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Chennai and Mumbai – H1B Visa Stamping Experiences – India – 2013

Couple of our readers Vishal and Mohini, shared their visa stamping experiences at Chennai and Mumbai with our readers. Congrats on them on their successful visa stamping. Thanks to them for sharing their experience. You can share your experiences here

Successful H1B Visa Stamping – Experience in Chennai, India

Finally The Day Arrived!!!! On XXX, XXth 2013 Friday 8:00 AM Chennai Consulate. After a Long Wait of over 6 months with Lot of Wait.. Hopes. Frustration Application was Finally Approved.

OFC Appointment

Time 8:00 AM … I was first to arrive at OFC Chennai Office.. So I was First in Queue.. VFS personnel Allowed us inside only at 7:45.. 15 min before.. They checked Appointment Confirmation and DS160. Token 1 was issued … Finger Print and Photo Completed in less than 2 minutes.. Everything was complete in less than 3 mins..

H1B Visa Consular Interview!!!
Time 8:00 AM.. Chennai Consulate.
There were Two Queues formed one for 7:30 Appointment and one for 8:00.. They allowed all 7:30 first than 8:00 my turn came they again checked DS160 Appointment and Gave Token Number Pasted in Passport. Mine was E sequence..

Process Inside Consulate

VFS guys routed me to Finger Prints Section.. for Verification and asked me to take seat and Wait for my turn.. Till My Token number displayed I was tensed and looking around.. one Counter Was ** I was interested on .. That guy was asking many question I prayed that I should not be routed to this Counter…

My Token Displayed on Screen with another counter .. I was 3rd in queue …. 2 H1B in front of me both Girl from ACCENTURE and TCS. It was successful for them I was hoping the same with me… Finally My turn Came

VO : Please Come forward
Me : Good Morning Mam

Vo : Good Morning Sir, Can I See your Passport
Me : I passed My Passport

VO: Which company will You be Working For
Me : XXX company

Vo: How long are you working for it
Me: Its a New opportunity

VO: What is Your annual Salary in US
Me : $XXXXXX

VO : Can I See Your all Petition Document
ME: Passed i-797,I-129,LCA

VO: Verified something in System
Sir This is Pamphlet for your Rights for H1b Visa…. “YOUR VISA IS APPROVED”

She returned all my docs and I Thanked Her and left Counter .. With Most Happiest Moment.. Then went to VFS counter for Courier payment..

It all happened in Less than 5 minutes….. It was more easy than a CAKE WALK for me….

Wish You All The Best For ALL……

——————————————————————————————————-

H1B Visa Stamping Experience at Mumbai – India – 2013

Main Interview Date – XX/XX/2013
US Consulate Location – Mumbai
OFC – XX/XX/2013
Type of VISA – H1B

OFC Appointment Experience in Mumbai –

OFC – It was Thursday and I was the only person there . There were not a single person waiting and whole process got over in just 10 mins. My appointment was at 4:00PM .I reached there at 3:45 PM and came out of OFC by 4:00 PM.
Documents for OFC –

1. Passports
2. DS 160 Confirmation
3. Appointment letter confirmation

US Consulate Process at Mumbai Before H1B Visa Interview

My appointment was scheduled at 10 AM and I reached consulate around 9:30 AM.
There was a long queue and it was too hot. They scan my passport and then I entered the consulate, there was a security check. There were many people sitting inside for interview. So I was sure that it will take more time for my turn.

H1B Visa Interview Questions at Mumbai Consulate by Visa officer
Interview Started – 11:40 AM
Greetings exchanged.
VO: Asked for Passport and H1 Petition approval notice
me: Passed on the docs
VO: Looking at my I-797 and asked me how long you are working with this petitioner

me: As this was my future employment, I told him the same.
VO: What are your roles?
me: Explain the role in the project
VO: Salary?
Me: Answered
VO: Educational Background?
me: Answered
VO: He checked few information in computer and told me with a smile “Your visa is approved. You will get your passport within 5 days” I thanked VO and got out of the consulate. I was out of the consulate by 12:00 PM.
Thanks to the process that Consulate has put in place. Also, this forum/blogs/previous experiences posted by other members helped a lot.
Wishing all the best to other folks!!

   

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17 Comments

  1. How long does it take from your appointment time (when you stand in the queue outside) till you visa interview at Mumbai consulate?
    Thank you and All the best!

