H1B Visa Stamping Experience 2019 – Biometrics, Interview – Chennai

US Visa Stamping is one of the key steps in your journey to work in US. If you are a first timer going for US Visa stamping, it is important for you to be prepared well. There is no better thing than reading visa stamping experience from a first timer applying for H1B Visa stamping. Thanks a lot to our reader ( anonymous as requested) for taking the time to write up and sharing their experience with the community, it helps many.  You can share your experience as well by writing to us at redbus2us (at) gmail.com or here

My Background :

I’m a first-timer applying for H1B Visa stamping at Chennai, and this site has provided me all the information needed to prepare for my interview.

Biometrics and Photo experience at VAC for US Visa Stamping :

Documents Checklist  for Biometrics at VAC

• Passport (bring all old passports if you have any)
• DS-160 confirmation (colored or black printout)
• Appointment confirmation

Reaching the VAC center

• You can take your vehicle or get there by taxi. No parking is allowed at the premises. Personal vehicles can, however, be parked in surrounding residential streets.
• I reached about 15 mins before the scheduled time. I got there in my car and parked it on an adjacent residential road.

Biometrics and Photo experience for US Visa Stamping

Date: October 18, 2019

• I was 15 minutes early, and I was let in after the security personnel checked the document.
• In the building, it was again verified and scanned by the staff at VAC. After two more additional verifications, a token will be issued for biometrics & photos.
• More than 10 counters were available, and the process was very smooth.
• The whole process only took 10 to 15 minutes.

General Tips for  Biometrics at VAC

• Reach the VAC about 15 minutes before your appointment time.
• The morning slot is preferred as you don’t have to deal with traffic delays in getting to the center.
• Wear dark colored shirts for the photograph, as the background is white.
• If you have your car, the preferred option is to use your car, if not, please take a cab and get to the center. You can keep your mobile phones and other items in your car. Just take the required documentation.
• The name in the passport should match the name given in DS-160. If mismatch, you can correct it at the center located in the parking lot of the building.

H1B Visa Stamping experience at US Consulate – Chennai

Below are the various aspects of stamping at US Consulate.

Document checklist for H1B Visa Stamping

• Passport (bring all old passports if you have any)
• DS-160 confirmation (colored or black printout)
• Appointment confirmation
• Copy of H1B Approval notice
• Copy of LCA
• Offer letter from your employer
• Client letter (if you are going to work at a client location)
• Latest resume
• Experience letter from your existing company
• Last 6 months payslip from your existing company
• Last 6 months bank account statement
• Copy of degree certificates

Reaching the US Consulate in Chennai for US Visa Stamping

• It is not possible to park in and around the US consulate, so the preferred option is to take a cab. If someone can accompany, it is best to handover mobile and other electronic devices to them.
• I booked a 4-hour package for the rental taxi. All I took was the required documents and cash with me in hand. I told the taxi driver to wait in the adjacent street next to the US consulate.

US Visa Interview Process and Experience  at Chennai Consulate  

Date: October 21, 2019

• I was early by 30 mins, and I had to wait at the nearby bus stop until my appointment time.
• The queues are formed 10 to 15 mins before the interview time. US consulate staff will inform and ask people to form queues based on appointment time.
• Next, they let people inside in a batch of five for security check.
• After the security check, I was asked to proceed to another building where the interview was held.
• Once again, the verification is done using fingerprints to verify the identification.
• Next, I was asked to stand in the queue for the interview.
• US consulate staff asked me to stand in a counter based on the availability of the consulate officer. A maximum of 1 person shall be allowed to stand in the counter.
• My turn came and answered the questions that had been asked. The consulate officer said that my visa had been approved and issued a small slip with instructions to collect my passport.
• The total time within the consulate was 20 to 25 minutes.

H1B Visa Interview Questions asked by the US Consulate officer

• Me: Good Morning
• CO: Good Morning, can I get your passport
• Me: I gave the passport to the officer
• CO: Tell me the name of your employer
• Me: Appropriately answered
• CO: In which city are you going to be work?
• Me: Appropriately answered
• CO: Your annual salary?
• Me: Appropriately answered
• CO: How long have you been working for this employer?
• Me: Appropriately answered
• CO: Are you going to work at a client site?
• Me: Appropriately answered
• CO: Your Visa is approved and please read the instructions in the slip for the details regarding passport collection

General Tips for US Visa Stamping at Consulate

• Reach at least 30 minutes before the appointment time.
• Do not schedule your appointment from 7.30 AM to 9 AM windows, as the consulate is crowded. The preferred time slot is to schedule your appointment between 9 AM and 10 AM.
• Take a cab to get to the consulate. Preferably book hourly rental package taxis as this saves time and effort after the interview. Ask the taxi driver to wait in the adjacent street. Write down the number of the car and number of the cab driver, if you need to call the person after the interview.
• Dress according to the type of visa class. For an H1B visa, make sure you are in formal attire.
• Greet the officer as soon as you reach the counter.
• Please don’t overhear other conversations as they would make you nervous.
• Keep the documents in order and ensure that it is easy to pull the documents from the file when requested.
• Mobile phones, wallets, smartwatches, car keys with remote locking, and other electronic devices are not allowed inside the consulate. So please keep all of these at home or give it to the person who accompanied you.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing their experience and providing insights regarding the H1B visa process. I hope this experience will help and guide you in preparation of your visa stamping. All the best J