Visitor Visa - B2

Dear All,

I want to share my recent experience of a refusal and a subsequent issuance at Chennai consulate. A brief about myself, I am senior IT professional working in Bangalore and have visited, worked offshore European countries and south Asia. My wife is a banking professional and together we have visited many countries. US being the only country we have not visited and hence we decided to apply for the visa so that we could travel this winter.

We have family and friends in the US who have been inviting us for a long time and hence we approached a famous tour operator and decided on the itinerary and went for the interview in the month of June. They took care of the documentation and appointments. We were very confident that we will get the visa as we had good travel history in the past five years. This is how the interview went:

Vo: Good morning
We: Good morning, How do you do?

Vo: Good (Smiled)
Vo: So, why are you going to the US?
We: vacationing

Vo: have you been to any other countries together?
We: yes, (named the European countries)

Vo: what do you do sir?
I: I am ------ in --------

Vo: …and you ma’am?
Wife: (Replied)

Vo: how much do you have in your savings?
We: (Replied)

Vo: Do you have family or friends in the US?
We: yes, mentioned the places

Vo: what is your studying?
We: Replied to the question

Vo: How long are you planning to vacation?
We: Showed the itinerary and replied. Vo saw the itinerary and typed for some time.

Vo: Sorry, I cannot issue you the visa, better luck next time.

We were shocked and in disbelief, but ma’am, can you tell us the reason why? Vo: She gave a letter and said, read this, the reason mentioned in this, thank you. We lingered in the premises for some time and asking some staff there about the refusal. They give a standard reply “Please read this and reapply again”.

My brother in law in the US did some research and referred us a immigration counsellor and asked us to get their advice which we did. They asked us to get back after two months which we did. They asked for all the details and told us that this is a simple case and that we would not be needing their services as we had good travel history. At this stage we did not want to take any chance and asked them to help us from the beginning. They revised the documents and suggested some improvements in our presentation and told us that the vo might ask for our profession related documents.

We went for the interview last week to Chennai US consulate, This time almost same questions but the vo asked for our old passports and income related documents. Vo: VISA ISSUED, YOUR PASSPORTS WILL BE READY IN A WEEK. We were ecstatic and relieved, what a relief! Based on my experience, my suggestion is, don’t be over confident even if you have travel history. Be grounded and be prepared. Luck also plays a part in the process. Don’t take it personally. Seek help and save yourself a lot of time and money. A BIG thanks to Visa Vikings for helping us in a honest and sincere way. Their help made a big difference in the way we perceived our case.

I have been referring to this forum as I was very nervous before going for the interview. I had a lot of documents missing, since I made sudden travel plans and took the interview slot just a week back. Now that I have my visa approved, I wanted to share my experience incase anyone needs tips or any questions I can try and answer

My interview was scheduled for 9:30 AM in Mumbai. I reached at 9:20. there was a fast moving queue from the footpath outside the consulate, leading to the consulate entrance and there were also few people from the 9:15 slot in the queue. when we pointed out to the two representatives who were checking the passports, they said it was ok and we should just join the queue. At this point they were letting appointments until 10:00 to be in the queue while the later slots were told on the side.

moral no 1: no point reaching early. Ten minutes before your scheduled time slot is good enough.

After the barcode on the stamp (that was put behind the passport during biometrics) was scanned we were let into the consulate building. Here was the security scanning with metal detectors (like the ones at airports). I was told to put my belongings (wallet, umbrella and document folder) into a tray and walk forward for personal screening. I had a hairclip which set the metal detectors off. after some skepticism and consulting among themselves, they said I was not allowed to take the clip inside. I told them to throw it, but they politely refused saying I had to go out and throw it myself. Anyone who has been to the consulate knows there are no dustbins around at all. Since I was late and panicked I just threw it on the footpath and went back. This time I could skip the queue since my passport was already scanned, they let me back into the building and back in line for the security screening.

Moral no 2: follow the security details to the T. I realised those guys can be moody and usually reserve their decisions on their best judgement. for eg: a lady ahead of me was carrying a jute bag. Now the instructions says that you should not carry anything besides transparent bags. Initially the security raised an objection but after a few seconds he let her go.

By now it was 9:40 and I was worried I was late. But the official reassured me that it was fine. After the security screening you're led to a huge open (but shaded) area with rows of seating chairs. after checking the passport and barcode another official directs you to one of the rows depending on your time slot. Like I wrote above even the ones with 10:00 AM appointments were being allowed inside, so they were seated in a parallel row from us (9:15-9:30 appointments). After a few minutes, another official came and asked our row to follow them into another section of the building. Here we were lined up into 5-6 lines. we were called forward for fingerprint scanning. basically they just sample one hand to check if the fingerprints match the ones taken during biometrics. Once okayed, we were sent to another section of the hall where the interviews were taking place.

