Below are User experiences starting from November 16th to December 5th, 2022 for H1B Visa and H4 Visa for both regular visa stamping and Dropbox. You can check US Visa Stamping Experiences for the entire collection
Experience 1: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Interview time – 8:50 am
Entry started at 8:05 am
Entered main building at around 8:20 am
Window 1 – Documents validated.
Docs asked to present.
- Original passport
- Original i797
- Employment confirmation letter
- LCA
Window 2 – Biometrics validated (long queue at this window almost 15 mins wait time)
Window 3 – interviewer
Int – Good morning sir
Me – Hello, Good morning
Int – passport and other document pls.
Me – Shared
Int – okk, so you work in “my employer name”. How long you have been working here?
Me – Answered
Int – Where you will be traveling to?
Me – Answered
Int – So you have your Clint in US. Ohh it is “client name”. Great
Me – yeah, thanks
Int – What is your current role?
Me – Answered
Int – Sir, what is your highest qualification?
Me – Answered
Int – Thank you sir. Your visa is approved and you will get the passport in 7 working days.
Me – Thank you so much for your time. This was indeed a wonderful conversation.
Note – In Mumbai, you will find a counter to deposit your phone and small baggage at both VAC and consulate location. Not sure about VAC, but they were charging something at consulate. Not sure how much, as I saw someone deposited and got a receipt after giving some charges.
Thank you guys for all your support and suggestions throughout.
Good luck to you all..👍👍
Experience 2: H4 with In Person Interview, 221g at Mumbai
6th November, Sunday
- Fingerprint appointment at 1:30pm
- Reached at 12:30 (travelled from out of town)
- Allowed inside at 1 pm as soon as it opened
- Done and dusted in 5 minutes
9th November, Wednesday
- Interview appointment at 11:00 am
- Reached at 10
- Immediately allowed in
- Interview
VO : Hello, pass your documents
Spouse : Gave passport, I797A, Marriage certificate, PA passport
VO : Can I have your husband’s visa copy
Spouse : He has a F-1 stamp, he does not have H-1B stamp yet as he has not travelled after his COS
VO : Gave a white 221g and asked to submit “PA Visa Copy”
9th November, Wednesday
- Immediately went to VAC center with 221g.
- Submitted passport, I797A, marriage certificate and PA’s F-1 visa (They only asked for visa but submitted everything to be on safer side)
9th November : CEAC Status Refused
10th November : CEAC Status Administrative Processing
14th November : CEAC Status Approved
15th November : CEAC Status Issued
16th November : Received passport at home
Hope this helps
Experience 3: H1B+H4 with Dropbox, 221g, In Person Interview at Chennai
10/13: Dropbox appointment for Chennai consulate, but dropped documents at Hyderabad location for H1B /H4 Renewal.
10/18: Application received
10/20: Approved
11/02: Refused(Changed from approved to refused)
11/05: Received passport with 221g asking to attend in-person interview at Chennai Consulate on 12/08. No documents asked in 221g.
11/05: Emailed support-india@ustraveldocs.com requesting to move the interview appointment to earlier date.
11/06: Received email from support to send 221g via email. I should have done it when I sent the initial email on 11/05, but I am not aware of this.
11/08: Received an email from support that my interview date has been moved to 11/15
11/15: Interview day at Chennai consulate.
We were not allowed inside initially as they couldn’t find my spouse name on the 221g interview list . But the gentlemen who is sending the people inside asked us to stay for some time, after few minutes he talked to someone on phone and get my spouse name added to interview list. Whoever that person is, he saved our day.
We were sent to a lady VO who is very respectful and softly spoken. She asked if any documents were asked in 221g and we have said no. In the mean time she said my spouse doesn’t have to stand and she can be seated. After checking the screen for sometime, she mentioned that we have been called for fingerprints.
She took both mine and my spouse fingerprints and said Visa is approved.
Visa officers like this are so easy to talk without any nervousness during the interview.
11/15: Status changed to Approved immediately after interview
11/17: Issued
I have opted for delivery, so passport is in initial scan.
Currently waiting for the passport.
Few observations I have made based on my experience:
Consulates like Hyderabad or Mumbai sends email to give fingerprints on any business day without sending passport back and without 221g. But Chennai consulate consider fingerprints as an interview and schedules an appointment based on next availability, so there is lot of waiting and most importantly lot of anxiety in between as we don’t know if it’s a real interview or just for fingerprints. I like the way how Hyderabad or Mumbai or probably some other consulates dealing with this fingerprints situation.
I came to India after 8 years which might be the reason for fingerprints issue. If you are going to India after long period of time , probably you may be asked for fingerprints. I feel like if I have opted for Hyd or Mumbai consulate, I would have gone to US by now without having to move my tickets multiple times .
