H1B, H4 Visa

Hey guys,

I got my H1B approved from Mumbai Consulate on 23rd Feb. It was really easy but before getting to that let me mention the things that happen before the interview since most people here have mentioned those things for other consulates.

The time given to me was 8:15 am, I reached there at 8:00 am and there was a long line. Once they started allowing people inside, they asked the people who were alone to come forward and asked the people who had come in groups for interviews to stand behind...dunno why they did this. Anyway's you walk up the stairs and you have your security check. You need to remove your belt, watch and wallet and place it alongwith your documents on the table. The security guy will quickly go through your folder and ask you some stuff to make sure you're not carrying any eatables, cigarettes, etc. You then pass the metal detector and if it doesn't beep he'll give you your stuff alongwith a small wooden block (to signify that you have passed the security check) which you need to return while leaving.

After that you enter the main hall. Just to the right you'll find a desk with 2 people with all the yellow envelopes. You need to give your passport, I797, I129, HDFC receipts and show your appointment letter to them (this is for locating your envelope). Ok, well at this point things started going wrong for me since I had applied for this interview in October and had paid 4400 + 2200 but now they've made it 4400 + 2300. Briliiant really!!, they should have atleast pardoned the people who had registered earlier (it's not about the money...I wasted 1 hour and this got me really frustrated). But no, I had to now leave the consulate and get a draft for 100 bucks and since most banks open only after 9 I was stuck (it was around 8:30 at that time). Well at 9 am I got a draft made from Indian overseas bank and the only god thing was that I could go and stand ahead. We'll once again I had to undergo security check and reached the counter where I was previously turned back from.

After this counter takes your documents and arranges them for you, you have to stand in queue for counter 1 where they'll scan your index fingers and you also hand over all the documents you got from the earlier counter at counter number 1. You'll just have a pink token with your number on it and obviously your supporting documents in your file/folder, etc.

Now wait your turn. Do pay proper attention since sometimes it's hard to hear the numbers. At around 9:50 am my number was called. There were 2 people ahead of me and the guy took a long time with the first person. He went in to check some thing as well ...didn't look like the girl would get her visa, but he finally granted it. The guy before me...his interview seemed cool since he took barely 2-3 mins. Next came my turn...

After greeting each other -

(order of conversation might not be exactly as he asked me the questions)

VO: Reads out the company name from the I797
Me: Can't do much but say yes sir.

VO: How did I learn about the company?
Me: Uploaded my resume on dice and they found me there, etc

VO: C/C++ - which one's better (I don't know where he found that, might be on the questionnaire we had to fill out while registering for appointment)?
Me: cooked up some stuff and told him

VO: What will be your salary?
Me: $abc per annum

VO: (goes through my passport) So I see you've been to USA before
Me: Yes sir, in YY as visitor and ZZ on F1.

VO: Tell me something about your family - what are your brother sister doing?
Me: Bro is doing aaaa at bbbb (studying at US University) and my father works for cccc

That was pretty much it as far as relevant stuff went. In between he told me that he too was from the same state where I'll be going and so he's generous towards those people :P. Then he sees my b'day and says "my brother is born on the same day....seems like today is your lucky day". He was a really nice person and he told me he'll grant my visa only if I went to one of his favorite eat-outs (obviously just joking).
The interview lasted just 2-3 mins just like the previous interview and I didn't feel nervous at all (I was scared that I might screw up when I actually stand in front of the VO)... may be it was me or may be it was his jovial nature that put me at ease.

I collected my passport the same evening from VFS (between 5 and 6 pm). While they charge rs 56 for it, on this ocassion they didn't but do make sure you carry extra money if you want to collect your passport at VFS.

hi all recently i hve attended for h1 visa interview. already i got 221.this is my second visit to chennai. unfortunately this time too i got 221.

can anybody tell me whether i'll get visa r not.

is there any body who faced the situa like me?

rply plz..........

thanks.

hi friends
i want infromation for h4 visa's document requirment because my wife is in india and i am in usa last one month, and my wife interview date is in 22-march.
  so please email me for which document is requirement for h4 visa interview.

Hello All

I took appointment for my wife for H4 sometime in january,2006 and got the date for april.Now few days back my wife has made a new passport since my name was to be added as spouse .Now the problem is the passport number has changed.

My Question is,do we have to intimate the US Consulate regarding this and get a new date or is it ok to go ahead with the old date and show the Visa officer the new passport along with the old passport at the time of interview

If neone has gone through this situation please advice

Regards
Gaurav Bhatnagar
[email protected]

Thanks to everyone and immihelp on sharing the experience.
Before interview for H1B
1. Collect all docs in file and use stick-it and label them properly. Keep degree certificate, experience certificate, company photos in a common folder. Other duplicate copies can be in different folder. This will help you to track the doc quickly.
2. Keep DS-156, DS-157 in separate file. This will be collected and arranged in separate a file at VFS service counter in entrance.

On interview, Chennai consulate is one of busiest and be prepared for a long day. It took 5 hours in my first interview in Dec and yesterday it took almost 8 hours from 9.00 a.m to 5:00 p.m

Some of the details you should carry,
1. Itinerary of your work (covering 3 years) - mention your project phases, specification, study, development, testing, maintanence etc and justify that client need you for 3 years. Put your role also in each phase.
2. Client site or work place. Client contact detail is also necessary.
3. Marketing analysis - basically Consulate wants to make sure that petitioner can pay your salary for the work. In case of web development show that it earns revenue, if the petitioner has sound financial background to pay your salary take some doc to prove that.
4. Project details - what is your role in project, this may be covered in itinerary.
5. Sometime design doc or basic document on project may be useful.

Even with all above doc it is common to get 221g. It depends on mood of the questioner and luck. Also I think Dec and Jan has been busy with excess appointments and consulate gave lot of 221g.


Best of luck,
ck

When you received the I-129 from your employer along with the LCA? Is it stamped by USCIS? on the right hand side

Pls help ASAP

/a

Hi,

I am confused about this line for the H1 stamping required docs

If Form I-797 is a blanket permit, copy of Form I-797 and original Form I-129 and original letter from employer that describes your proposed duties.

I thought I129 is kept by the USCIS and when approved you get I-797, can someone explain this to me? What do you mean by blanket permit? and How can you take I-129 for the interview?

/a

hi

first of all thanx to this site and of course to the pple also who post their experiences

i had my interview in delhi this week but it was not a pleasant experience.
i got 221G and reason being is some administrative processing is required.

Can anybody tell me how long this process takes...

Guys be well prepared, they can ask u anyting.

pls revert back if anybody has any kind of updates regarding this problem.
and if any help also required, do let me know


all the Best Guys

I got my h4 converted to H1 in Jan 2005. However I started working in June 2005. I have been working straight since then.

My question is, the gap of Jan-2005 to June 2005. WOuld that be an issue? Does anyone know how I could explain it?

Also, I am wondering how the interviews are these days in Mumbai. This will be my first h1 stamping.

Will appreciate your thoughts

Hi

I dropped some of the documents asked by VO on 27 th Jan.Till date I didn't recieved any response from them.How can I contact them.

Guys Pls respond Immed.

Thanks in advance

Kavitha
[email protected]