Around 20 counters lined up, and an official at the start of the queue would tell you which counter to go to. There are some different counters for language preference, minors and senior citizens. there were around 40-50 people ahead of me when I reached this queue. Since every officer takes about 5-7 mins average per person, the queue was moving pretty fast. While waiting in the queue, I was silently rehearsing my answers while also observing the visa officers. Some of them seemed friendly, but mostly everyone kept the conversation short and barely looked away from their computers. When my turn came, I was sent to counter no.34 and asked to wait behind the yellow line (like they have at immigration counters at the airport). When I was in the queue I had already observed this officer had rejected someone before. I recalled him easily as he was the only one who looked in his late 20s, had slicked back gel hair, wore a blazer and tie and was sipping coffee. All others were casually dressed. When I reached the in line for the counter, there was a girl mid-way thru her interview. they had almost reached the end when I heard him telling her application was rejected and she should try another time. My heart sank. Her voice increased a bit and I could sense her frustration while she reasoned with him. My mind was panicking thinking she is going to ruin his mood further by arguing with him and he is possibly going to remove that anger immediately on me.

When she left, I still waited behind the line, hoping to give him a few seconds to calm down. When he motioned me to step forward, I took the 5 steps to the counter, said a friendly hi which went unanswered. He asked for my passport which I handed over, and while he scanned I just began neatly arranging my documents, too nervous to make any small talk. This is how the rest of the interview went -

Officer: So, where would you be going?
Me: I am visiting New York and will maybe try to do a week in Florida

turns to his left and slowly takes a sip of coffee

looking back at his computer, typing something : Officer: What are you going to do there?
Me: (as cheerfully as possible and with the widest grin) go to Disney land
(officer gives a small smile and turns back to his coffee, takes another slow sip - I think he was expecting a more general answer like Tourism) this helped me relax a bit

Officer: where do you work?
Me: I work at YYYY as a financial associate

Officer: How long will you be going for?
Me: About 2 weeks.

(pause) Me: I want to go around mid-Oct till first week Nov, so that I can be home for diwali (stressing on the 'be home for Diwali') - I like to believe this sealed the deal, he was now convinced I was coming back.

officer nods, types furiously, takes another sip of coffee, places my passport in a tray next to me, and utters 'great! your visa is approved'

I take a second to register what he just said, gather my things, look at him with a big smile and say "awesome!" he looks up making eye contact (the only one in the 5 min conversation). I tell him 'have a nice day', and notice him nodding and a small smile as I walk away.

Moral no 3: You could prepare for this for ages, read lots of internet materials, but what happens in that 5 mins is totally unpredictable. There were tons of rejected applicants but the best thing to do at that minute is thank the officer for his/her time and graciously walk away)

how do you know if an application is accepted or rejected? If a candidate walks from the counter with the barcoded passport, you know its rejected. Only the accepted passports are taken by the consulate, the others are returned back.

Avoid small talk. Its too early in the morning, the officers are interviewing hundreds of candidates and have lot to process in few minutes.
Answer only what you are asked, do not load too much information, keep it really simple. Do no shove unnecessary bundles of documents in the officers face. If you are missing some information or document, look apologetic, and try to assert why you could not provide that particular document. Ask them politely if you could instead show them 'XYZ' as a substitute. Only if they say yes, show it to them. and lastly BE polite and HONEST.

sorry for the long post. all the best and I am happy to help in answering any questions.

DEAR ALL EXPERIENCED SENIORS

I HAVE REFUSED AS THE CONSULAR IN THE END OF INTERVIEW ASKED ME ABOUT EVER I INTERESTED AND APPLIED FOR CANADA AND I REPLIED NO BUT 3 YEARS BACK I FILLED OUT CANADA VISA APPLICATION ONLINE WHICH WAS NOT PROCESSED AT ALL AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE MY FINGER SCAN AND THE APPLICATION AUTOMATICALLY REJECT WITHOUT PROCESSING AND I NEVER CONSIDER IT AS I APPLIED. IT WAS A DISARRAYED SITUATION AND I WAS CONFUSE AND COULD NOT RECALL MY MIND SUDDENLY AND CONSULAR KEPT MY PASSPORT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND LATER LEADS TO REFUSAL SAYING I LIED DURING THE INTERVIEW TO CONSULAR. EVEN THERE WAS NOTHING IF I HIDE THE APPLICATION WHICH CONTAINS NO BAD COMMENTS AGAINST ME.