I understand the mental trauma that you all have been going through during this 221g process, I hope you all get through this situation sooner. All the best everyone.
Experience 4: H1B with In Person Interview, 221g at New Delhi
Interview Date: 9th November 2022
Time: 9:00 AM
I was eligible for Dropbox but went for in person interview.
Reched embassy around 7:30 AM.
Waited for a few minutes and then went inside around 8:10AM.
Then waited inside in queue for interviews to start. At around 8:20AM, they asked to go to counter 1 where they took the fingerprints and then at counter 6 they verified passport details.
Then interview started around 8:25AM on counter 12.
VO: asked for the documents.
Me: shared passport and I797
Questions:
- Which is your current employer?
- How long have you worked for the employer?
- Where will you go?
- Who is your client?
- What will you do for the client?
- What is your total experience?
- What is your salary?
- Highest qualification
- Have you been to US before?
- Why did you travel to US earlier?
Then she asked for LCA and other petition documents – provided
She confirmed the client location again and asked for Client Letter – provided
VO needed some clarification about the client location so at the end of interview she handed me 221g yellow slip saying it needs to go for admin processing, but kept the passport. No documents were requested.
Came out of embassy at 8:35 AM.
Visa Status
9:00AM – Refused
2:15PM – Approved
No change on 10th November.
11,12,13 were off for delhi.
14 November 1:00PM – Issued
15 November 2:00PM – Ready for Pickup
Collected my passport same day before 4PM
Good Luck guys 👍
Experience 5: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Fyi: My visa was already approved. I came only for stamping.
Nov 4: fingerprint
Nov 14: visa interview
Reached at 8.50. Already people from 9.40 appt time were in queue with me. I guess you can reach atleast before 30 mins.
Dropped phone for 50rs in entrance.
Scanned full body and docs.
Moved to waiting queue.
Waited 60 mins.
Join the queue which goes to counter for check in. They help in getting all docs together. I missed on lca but had my petition with me.So, they found the LCA from that. Thanks to the lady in counter 39.
Went to interview.
Vo: good morning.
Me: good morning.
Vo: give me documents
Me: gave passport, i797a, lca and evl.
Vo: what is your role in company
Me: sde
Vo: what do you do there
Me: gave briefly info on project i work and recent product launch.
Vo: what is your highest qualification
Me: ms in cs
Vo: visa approved
All the best everyone.
Experience 6: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
I have attended interview today (18th Nov), and here is my experience :
VO: GOOD MORNING
I: Good Morning Officer
VO: PASSPORT
VO: I797
I: Given
VO: LCA
I: Given
He Check my passport Typed something on his computer for 1 min.
VO: Are you currently working with this company ?
I: it is my future employer
VO: Where are you going in USA
I: Answered
Typed something on his computer
VO: Did you done masters
I:No
VO: What is your annual income
I:mentioned as per offer letter
Typed something on his computer
VO: _murmering_ something
I: I was in tensed but I just stood like fully confident guy
Typed something for 2-3minutes on his computer.
VO: Mr… your visa is approved, you will receive it in a week.
I:Thank you officer.
Experience 7: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Interview Date: 17th Nov 2022
I reached the location by 8:30AM (Try Reaching atleast before 30mins)
Moved to the waiting queue after completion of all the security check.
Joined the queue which goes to counter for check-in. The lady in the counter asked my I-797, LCA and passport – Submitted
Asked me passport-size photo with white background- I have one with Blue background. She asked me to wait for sometime. I was worried and waited for my turn. Finally they called me and taken live photograph & Biometric again.
Asked me to move to the next counter. They helped me in getting all my docs together this time.
I’m in interview line now.
VO: Good Morning!
Me: Good Morning with a smile.
VO: Smiled back and asked for docs.
Me: I have given my passport, I-797, LCA
VO: What is your company name?
Me: Answered
VO: How did the get the opportunity?
Me: Friend referred.
VO: Current company name?
Me: Answered
VO: Company strength (company in US)
Me: Answered
VO: Your Visa Approved!
Thanks to everyone who posted their valuable experiences here and all the best for others who is going to attend for visa consular interview in coming days.
Experience 8: H1B+H4 with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Biometrics completed on Nov 13th
Visa interview on 17th November @9:50 AM
VO : Good Morning, Can you give your passport and I-797B letter
Me : Provided
VO : Who is your role?
Me : Answered
VO : how long you are working for XXX company?
Me : Its my future employment
Vo : what is a software?
Me : Answered
Vo : what type of project you will be working ?
Me : explained what kind of services I’m going to build for the client
Vo : can you pls remove the mask?
Me : can you pls repeat it
Vo : pls remove your mask shown with hands
Me : removed and answered again
Vo : how did you get this job?
