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H1B Visa Interview experience at New Delhi – FY 2013- Approved
One of our readers, Prasad, shared his H1B Visa stamping experience, which took place in New Delhi earlier this month. Congrats to Prasad on getting H1B Visa ! Thanks to him for sharing his experience. You can share your experience here
H1B Background Information
I am sharing my experience with all regarding my US visa interview at US consulate New Delhi. My interview time was at 8.00AM and I was there at around 7.40AM.
Checklist of Documents Carried for the H1B Visa interview
1. Original Passport (If carry old passport (in case of name bifurcation) if it is cancelled also to be on safer side)
2. Axis Bank Receipt (No more HDFC VFS payment receipt)
3. Interview confirmation letter
4. DS 160 Confirmation Page (The page with bar code, generated after submitting DS 160 online)
5. Two photographs (50X50 MM size with clear white background and negative based, should not be more than three months old and should not have been used for other visas) (No more photograph required)
6. Original L-1/H-1B Petition [Three sets in case of Blanket L-1] I-797B
7. BEP letter from company (if required)
Along with this I also carried the following document to be on safer side
1. Original company (which you are currently working) Appointment/Offer letter or Service letter
2. Degree Certificates and Mark sheets for all semesters and a photo copy.
3. Previous Experience Certificates from all organizations and a photo copy.
4. Company ID badge with Logo
What NOT to carry to US Consulate
Please do not carry Mobile phones (if need be deposit in the counter), laptop or any kind of electronic devices.
Wallet, backpacks and ladies handbag allowed but should not have any electronic devices or metal items
Kirpan not allowed ( curved dagger carried by Sikhs as part of custom)
Visa Stamping Process at New Delhi
Counter 1: Please show your passport and interview confirmation letter to be verified in the list of attendees
Next security check will be done and you are allowed to enter main building
Counter 2: please show your interview confirmation letter to obtain your counter token (different tokens for different visa types)
Then you will be redirected visa interview hall (please make note of counter number for respective token that will be displayed)
Here first according to the token number you need to go to respective counter and has to undergo biometric check (please keep DS-160 and passport handy)
And you will be again redirected to waiting hall
Now comes the main challenge
Your token number will be displayed again on Hall number 2 and you are asked to go to a particular counter
In front of you is the VISA Officer, please handover Passport and VISA petition to them through a small window below the glass shield
Visa Interview Questions
Question time (what was asked for me)
• Visa type
• Which company
• Who is the client
• Your role
• Indian salary
• Is this first time you are travelling to US
My visa was approved (VISA is the required document to enter US and there will be again immigration check at US airports)
Please note your visa validity will be same as Petition expiration dates
What Happens after VO is done with interview
Once you are done with the interview and the VISA Officer will retain Passport and Original Petition with her/him
Meanwhile the VO will hand over a white booklet to you(if VISA is approved for the first time) don’t be scared that book is usefully and contains about Human trafficking and Labour right violation and escalation details in US( I request all to read, please do not throw, it is very useful)
VO will ask you “have you ever read this “showing the booklet. Please answer promptly “No”
If all done well you can hear “Approved “else you get a colour slip. Do not argue or request VO to approve your VISA in case of failure. Say thanks and silently walk out
If VISA approved come out pay 300Rs for Premium courier of passport delivery by filling a form there.
My personal thoughts for your H1B visa stamping :
Please follow
• Be on time
• Business formals for boys and saree, churidar or Business formal for girls
• Answer to point
• Be confident
• Don’t lie or argue(VO is trained lie detectors)
• Keep all documents in order and in available
• If you are done with interview do not speak with others or loaf around. Just go out of building
• Do your homework properly
All the best to all who are attending the interview
Additional Information :
Rejection of VISA cases:
B1 VISA (If you say I am going to work there)
L1 (Blanket)
H1B EVC Model
Here is the address of VFS/OFC and embassy
NEW DELHI OFC
Address:
S – 1 American Plaza, (Hotel Eros Managed by Hilton),,
International Trade Tower,
Nehru Place, New Delhi,110019
Consulate NEW DELHI
Address:
U.S. Embassy Shantipath
Chanakya Puri
Delhi ,110021
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What does this mean?
Additional Information :
Rejection of VISA cases:
B1 VISA (If you say I am going to work there)
L1 (Blanket)
H1B EVC Model-is it that all h1b’s with this kind of model face rejections? So very untrue. If all the documents are correct and placed in order then there is no chance of rejection which I have seen in many cases. It Is just a misconception that EVC is all about rejection.