PLEASE SUGGEST ME HOW TO OVERCOME THE SITUATION AS I AGAIN RESCHEDULE INTERVIEW THIS WEEK AS I AM A GENUINE VISITOR AND GOING FOR A SHORT VACATION WITH MY NEWLY WED WIFE.

Hey,

My family applied for tourist visa and it got Rejected help.my family details are

Father (54):
Proff. :MSO and an industrialist(25 years +).
Income: 15lac approx
Travel History: been to Australia,HK, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Kazakhstan
Most were company sponsored business trips.

Mother (48):
Proff: HouseWife
Income: 13-15Lac from rents from various property.

Sister(23):
Proff: Just completed her MBBS
No income

Me(M,19);
Pursuing B.tech 3rd year
No income

My mother, sister and i have not traveled outside of india before.
Our Parents were sponsoring us.
We had to attend a family gathering
The Interview was at delhi embassy.

We were all sent at one booth/counter.

i don't remember everything but interview went like.

We got to the IO she asked for our passports
My father handed her all four passports.

She asked the purpose of travel
Father said tourism.

She asked if we knew someon in the US
Father told about his cousin who lives in Butler,NJ

She asked about my father's income
He replied 1.25lac PM

She asked about The Job of his cousin
He replied that he is a shopowner

And she said Sorry please try next time
A form was given to us (214b)

Passed our passports back.
Thats all.

What could be the possible point of failure?
What should we keep in mind next time?

 I want to share my experience of visa b1/b2 visa interview

My 1st Interview was rejected.
My second interview:

after completing formalities around 8.15, I was waiting for my turn,

me: Good morng
VO: gm

VO: Pass passport
Me: yes sir

VO: Why you want to go USA?
Me: to meet my brother and purpose of tourism

VO: okay, for how many months?
me: 1 month

VO: your parents have toruist visa ?
me: yes

VO: What you do i mean work?
me : working in YYYY Co

VO: Where did you visit in EUrope?
me: answerd

VO : Annual Income..
me: xxx and my father will sponsor me

after typing on computer ...
golden words

you can collect passport within 2-3 days.

tips: be straight forward
answer honestly
and dont hide any thing

Hello People,

I have a typical case here and need your expert suggestions/advice on how should I proceed further with this.

I stay with my wife and family in Delhi. My wife was aksed by her company to travel for business to US. The company being headquartered in Bangalore, they asked her to apply at Chennai consulate. She applied at Chennai consulate and got her B1/B2 visa stamped 4 days back (04th Sep). I was not present in the whole scene as I was travelling for business outside India all this time.

Since her travel for 2 weeks falls very near to our 1st wedding anniversary, I decided that I will also join her and make it a pre-anniversary kind of trip. For that, I will apply at Delhi Consulate for B1/B2 visa in the coming 10-15 days.

My first question is, what should I put in DS-160 about my travel companion and their details etc?
1. Should I put my wife's name there? If I do so, many ques arise. "Why dint you apply together?", "Why only a gap of 1-2 weeks between your visa appointment and her visa stamping?", "Why different consulates?". All this will arise more doubts in their minds about something being fishy.
2. Should I put my friend's name who already has a visa. And if asked, I can tell that I will be travelling with him keeping wife and her travel out of the picture.
3. Should I show that I am travelling solo?

Which would be the most convincing and least doubtful case among the ones mentioned above and why?

My second ques is, how are they treating people who have travelled to Iran/Saudi Arabia for company sponsored business trip? How are the rules towards such cases? I have travelled to Iran and Saudi Arabia (purely for work purpose) before so what are my chances of getting a visa or getting rejected?

My bakground:
I have 7 years of experience in IT. Almost 5 years in current company. Good Salary. Good Savings.
Strong ties to country : my parents stay with me in my own home, me being the only son. Leave certificate for 2 weeks leave already approved from my company. Recently bought a property with my wife for which we will be doing registration soon.

Kindy provide your expert feedback on the 2 questions mentioned above. Looking forward for your responses.

 had B1/B2 VISA interview at Hyderabad Consulate.
My interview experience is as follows:

Passport was already taken by a representative and given to VO

VO: Hey there!
ME: Good Morning Madam.
VO: Good Morning!

VO: Why do you want to go to US?
ME: To attend Business Meeting and workshop at office

VO: What's your salary?
ME: YYYY LPA before deduction

VO: What's you role in the project?
ME: Project Lead

VO: How long do you want stay in US?
ME: 2 weeks

VO: Have you ever been outside of India?
ME: No Madam

VO: Tell me more about your role in the project?
ME: As a Project Lead, I lead a team of 8 people.