Me : answered
Vo : what is your highest qualification?
Me : b.tech bachelor of technology in engineering
Vo : something he is typing for each and every query in the system
Me : thinking what he was writing
Vo : place your right hand four fingers
Me : placed I heard a beep sound, asked him is it done
Vo : Yes, you can remove
For my spouse
Vo : when did you get married?
Answered
Vo: place your left hand four fingers
Given
Vo : Im keeing all of the three passports with me.congratulations your visa is approved and you can fly soon.
Me and my dependent: thanks thanks a lot…
Experience 9: H1B+H4 with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Biometric : @ 10:30am, 17th Nov
Reached around 10am and security instructed to proceed towards the 1st floor.
After being in a queue for 5 mins , they allowed inside.
One lady security personnel guided for keeping the mobiles in locker(charge :500rs) or to go one by one by 1person waiting outside towards exit
Then proceeded to the queue for biometric . It was instructed to keep the ds160 confirmation and interview appointment letter handy along with passport.. After confirming documents ,they will guide to one counter where they will post the stickers as per your ds160 application number in your passport. Then they will guide you to the biometric counter.
The officer asked for the ds160 confirmation and passport,which has been asked previously to keep handy.
Asked the name and date of birth for verification.
Then instructed to keep right hand four fingers , left hand four fingers and then both thumbs to put on the sensor.
And you are done. Overall we were there for 30 mins .
Visa interview : 11am, 18th Nov
Reached around 10:25am
After entering the premises , one security personnel will ask you keep phones in locker (50rs per mobile) and then you will enter inside kind of a waiting area . After 2 mins, they allowed us to go inside the interview hall.
They asked for I-797b , LCA , company letter and passport for h1b and i-797b copy, visa copy, company letter , marriage certificate/birth certificate and passport for h4 .
As both of us went together,they only asked marrige certificate and passport for my spouse .
After being in the queue for 5 mins, they told us to proceed towards 37 counter .
One officer greeted us good morning. We exchanged back the greeting…asked me to place right hand four fingers and my spouse to place left Hand four fingers. Then they asked us to proceed towards the waiting queue for interview. After being in the lime for 2 mins, They asked us to proceed towards counter 29.
We : Good morning
VO : Good morning
VO : hand over the documents and passports please
Me : submitted the documents n passports
VO : Your petitioner is <>?
Me : yes
VO : how did you find this job?
Me : Answered
VO : your client name ?
Me : Answered
VO : what does your client do ?
ME : Answered
VO : why you need to go to US while you have been already working for the client from India aswell ?
Me : Answered
No questions for my spouse
Handed over a printed white paper to us where it has written that ‘ Thanks for your application. Your passport and visa will be sent to the location when you made the application…..’
We asked one of the spokesperson there if any other formalities left ? He told no, your visa is approved. You may proceed towards the exit.
The corners of our lips got curled automatically… we thanked him and congratulated each other .
We collected our mobile and were out of the premises in 30 mins from the time of our arrival.
Experience 10: H1B+H4 with In Person Interview at Chennai
CA interview experience – slot 10:30AM
Reached there at 9:30AM,
After documents checking interview started 10:25
VO: hey! Good Morning, may I have your passport?
Me: Passed both the passports. Very good morning officer, how are you?
VO: I am fantastic, how are you guys?
Me: very good officer.
VO: You are working with xxx?
Me: Yes
VO: how many years?
Me: Replied
VO: who is your client? And what salary are you going to get in US?
Me: Replied, based on my LCA
VO: What are your current responsibilities?
Me: Replied
VO: (to my spouse) what are you doing Mam?
My Spouse: working with organisation name
VO: Great!!! What is your highest qualification?
My Spouse: Replied
VO asked to place our hands in machine
Gave Green slip and told your visas are approved. You will get it in a week
VO: have a wonderful trip and enjoy the snow in US
US: thank you so much, have a great day.
Documents asked: I797 and Passports (nothing else)
Visa Processing Timeline:
Chennai VAC – 9th November – 3:30PM
Chennai CA – 10th November – 10:30AM
10th November (11:30AM) – Status changed to ‘Approved’
11th, 12th, 13th was holidays
14th November (3:30PM) – Status changed to ‘Issued’
16th November (1:00PM) – Got email and SMS for passport pick up from Kolkata VAC
17th November (11:30AM) – Picked up stamped passport from Kolkata VAC
All the very best everyone 
Experience 11: H1B with In Person Interview at Kolkata
Mine is fresh H1B regular visa sponsored by US company (not consultancy).
I had my OFC Appointment on 20th Nov and Interview on 21st Nov.