    Reply
  2. H1B and H4 Visa Stamping Experience at Mumbai – 2015

    PA Date – 18/03/2015
    US Consulate Location – Mumbai
    OFC – 17/03/2013
    Type of VISA – H1B

    OFC Appointment Experience in Mumbai –

    OFC – It was Wednesday. Process was very fast. Before entrance only they will verify your PA confirmation page and DS160 Confirmation page along with your passport.
    Once entered, they will verify the same on computer and will put white sticker behind your passport. Once done you will be assigned a token number and you have to wait for your token number. LCD screen will display that on which window you should go.
    On assigned window they will ask your Birth-date and will take your finger prints and Photo. same goes for my wife as well. That’s it you are done !!

    Documents for OFC –
    1. Passports
    2. DS 160 Confirmation
    3. Appointment letter confirmation

    Note : There is no place where you can relax and time-pass in case you reach early there but its always better to reach at least one hour early than your appointment time. You can get down near Citibank in BKC, there is Starbucks, you can relax and spend your time there in case you reach early.

    US Consulate Process at Mumbai Before H1B Visa Interview

    There was a long queue and it was too hot. They scan my passport and then I entered the consulate, there was a security check. There were many people sitting inside for interview. So I was sure that it will take more time for my turn.

    H1B Visa Interview Questions at Mumbai Consulate by Visa officer

    Greetings exchanged.
    VO: Asked for Passport and I 797 Petition approval notice
    me: Passed on the docs

    VO: Looking at my I-797 and asked me highest qualification degree
    me: Bachelor of Engineering in Computer.

    VO : for which Client you are going to work ?
    Me : XXXXXX XXXX Client name (He said Cool as my client was famous 🙂 )

    VO: What are your roles?
    me: Explain the role in the project

    VO: Salary?
    Me: XX K $/PA

    H4 Visa Interview Questions at Mumbai Consulate by Visa officer (My wife was along with me)

    VO: what is your highest qualification degree
    wife: Bachelor of Technology in Computer.

    VO : do you have love marriage or arrange marriage ?
    wife: arranged

    VO : how long you have been married ?
    wife: XX years

    VO : which color your husband likes most ?
    wife: color name

    That’s it and then diamond words for which we were waiting !!

    VO: He checked few information in computer and told me with a smile “Your visa is approved. You will get your passport within 5 days” We thanked VO and got out of the consulate within a minute.

    Note : Near Consulate you wont get any tea/water/washroom so be prepared accordingly in advance. Only Inside the consulate you will get water and washroom 🙂

    Thanks to the process that Consulate has put in place. Also, this forum/blogs/previous experiences posted by other members helped a lot.

    Wishing all the best to other folks!!

    Reply
  3. Can anyone share their experiences with regards to H1B stamping if they are working in the field of research(TAL) at Mumbai consulate

    Reply
  4. Visa Approved -CHENNAI- September 19, 2014 at 5:47 am
    Hello friends,
    I want to share my interview experience with you all folks, I was interview on 18th September, 2014 place Chennai.

    Interview was around 5 min.

    It was 11:00 AM

    I : Good morning sir,

    VO: Not replied

    I: Good morning Sir (again)

    VO: Good Morning

    …..

    VO: Which company you are going to work for ?

    I : XYZ Technology (Wrong answer, I misunderstood the question thinking he is asking my current company. )

    VO: No that’s not the company which has field the petition.

    I : ABC (corrected my answer and replied politely).

    VO: Was busy in typing something then he asked then he asked are you going to work for client.

    I : No sir, I am going to work on the product on the company named ***something***.

    VO : what is the name of project

    I : Answered ***something***

    VO : D-Edge it is

    I : I said D represents DATA

    VO : Explain me the project on which you will be working.

    I : I am going to work on….work on web based project ….(got silenced … bit nervous) then VO looked at me and exclaimed a bit. He wanted from me to at least say something.. After taking a pause .. I explained him very nicely.

    VO : Who will be using this software/who are the clients (Very Key question)

    I: Since its a product there can be N no of clients (Retails/eCommerce/Banking/Pharma companied seeking for price monitoring portal for there products)

    VO : Can I see your project Document.

    I : I gave him (I was big bundle of papers which VO just looked at it and returned me after seeing it hardly for 5 sec)

    VO : How may employees are in the Company ?

    I : X and repeated once again with figures.

    VO : Busy with typing …then he asked What is your Highest Qualification?