VO: What's the name of your project?
ME: YYYY X

VO: is that your client's name?
ME: No

VO: Ohh, so it's an internal project name?
ME: Yes

VO: Your VISA is approved.
ME: Thanks Madam.

Here is what I had followed. I had well prepared myself for all most frequently asked questions and followed 2 principles
1. Always smile .
2. Always keep eye contact. [Even though she was not looking at me for most of the time ]

and definitely dress up well. I was wearing White colour shirt. No Tie/No Blazer.

I had my visa interview today (4 sep 2018) at US Consulate in Muscat.
My visa was approved and I really had taken lots of tips from this site actually...I can tell you now with some research from here and there that most of the time candidate knows that his visa will be rejected or approved...

Few tips;
- Fill form yourself or sit next to the person who is filling it for you. So you know everything filled in form. (Interview will be based on that itself) eg. if you are writing i form that you will be travelling alone and in interview you say that, I am going with friends... (change of statement is refusal)
-Don't bother much about funds and other things, you should have approx 4-5K$ in acount which is enough for 15 days trip (in case they ask for documents)
- If your monthly income is less than 15 LPA (or say 20K $)/ anum, you stand very less chance to get visa if you are self sponsoring the trip. Because they see it as a reason that you may try to earn in US.
-If you had mentioned a specif travel plan, you need to mug it up.. or if its intended plan- you should decide in advance that what destinations you will tell to officer.
-BE confident throughout
- Don't give too much information in answers but if you think some Q may lead to doubt, then your answer should be with clarification to clear the doubt in advance..
- Ask yourself again and again what an officer may ask you based on your profile and income to see your ties with residence country and home country..

MY case:
I applied for B1/B2 stating a tourism purpose, I am married and have two kids. But I applied alone. I thought too many times what an officer may ask me.
I have good salary to cover my family expense in Oman and do some saving (But at application time, my salary was not received and I had too low balance).-But I thought already what to say

Interview

VO - Good Morning !!
ME - Good morning

VO- Purpose of visit
ME Holidaying

VO are you going alone (I knew that this Q will come)
ME Yes , since my kids are too young to travel so my wife will stay back in Muscat.
VO oh! so your wife is in Muscat.. (I cleared his doubt in my ans, he might have thought why alone, may be his wife is in India n soo on..)

VO How long you are here in Muscat
ME 7 n half year

VO you know someone in US
Me Yea ( As I enter my relative address as contact person in US in DS 160)

VO please collect your passport on Thursday

My interview was no longer than 30 sec.. but I knew all Qs what he might ask and what I will ans. He didn't cross check any document as I was to the point but elaborated one ans which I was sure coming to me..

SO please if you think your case is not strong, don't take chance and waste money. If your case is strong then prepare well to avoid wastage of money...
If you need some info.. write to me

Interview was 24 August 2018 at Mumbai 7:30 am

This my second marriage and my husband has valid b2 multiple visa and he visit 2 times to USA

This is my experience

V O. : gm
Me. : gm
V O. : passport pls
Me. : I slide my passport
V O. : why do want to go to the USA?
Me. : for tourism
V O. : what are u doing?
Me. : job, as a beautician
V O. : do u have children ?
Me. : No
V O. : what is ur husband do?
Me. : he is hairdresser and we have our own shop for men’s
V O. : show me ur husband visa copy pls
Me. : I slide my husband visa copy
V O. : where u will be resending in USA?
Me. : Galloway, New Jersey
V O. : how ur husband friend know each other ??
Me. : they are study together
V O. : when ur husband last time visit USA?
Me. : 2016
V O. : what is ur husband do in USA ??
Me. : he just go for tourism
V O. :how many times u apply for ur past marriage?
Me. : don’t remember but may be 3 or 4 times
V O. : why was rejection before?
Me. : my ex.husband answering so I don’t have much idea and it’s long time so no ideas
V O. : sorry can u pls tray next time
Me. : thank u

Pls can u help and when I will tray next time?

Hi,

I have applied for a B2 VISA to visit my aunt in the USA for the first time.
I have applied for the VISA with my first cousin and we have taken the group appointment.

Travel History: 1 country.
Work Experience: 2 years in INFOSYS with decent salary
Marital Status: Single
Age: 24
Entire family including parents in India
No relatives in US except my aunt and her family.
Aunt is a Green card holder form the past 28 years and she is sponsoring us.
She earns very well.

First cousin: Single, age 26, earns quite well and is having work exp of 2+ years, no travel history, one Europe VISA rejected.

We both are visiting our aunt.
She has last visited INDIA in Jan 2015

What are the changes of my VISA getting approved?