Nov 20: OFC Appointment
Time: 12:30 PM
They allowed me to enter into the office before 15 min of the scheduled time. Mobile is allowed and other electronic gadgets including smart-watches are not allowed. The security asked to keep the passport, DS-160, and the appointment confirmation letter handy. I waited for 5 min in the queue and my turn came.
Vo: Good morning.
Me: Good morning officer.
Vo: Give me the documents
Me: Gave passport, DS-160 and Appointment confirmation letter.
Vo: What is your name
Me: Answered
Vo: What is your DOB?
Me: Answered.
She scanned the left hand, right hand and the thumbs. She returned my docs and said all the best for the visa interview.
Nov 21: VISA interview
Time : 9:45 AM
As there were already candidates waiting before our time-slot, they asked to wait and allowed us to enter at the scheduled time only. Mobile is not allowed and we have a local vendor where we can keep our mobile for 50rs.
The security checks are completed and the checking officer checked our docs and asked to keep passport, I797 original and offer letter handy. Later i was allowed to enter into a room for the visa interview. The indian lady took a snap of mine and checked the docs and asked me to wait at the counter 5 where the US official is interviewing.
VO: Good morning.
Me: Good morning officer.
VO: Give me the documents
Me: Provided him the docs. (Passport, I-797 and offer letter). He didnt have asked for the LCA and any other docs.
VO: Is this the current company you are working
Me: No, it will be my future employer.
VO: How you got this job?
Me: I had a friend working in the company and he referred me. I had my personal and technical interviews over phone and they shared me the offer.
VO: Which client you are going to work?
Me: I am not going to work for a client. It is a internal project and explained him about the project in detail.
VO: ok. Are you going to work as a **** developer?
Me: Yes officer
VO: What are your roles and responsibilities.
Me: Answered my roles and responsibilities.
VO: What is your salary
Me: Answered as per LCA
VO: In which domains is the Integration used? (As Integration is the domain i am working on)
Me: It is used in Retail, Health, Banking and Insurance etc.,
VO: Are you married?
Me: No, i am single.
VO: Congratulations. Your visa is approved
Me: Thank you officer and wish you a Happy Thankgiving in advance.
He gave me a white slip having QR code and asked me to scan and go through the instructions later.
Hope this helps. All the best everyone 
Experience 12: H1B with In Person Interview at New Delhi
VAC : Nov 18
Consular Interview : Nov 25
Status : Approved
Questions asked:
VO: Good Morning
Me : Good morning ma’am. How are you doing today?
VO: I am good. Thanks. Can I have your passport?
Me: Given Passport along with i797
VO: Is*** you employer
Me : Yes ma’am
VO: what is your role?
Me : Said and paused for 2 seconds and continued informing about my responsibilities.
VO: Paused me and asked if this is In house or client
Me : In house.
VO : Visa is approved.
Prepare as much as you can. Ahead of me was questioned multiple things. Still Approved for all those.
Stay calm. Be confident.
Experience 13: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Biometrics completed in Delhi on Nov 10th and visa interview on 14th Nov @11 AM.
There was a big queue in front of the consulate, the security guard was calling out people according to the slot time, mine was 9:30 and i reached 30mins before, i stood in the queue, got the ds160 verified and then entered the consulate building at 9:40
Inside the building, we were asked to wait for 10-15mins the lobby and later moved into the security checks and then into the room where the visa counters are.
I joined the queue for Initial verification of the documents by admin officers(Indians), but here along with 2-3 people, i was made to wait for 1hr(I don’t know why, I was nervous all the while but tried to maintain the composure). They announced my name and allowed me to stand in the queue interview counters queue.
**The thing that u are looking for**
VO: Called me up with a gesture
VO: Looked at me(in a dapper sherwani)
Me: Hello Officer, Good morning (Holding Passport, i797B, Offer letter and LCA)
VO: Good Morning, I will take all of that(he was asking about the docs that I’m holding).
Me: Handed over the documents.
VO: How long have you been working for this company?
Me: It is a new opportunity, waiting to start my work based on visa.
Me: What is your annual ***?
Me: Can you please repeat it?
VO : What is your annual salary?
Me: Answered in thousands.(While he is about to ask a question, he was stuffing my passport in the tray queued for approval )
VO: Which location are you going to work?
Me: I’ve asked to repat the question
VO: Which location?
Me: Answered
VO: Your Visa Is Approved
Documents that i carried(check with your employer for the same):
1. i797B
2. LCA
3. Employment Offer Letter
4. Employment Verification Letter (If available)
5. Company’s 2021 Taxation document
6. Company Photos
7. Supporting Letter with SOW
8. All my experience letters
9. All of my academic documents
Key take ways from the above:
1. Have an employment verification letter at least when you are attending the interview in Mumbai, if that is not possible your offer letter will suffice.
