AS FROM INDIAN EMPLOYER.
PETIONER RECOMMENDATION LETTER.
CLIENT DETAILS OF US AND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PETIONER.
PROJECT DETAILS OF US.
EVALUATION OF ACADEMIC CREDENTIAL DOCUMENTS.
PAY SLIPS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
EXOP LETTER FROM PRESENT EMPLOYER.
AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS WHAT YOUR PETIONER SEND U.
CERTIFATES OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ORIGINALS.
IT RETURNS,BANK STATEMENT FOR LAST SIX MONTHS, LATEST RESUME.

My brother's H1 got stamped on 16th of this month. He is planning to fly to US sometime in April next year.
He is planning to take appointments for H4 visas to my sister-in-law and to his kid as well. So, inorder to attend H4 interview,
does he need to get any separate letter from the US employeer for his dependents apart from the standard check-list,
which is mentioned in VFS site for H4 applicants? Actually he is planning to get the H4 visas stampped before he left for US.

Hi,

My H1B visa interview was happened successfully at chennai on 13th november.

Here are the questions I faced in my interview.

VO: What is the purpose of your visit to US
Rajesh: Deputed to the client site.

VO: Explain the project you are going to work
Rajesh: Explained in a one line.

VO: What is your highest degree
Rajesh: answered

VO: When you both got married
Rajesh: Answered


Then she said, Your visas are approved will send you in 3 days.

I wish you all the best for the people who are going for visa stamping, just go there with confidence and smile on your face. Listen carefully what they are asking and answer.

Thanks,
Rajesh.

hi,

I have attended my H1b on 7-NOV and asked to submit additional documents through dropbox facility.

Anybody got visa recently in this way? how long will it take after submitting the docs through dropbox?

thanks,
Srivastav