XYZ,
EVC models may face additional scrutiny especially around employer-employee relationship. As lot of companies are unable to show that, they run into issues.
Hi Saurabh,
My H1B interview is scheduled on Apr 5 in chennai. I am really worried whether my H1B visa will be approved or not, beacuse my L1b was rejected on 2010 for my previuos employer. It would be very helpful if you reply to me.
Please advise. Thanks.
Vishwa,
I am too late to reply to this. How did your interview go?
Please share your experience
Hi,
I went for the H1 interview last friday.
The VO asked me about the company and the project and a few more questions related to the size of the company etc. After that:
1) she told me that she cannot approve my visa rightaway as she needs to do further study on my case. When I asked for the response time she said 2 weeks.
2) she asked me for a letter from my employer to the US department of state mentioning my name and my job responsibilities. I did not have such a letter with me at that time so I told her that I dont have that letter.
She did not approve or reject my visa there. Neither did she give me a slip of any color. She only said she will study the case further and will get back to me in 2 weeks time(through SMS). She retained my passport and the original petition documents and the offer letter.
This is the first time I have faced this process. I am really confused. What are the chances that my visa is going to be approved?? Is there a way I can check my visa’s status?
Thanks,
Dhruv.
Harish,
Your case has gone to administrative processing. It can take few weeks to several months for them to process, and they will start the processing once you submit the requested documents.
Chances of approval vary from case to case.
Hi Saurabh,
Thanks for the reply
Would they keep my passport with them for during this processing period?
-Harish
Harish,
They can keep the passport in the scenario:
- they approved the visa
- they approved the visa but later decided additional processing is required
If they deduce that processing will take lot of time, then they will return the passport; else you will receive the stamped visa.
Hi Saurabh,
Thanks for the information.
The VO did not issue me any slip of any color. She only said they will get back to me and when I asked about “how long will it take” she said 2 weeks.
How would the consulate inform me about the status whether visa has been approved or not? Is there any online page for this purpose? Would they call or SMS or email me?
Thanks.
Harish,
They will SMS you about the approval and the status for your passport will change online on the consulate site. I think they email as well.
Hi Saurabh,
Its full 3 weeks since I appeared for the stamping interview and I have not recieved any update from the consulate. My case is special because they did not issue me any slip.
How do I know if they are waiting for a supporting document from my side. The consular at the time of interview did ask me about a document that my employer should have sent to the “department of state” mentioning my name and job responsibilities etc on it? I have no idea what this document is. Can you shed some light on this?
Thanks.
Harish.
Harish,
Did you try calling them and asking about it?
Hi Saurabh,
Today I recieved an SMS to pick up my documents from New Delhi consulate. I went there and got an envelope with my passport, I797B and a letter. The letter says that an H1B visa cannot be issued to me and it has been refused under 221G.
This is what the letter says:
“Based on the documents you have submitted to us and the information elicited in your interview with and American consular office, we are not able to issue you an H1B temporary work visa because:
Your petitioner does not appear to be either able or willing to provide qualifying employment in the united states in accordance with appropriate laws and regulations
In accordnace with US law and Deptt of state guidelines, action on your case has been susupended and the I129 petition for a non-immigrant worker filed on your behalf will be returned to USCIS with a memorandum explanining the facts of your case as presented to ur at the time of interview.
For your information , your visa was refused today under 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act(INA). “
I am not sure to what extent the dress code matters, YMMV but I went to New Delhi embassy last year for my first H1B visa interview in a casual jeans and t-shirt and had my visa approved in less than a minute.
my employer retained it and they sent me a copy , its I797B,
What happens if VO rejects your VISA? Does he/she return your passport back to you at the same moment? OR he/she is still going to retain it?
Hi Raman,
Sorry for the delayed response.You VISA Petition and other documents will be returned back immediately with the reason on another paper.
Raman,
If it is outright rejected, then they will be returned to you. The officer can also keep the 797 and send it back to USCIS for review and possible revocation. If the officer needs to do additional checks, then 221g is issued and the visa is either approved or denied at the end of the process (can take weeks or months).
Hi
Mine is fresh H1b application with EVC model . I havent done masters , i have 3 yrs exp in India . Will my visa be rejected . I have visa on 29th . worried now !!!
DJ,
what happened to your VISA interview.Thanks in advance
Hi Nitesh, thanks for the reply. is it still the case for I797B ?
do I need to carry original petition ? My employer says, only the bottom receipt is required and I don’t need original petition. I have OFC on 20th and interview on 26th. please reply so that I can ask my employer to send it in overnight courier.
Srinivas, You have to carry your original approved petition.