2. Docs asked at the center were – Passport, i797B, Employment Offer Letter, Employee Verification Letter(only if possible), LCA, Rest may be depends on the interview, mine was quick so i was not asked to show any of those.
my work location is not at the client site so I couldn’t comment much on the client letter part, it is good to have as mentioned by couple of folks already in the group.
Thank you everyone for sharing the experiences and knowledge on the process, and all the best for others who are going to attend for visa interview in the coming days.
Experience 14: H1B with Dropbox, 221g, In Person Interview at Mumbai
Fulltime direct employment (no consultancy)
Timeline:
- Dropbox: 9th november
- Received: 10th nov
- Refused: 15th nov
- Passport received with221g interview anyday: 16th nov (no documents marked)
- Interview date:23 nov
- approved right after interview: 23 nov
- Thanksgiving :24 nov – no status
- Issued:25 nov
- Passport received with stamp: 26 nov
Dropbox: Mumbai VAC at 12:45 stand in queue at 12:30
For dropbox you can carry bagpack and electronic nobody was asking about anything i did not carry anything but see other people had bagpack and phone. Documents carried:
- Passport
- I797 copy
- 2 passportsize photo -write passport number on back
- EVL
- Ds160 confirmation page
- Appointment confirmation page (will be return after document collection at VAC)
Interview: 23 November
Documents carried
- All I20’s
- LCA
- I129
- last 6 month paycheck
- Last month bank statement
- All EAD cards
- I797 original and copy
- Resume (updated with current job)
- Offer letter
- Some of the work examples printed
Interview: time anytime b/w 10:30-11:00
Reached: 10:15, entered right away, Different queue for 221g
1st window they will check 221g and will let you know what to do i had to give fingerprint and interview
Window number :35 (senior officer)
I: good morning sir.
VO: GM. Pass me your documents
Scanned my passport
Looked on to computer and then asked for all I20
VO: when did you graduate?
I:told
VO: you did opt and then stem opt correct
I: yes sir
I had 4 employers in my opt
VO: so you worked for 4 different employer in your opt
I: yes sir
VO: you worked for all of them
I:yes sir
VO: how did you find your 1st job
I: through reference
Vo: who gave you reference.
I: my friend
VO: so your friend is hiring manager at this company
I: no he told his employer about me
VO: so with just reference they hired you and they did not took your interviw
I: no they took my interview before hiring
VO: what kind of company it is?
I: Training and placement company
VO: did they create your email for e.g @companyname.com.
I: no I wasn’t hired permanently it was contract position so i don’t had any email for the company
VO: so how you were communicating with them
I: through gmail they created gmail account
VO: how did they gave you training?
I: through meeting application cisco webex
VO: how much you paid to get the job?
I: nothing
Typed something for 5 min then another officer came to ask him something so he left the window for 5 min
Came back started typing again around 3-4 min
VO: how much you paid you said for this job?
I: Nothing
Again left the window as something happen at back side
Came back and started typing again
VO: again did you paid anything to get any jobs?
I: i never paid single penny to get any job
VO: so xxx company is your final employer and petitioner.
I: yes sir
Vo typed something and told me
I am approving your visa you will get you passport in week.
Hand over my all the I20s and all the document with visa approval slip and employee rights slip.
Experience 15: H1B with Dropbox, 221g, In Person Interview at New Delhi
Sharing the turbulent visa experience of my partner.
He was on Day 1 CPT and H1B got approved in consular after an RFE regarding CPT. He got Consular approval instead of Change of Status although he was already in the US. This meant that the H1B would only become active after the visa stamping is done. Luckily he got a slot and travelled to India ASAP.
Nov 4th – Dropped off documents in Hyderabad for H1B. Appointment was booked for Delhi Consulate, but we can drop off documents at any location, so did it in Hyd.
Nov 5th & 6th – Weekend
Nov 7th – Admin Processing
Nov 8th – Holiday Delhi Consulate – Guru Nanak Jayanthi
Nov 10th – Status changed to Refused
Nov 11th – Holiday Veterans Day
Nov 12th & 13th – Weekend
Nov 15th – Received Passport with 221g to attend interview in Delhi Consulate at any Business day before 10 AM
Nov 18th – Intevrview at Delhi Consulate at 8:30 AM. VO asked about client letter, I-797 and asked about the job. His Job is in validation and quality engineering and masters is in industrial engineering. VO said that she needs to verify my documents and gave me yellow slip for Admin Processing. She kept the passport with her but did not take any other documents.
She said “I will hold on to your passport for a while, I need to check how your qualifica match your line of study. Keep checking your case status online for an update”
Nov 18th – checked after the interview, Status still says Refused but the case updated date changed from Nov 10 to Nov 18th. Checked the status that night again, and status changed to Approved with case updated date as Nov 18th. I believe the VO did some basic check and approved it later during the same day.