    I: BE Electronics

    VO: what

    I: Bachelor of engineering in Electronics.

    VO: After typing for long. here comes the wonderful word –Sir, Your VISA is approved. Have a nice trip.

    I : Thank you Sir.

    VO gave me a 3 pager stating that please know your rights and go through it before you travel to US

    He was very young.

    All the best dear friends. Thanks redbus2us.com it really helped me in preparation.

    Reply
  5. Hello Saurabh,

    Surname in my I-797 B form has Space,But Surname in my Passport Doesn’t have space.

    Like:
    [I-797]Surname :AB CD
    [Passport]Surname : ABCD
    [My Name is Correct in both the forms]
    I have interview on February 26th 2014,in Chennai Consulate

    Will it be an issue during US Consulate Interview ?

    Please help in in this Regard.

    Thanks,
    Antony

    Reply
  6. Hi,
    I’ve my Visa interview on January 9th,2014. I heard that Passport delivery process has changed and they no more deliver the passport to the address we request for and we need to collect it from certain pickup locations of Stanley & Bluedart.Is that true? Is it possible to collect the passport a day after the interview from the consulate itself?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Kathir,
      Yes, this is correct. Here is the official link.

      You can collect the passport from consulate itself on next day, provided it has been approved by that time. You can see all locations and timings in the above link.

      Reply
      • Thanks for the reply Sourabh. But if I’m reading that link right, it is talking about the return passport collection from the consulate.This happens when we fail to collect passport from Bluedart/Stanley pickup locations and they send the passport back to Consulate. My question is about picking up passport from US consulate or Bluedart/Stanley office before they courier the passport to the pickup location. Suppose I select Chennai Blue dart pickup location for holding my passport for pickup, I’m not sure if the passport will be available the immediate day after interview.

        Reply
        • Kathir,
          The link addresses that as well. It says that Blue Dart will courier it to the Stanley/Blue Dart passport/visa collection locations where it will be held for 7 or 14 days, and then returned to the consulate. So it can be collected from the Blue Dart location. How soon it will be available would depend upon when the visa gets approved, and how far Blue Dart center and consulate is. If the visa is approved and the Blue Dart location is in the same city, then I expect it to be available next day. If not, then it can take longer.

          Does that make sense?

          Reply
          • Yes,it does Saurabh. I work in Bangalore. Now I’m in a dilemma whether to give Chennai pickup location or Bangalore pickup location.I will be on a vacation after my interview(neither in Chennai nor in Bangalore). If the passport would be available within a day in Chennai pickup location,I could collect from there as I would be staying for a day in chennai after interview. I think I will have to check with Blue Dart representatives in the consulate about this. If this is not possible, I will have to ask my friend collect it from Bangalore pickup location. Anyways I’ll update on how it goes out.
            Thanks

      • Dear Saurabh,
        greeting for the day,
        I have been working as a IT consultant in Singapore for the last 6 months. I am holding Indian passport. My visa got approved yesterday.
        I was working in Sri Lanka, when i applied the visa. I am holding Sri lankan Residence visa.
        Pl guide me shall i go for Singapore consulate or Sri lanka or India.
        thanks
        siva

        Reply
  7. i have scheduled an interview at mumbai consulate. But i need to reschedule ofc interview dates without changing the actual interview date. Can i do it?

    Reply
  8. H1B Interview at Mumbai consulate

    I am going for stamping on 09-Dec-2013
    at Mumbai consulate. Wanted to see if
    anyone in same situation or gone recently.

    Please reply to this and we will try to get
    connected to share information

    Reply
  9. Hi, I am from hyderabad. while filling the H1B form provided by Attorney, i have choosen Chennai consulate for VISA stamping.

    That means do i need to attend only in Chennai consulate? Or Can i choose Hyderabad consulate while filling DS-160 form?

    Any issues? kindly advise..

    Reply
  10. Hi Saurabh,
    Which is best consulate to attend stamping – Hyderabad or Chennai?

    I am from Andhra Pradesh (Comes under Hyderabad US consulate). However, i would like to take VISA interview appointment from Chennai Consulate.

    Will it be a problem? Higher chances for getting rejections?

    Kindly advise..

    Thanks
    Babu

    Reply
    • Avoid Chennai consulate like the plague! Trust me the worst consulate in the world in terms of VO attitude. They process around 35% H1B cases world wide and try there best to reject asking for more documents.

      Reply

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