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H1B visa stamping experience 2011 – Chennai, India – 221(g) – Query

One of our blog readers, Vijay Vasu,   had an appointment for H1B visa stamping on February 11th, 2011 at Chennai  US consulate office, India.  He was gracious enough to take time and share his experience with us. Thank to Vijay for sharing his experience.  You can share it as well, send your experience to redbus2us(at) gmail.com

The day of the visa interview:

Just like the last time (with my B1visa), I had gone to the US embassy at 09:00 AM. I had had some negative vibes the previous week with a couple of my friends getting their L1B visa rejected for various reasons. So, I tried to be as confident as I can and I ensured I was dressed best in my suits and also wore a smile always.

Step 1:

In front of the embassy, you will need to show your visa interview letter. They will then issue you a token. My number was N450.

Step 2:

You will then pass through a security check.

Step 3:

You will then be asked to wait in a hall till your token is called out. It’s a patient wait and the expected wait time is around 30 minutes on a good day.

Step 4:

Once your token number is called, you can go over to the counter. You will need to submit the following,

  • The green HDFC receipt
  • The passport
  • Your latest photograph as per specifications
  • Your H1B I797b notice of action.
  • Your D160 confirmation letter.

You will then be asked to make a ten-print. That is all the fingers of your hand will be finger printed. If you do not have the latest photograph, you will be asked to go to a photographer in the same hall. He will issue 4 copies of your passport photograph for Rs. 100.

The officer will staple this entire document and put it into a USCIS cover and hand it over to you.

Step 5:

You will then be asked to a separate hall where the interview happens. You will be made to sit until your number is called.

The actual H1B visa Stamping interview with Visa Officer .

Coincidental as you may call it, I had to face the same lady who had approved my B1 visa in May 2010 and she was sitting in the same counter. I greeted her and she greeted me back. She got all the documents from me that was inside the USCIS cover.

She asked flipped through my passport. She asked me what role I was going to perform in the US and what my salary was. I answered it short and sweet. She then asked me about my project and I explained it and said it was an internal development project. She took a minute to review my petition and then issued a 221(g) blue form with a case number.

This form is something that requires you to submit further documents for processing.

The documents requested are all employer related documents.

1. A copy of petition with all supporting documents.

2. Copy of employment contract or letter of agreement signed by myself and petitioner.
3. Petitioners Income Tax returns for the last 2 years and financial statements.

4. A notarized list of all the petitioner’s employees. The list should show all employees’ names, their specific job titles, start and end dates and their individual salaries and immigration status.
5. State unemployment wage reports, showing all wages paid to each employee in the state, for the past 3 quarters as filed to: All States.

6. A detailed and specific description of the internal development project.

I told her that I had these documents with me. However, she mentioned that she will not have enough time to review all these documents and that I should post them at the VFS drop boxes in a city near me. I thanked her and left the place. Though a little bit disappointed, I was seeing the bright side that the visa was not rejected outright.

Next Steps:

I expect to receive the documents from my employers in another couple of weeks. Especially the notarized list and the Unemployment wages report. I will then submit them at the drop box in Cochin.

As per what I read, from the day I submit my documents it may be processed within 15 days or it may take almost 3-4 months to get an update from the USCIS on the stamping status. I now am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best and in the mean time I will be looking forward to my next short term assignment in some other corner of the world J

I will keep you posted on what happens and I wish all the H1B aspirants all the very best with their endeavors.

You can read my complete professional  background, How I found my H1B employer, transitions in careers, etc on my Personal Blog

Request:

We have all decided to stay away from India for various reasons like better quality of life, including financial reasons. If you want to help and don’t know how to do it, please visit us at www.aramtrust.org. Every little helps. Thank you!

Image Credit : http://www.flickr.com/photos/29890539@N07/4648496819/sizes/m/

   

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158 Comments

  1. Dear friends,
    If any one gone for H1B visa interview in chennai with in-house project, Please provid me your number. If you provide some inputs it would be a great help for me. I am going for an interview by end of Dec and waiting for some one’s help those who are already attended. My number is 9087600000 (Murali)

    Reply
  2. Hi All,

    I have attended the interview at Chennai US consulate , my bad I got 221(g) with check boxes client letter, SOW and project technical description .

    Can any one tell the process and time duration.