Nov 19th & 20th – Weekend.
Nov 21st – Status changed to Issued
Nov 22nd & 23rd – Passport prepared by consulate to ship
Nov 24th – Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Nov 25th – Finally picked up the passport.
Hope this helps someone in the same boat. All the best everyone!
Experience 16: H1B with In Peron Interview, 221g at Mumbai
Visa interview : 9:10 am
Date:17th Nov
Class : h1 b
Status initially 221g then approved.
Questions:
He asked for my passport, LCA and I797, I had my offer letter and MSA in hand and I was seperating those from the requested documents. He saw that and asked for what I had in hand (I recommend dont carry excess stuff in hand)
Q. First question he asked was inhouse project?
A. I answered no its a client.
Q. He asked who is the client?
A. I said xxxxx school
He said wooh xxx
Q, How did you come by this employer.
A. Said a friend recommended.
Q. Which city are you going to go to
A. I answered
Q. What is your job there and what are you gonna do
A. Answered in depth
He said kk stop.
After that he spent a long time on his computer and then took my passport and stuck a sticker on it and wrote HIT clearance.(I think my name hit some security issues or something)
Then asked me to scan my fingers and gave me a 221g white slip administrative processing.
He said everything looks good but he needs to check something and will check in the evening and give a decision.
Status was Refused after interview.
Nov 22nd status changed to approved
Nov 26th it changed to Issued.
Collected passport on 28th.
Total time since entry to exit was about 1 or 1 and a 1/2 hour.
Experience 17: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Nov 16th 9:30AM: finger prints at Hyd, took 30mins
Nov 18th 9:15AM: Mumbai location, interview process
Here are the questions:-
VO: Asked me to give all the documents which are in my hand, I was holding passport, i797 original and copy, LCA and Employment Verification Letter
VO: so who is your Employer?
Me: ***
VO: where is it located?
Me: ***
VO: so will you be working for in-house project or end client?
Me: end client
VO: do you have the client letter?
Me: Yes, provided the same
VO: typed something in system and said to me there are lot of organisations with your client name, what does your client do?
Me: I said the project which I will work and also told couple of projects which my client handles which I searched in client website while preparing for interview
VO: where’s your work location?
Me: ***
Then VO saw something in system which I assume my international travel history and started asking these questions
VO: have you even been to U.S. ?
Me: No
VO: have you ever been to U.S. border ?
Me: No
VO: have you ever been to Mexico?
Me: yes
VO: have you ever been to U.S. border through Mexico?
Me: No, I went to Mexico to work as a Nearshore developer from my current organisation. I worked in *** city in *** state
VO: Ok, (nodded his head with clarity)
VO: what’s the count of the employees in your sponsoring employer?
Me: ***
Then VO said Your visa is approved, gave me a slip and told please read this when you travel to U.S. for the work rights
Me: Thanqq !!
Nov 18th to Nov 27th status was in Approved
Nov 28th status got changed to Issued
Nov 29th passport is dispatched
Nov 30th collected passport at Hyd centre
I just wanted to confirm that my visa is approved by looking at the stamping in my passport, so posting the experience today
Thanqq everyone for your support and I wish everyone here All the best !!
Experience 18: H1B with Dropbox at Hyderabad
Sharing timeline for mine and wife’s Dropbox application
Appointment Location: HYD
Drop-off location: HYD
Visa: H1b (renewal)
Mine:
Date of drop-off : Nov 2
Application received/created: Nov 7
Approved: Nov 8
Issued: Nov 9
Passport status: Origination scan – Nov 10
Passport ready for pickup: Nov 14
(In Chandigarh)
WIFE’s:
Date of drop-off : Nov 2
Application received/created: Nov 7
Refused: Nov 8
Email received for interview on: Nov 9
Interview set by consulate for: Nov 17
Passport was not returned and no specific documents were asked in email.
Interview : Nov 17
Application was put under admin processing with white 221g slip and no additional documents were requested..
Approved: Nov 17 evening (before 4 pm)
Issued: Nov 21
Ready for pick up: HYD location: Nov 22 (we had location changed prior to Nov 17 interview)
PLEASE NOTE..
Our previous visa was valid till 2018..
We had carried all I797’s copies with us
When we dropped wife’s documents at HYD location on Nov 2nd, VAC officer returned some of previous I-797’s copies (from 2020) as he said they are not needed. Wife has had role changes since 2020 within same employer so there had been overlapping I797s..
I tried to convince officer to keep all I797 copies to which he did not agree..
And when she went for interview, first and only document visa consulate officer asked was for I797 copies….