    Thanks,
    Gopinath
    9962885222

    Reply
  3. Hi Experts,

    I have got 221(g) blue form in 2007, that time my employer didn’t give more information to reply back to that. now other employer going to file H1B for me. Will it effect my chances to get a visa?

    Please give some advice! Thanks in advance.
    Regards
    Ram

    Reply
  4. Hi Saurabh

    My fiancee applied for the H1-B and this was his first stamping at Chennai consulate. He got a blue slip with no additional d0cuments required and administrative processing ticked on it. Based on the current trends.. how long do you think its gonna take him to get his visa stamped? It has been two weeks (but 3 days have been consulate holiday). We are really anxious and this has dampened his entire vacation.

    Thanks for your help!

    Reply
  5. Hi saurab

    I am in an ongoing project in US and came for chennai for visa stamping. I am employed to a IT consulting firm and work at a client location. The questions i was asked what does your employer do and what do you do at client. I am given a 221g with administrative processing required, they returned back my passport and held my i129 , amended lca, i797 a and client letter. I am little bit worried about the wait time . Looks like VO is annoyed with EVC model , not sure if they will issue stamping to me. Can you please comment if this normal to get “adminstrative processing required” at the consulate itself.

    Reply
  6. hi,
    H1b attanded on 13march in chennai…. they given (White 221g) ticked in addition admin process…. they given passport return tome//nothing in that… they keep my all documents…
    how much time it will take for..response from process… please replay me …

    Thanks
    sa

    Reply
  7. if a person get 221g pink, white or green slips? what does it mean?
    and can some one address the differences between these colors?

    Thank u in advance………..

    Reply
    • Padmanbaham,
      Pink slips are usually for background check, name check etc. Others are used interchangeably by different consulates and range from reasons like client/project verification to PIMS etc.

      Reply
      • Hi Surabh,

        I got H1 approved from 2013.

        My question is here, Currently i am working in US and going back to india on July end.
        And my L1 valid till oct 2014.

        Can i take vacation in india and come to USA as unoffically in L1 visa (valid until 2014). I can convert my L1 i-94 to H1 i-94. Will it create any problems?

        I will get salary as per diem in india. we won’t get paycheck for my usa bank accounts.
        Please advise how i can proceed on this.
        why i want to do this is, I feel some time visa will reject in india.

        Reply
        • Ravee,
          You can return on L-1 only if your L-1 employer wants you to come to US on that visa. If you enter US on L-1, you can later have COS filed from L-1 to H-1 and start working on H-1 from COS approval date. AFAIK, it is ok to get paid outside US when on L-1.

          Was your current H-1 approved w/ COS or w/ consular processing?

          Reply
  8. Hey i got 221g for H4 at mumbai consulate..Is there any one who got 221g for h4..this thread has details of those who got 221g for h1..

    Reply
  9. Hi,
    I have applied for H1B visa cap out of exception. I got RFE on April 3rd and my employer replied by June 6th California Service Center. Currently My status is showing as “Request for Evidence Response Review”.I am also seeing Expiration date mentioned as 30th June,2012 in USCIS site below when checking the status. Since its review state for longer time and crossed the expired date, still my petion is valid? Will it impact my petion anyway?

    Reply
    • Hariharan,
      The expiration date you are seeing is for OMB, right? It doesn’t impact you. USCIS will review the response and get back to you.

      Reply
  10. Hi

    I have H1b visa stamped for 1.5 years. I extended it one time, again approved for 1.5 years & now its going to expire on dec 2012. Can I file for another extension however in case you have 3 years stamped H1b visa, they allow 2 extension.
    So how many extensions can be done for 1.5 years stamped visa.

    Reply
    • Sarbjit,
      They allow extensions to be filed as long as you have not spent more than 6 years in US on H-1. Based on that, you will be able to get another visa extension. Visa stamp doesn’t impact how many extensions can be filed.

      Reply
  11. Hello, I received my passport today after 3 months period with a stamped H1B. I would thanks this forum for the continous updates and wish every one all the very best. My case was a EC model and I attended the interview on dec 20 in chennai.

    Reply
  12. Hi Team,
    Please let me know if original copy of old I797 Document(the one which was valid before the visa extension) is required for the visa stamping of dependent at Mumbai Consulate.

    Regards,
    Rahul

    Reply

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