Experience 19: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
VAC- Delhi 28th Nov
Metro service available from airport to shivaji stadium where US VAC is inside the metro station itself
Phones are allowed but need to switch off..hand bags allowed (Left luggage counter is available in airport if you are coming from airport directly)
Slot : 9AM ,reached around 7.30AM and dint go out of metro station as they wouldnt allow you to reenter till slot time
Rested in waiting area in 8.30 and joined queue which was going on for 8.30 slot
Done and dusted in max 10 mins
CA- Mumbai 1st dec
Slot 8.50AM
Mobile phone counter available inside consulate..baggage not allowed
Don’t carry bags..Autowalas will come and ask you to store your bags with them and charge 500-1000
Got called for 8.50 slot around 8AM
They will check passport at the entrance and allow you inside
After mobile deposit counter and security check comes waiting area
Got entry to interview area around 8.50AM
Counter 41,42 verified all H1B VISA – passport,i797B,LCA and sent to counter 37 for biometric check
After counter 37 check comes the interview counter 27:
VO: Good Morning! how are you doing today
Me: Very Good morning officer..going great and how are you doing
VO: Good.Give me your documents
me: Gave passport,i797B,LCA,EVL which i have in my hand
VO: checked 2 mins in system
what is your current role
me: gave a brief of my current role and responsibilities
VO:what about your role for which H1B is applied
me: explained
VO: in how many places your employer is located in US
me: i dont know the exact count but i’m aware of 3 locations and told the state names
VO: is it inhouse or client
me: Client
VO: who is your client and what it does
me: gave the name and explained what client company is into
VO: How about your current employer
me: explained in 2 lines
VO: total exp
me: gave the answer like Xx years
VO: gave a smile and said the golden words ” Your VISA is approved”
came out by 9.40 AM
My 2 cents:
- don’t look nervous and show your confidence
- from what i observed, most of the H1B’s approved today and most of the student Visa’s rejected (saw more than 10 rejections in 30 mins) in Mumbai consulate
Experience 20: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Vac on Nov 13th
Appointment time 2:30 , got entry at exact 2:30 pm document asked Appointment confirmation page , DS160 confirmation and new passport
CA on 25th Nov at 8:40 AM
Called at 8 AM to stand in a queue
Got entry at 8:15 AM
Security check no electonic gadget counter at entry can keep mobile or iwatch
Document verification done 1st at 8:40 AM
Documents Asked – Passport , I-797B orginal , LCA and Employment verification letter checked in system scan passport and sent me to visa interview
8:55 AM
VO : Good morning how r u
ME: Greeted
Vo: Pass me the I797B , Passport , employment verification letter , LCA
VO: Is this is the 1st time you will be working for this company
Me: Yes
VO: your desgination
Me: Replied
VO : Your Annual Salary
Me : Replied
VO: Asked me to keep my left hand finger on scanner
Me : Scanned
VO: Your visa is approved you will get the passport in 7 days , given me a slip about US rights asked me to read
Me: Thanks
interview finished in max 2 min
Got the passport delivered in 3 days at my door
Experience 21: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Dec:1 st Biometrics appointment at 9:00 am. Needed documents DS 160 conformation, Appointment conformation, Passport- Done at 9:30 am
Visa interview:
Dec:2 at 8:40 am based on appointments conformation .Reached 8:00 am
Then called based on appointment slot 8:40 am
Just show passport and go ahea for security check .
(They have locker if you carry mobile )
I didn’t carry anything except documents file .
They ask to sit on chair located waiting area .
After 15 minute they allow to enter in embassy for documents verification line
They needed
1 – passport
2- original i797
3-Employment verification letter
4-LCA
Then they said to go for visa interview line
Representative allot windows number.
I stand assigning window
My turn come
VO: Good morning! How are you doing?
Me: good morning: I am doing good . How are you doing
Vo : doing good
VO: what is your job title and what you do?
Me : replied
VO: How long you work for company
Me :Replied
Then He started typing and said your visa approved and gave white paper has information about password collection and QR code of rules for H1 B .
Me: Thank you
Experience 22: H4 with In Person Interview at Hyderabad
Wife of H1B – first timer
Status: Approved.
Date: Monday 5th Dec
Currently there is extreme waiting time for the interview, a huge queue for the 3 counters available, it took 3 hours to come out of the consulate.
Questionnaire:
VO: Which state are you travelling to?
H4: Answered
VO: Who is the employer?
H4: Answered.
VO: Show me the visa stamp copy
H4: Took a while finding it, and in the meanwhile VO asked to give the i797B
VO: You can give me i797b copy
H4: handed it over and she was very kind to find it out her self about visa status and said “oh, it is approved in November, ok”
VO: Show me your wedding photographs
H4: she checked almost all the photos.
VO: Where is the photo of tying the knot?
(As per the tradition she was referring to, which might be sufficient actually)
H4: Pointed at it
-> Make sure you keep it handy.
VO: How many people attend your wedding?
H4: Answered.
VO: Your visa is approved.
H4: Thank you officer, I’m glad!, Have a nice day ahead.
Experience 23: H1B+H4 with Dropbox at Pune
Dropbox experience at Pune for Mumbai Consulate
Timeline:
21 Nov: Dropbox, documents submitted at Pune
22 Nov-30 Nov: Passport with consulate status
Dec 1-3: Status changed to Issues/ Documents being prepared for delivery
Dec 4: Passport delivered at home via Bluedart.
Appointment: Mumbai Consulate
Dropbox location: Pune, 93 Avenue Mall, 4th floor
Dropbox appointment: Nov 21, 12:15 PM
Dropbox experience at Pune VFS:
Reached there at 11:30AM.
Security guard asked to wait until 12PM, and then allowed us to enter.
Documents asked:
H1B: I797 Approval notice, passport, two photos, Employment verification letter, offer letter.
Old approval notice (I had an employer change)
H4: Marriage certificate, two photos, H4 approval notice.
You can take mobile (on silent mode)and small backpack/ purse inside VFS.
Photos were not accepted as the background was NOT white enough, had to stand in another line to get photos clicked, inside VFS facility. Rs.200 for two photos. They have photocopy/ xerox facility as well at Rs.5.
Efficient and helpful staff.
Notes: I had to pay Rs650 each at Pune dropbox location by cash.
I had to pay Rs650 each to Bluedart delivery person as well as they did not have payment information I made at the time of booking an appointment. I’ll have to check on that.
Hope this helps. Good luck to everyone who is waiting to go through this process and waiting to meet their loved ones.
Experience 24: H1B with In Person Interview, 221g at New Delhi
Status: Got 221g and Unbelievably APPROVED on the Same Day.
Date: Friday 18th Nov 22.
Time: 10AM
Already had F1 earlier. It just took just 2-3 minutes of discussions with the VO during both F1 and H1 interviews for me.
H1 Questions Asked:
VO: Please give me your Passport and I797B.
VO: Which state are you traveling to?
VO: Who is your employer?
VO: What is your job role?
VO: What is your Salary?
VO: Do you have a client letter?
Passed on all docs and answered accordingly to all of the above questions.
Here comes the interesting part of the interview!
VO: How did you know about this job?
Me: Thru a friend
VO: How did you know them?
Me: I did MS at xxx university and I met them there during that time and came to know about this job this year. I showed them my Old Passport with an F1 visa too. Then infield that I spoke to the employer and they offered me this role.
Soon after that.
VO: Ok fine, she gave a lil pause, and informed me that “I’ll keep your passport but I can’t approve your right now”.
Gave me a yellow slip and told that it will be on administrative processing and this slip explains everything and how to proceed further. No other documents were asked.
Me: Ok sure thank you officer. Have a nice day ahead.
Then I left the premise, came back to the hotel, and checked the Visa status (in ceac) at around 13:30, and astonishingly it said APPROVED!! Couldn’t believe it yet and triple-checked with the DS number and also the Case number provided on the Yellow slip that the VO gave.
The status changed to ISSUED on 22nd Nov Tuesday and to Passport is Ready to PICK UP on 25th Nov Friday.
I saw many folks mentioning it as well that the visa status is getting updated every day at around 1-2PM. Hope that’s true.
Though I was eligible for Dropbox I wanted to appear for the CA coz the result will mostly be instant and talking with the VO is much more comfortable for me, also we are seeing in many cases that the dropbox applications are getting dragged/hold and we will be in a hopeless condition for all those wanting days. Can see a lot of frustrated souls out there just looking at the Application Received/Refused/Processing etc status. I feel their pain.
Misc notes if it helps anyone else:
It was a single H1 application, biometrics were done in Hyd and the CA was in Delhi. I recommend everyone to stay in Hotel Diplomat which is THE CLOSEST, 4-star, Great Place, and also peaceful to the consulate (around 1.5 km), literally, you can reach there by walk. I luckily got it just for 5K per night, usually, it is very costly but try to book ahead. They upgraded my room to a Suite room for no extra cost and saw many other State Diplomats residing at that time, food was good too. Great restaurants nearby.
Nobody will care at what time you had the interview, they will only ask for the Appointment Confirmation page and if it is scheduled for the day you appeared or not. If yes, you can reach and go at any time you wish, this is particularly important for all those folks who think that they are late to the consulate and unnecessarily get tensed up, chill up and breathe in good. All you need is appointment confirmation for that day and you are good to go at any time, but mind the waiting times when you reach there. Family with kids or any elder people will be sent in soon you can request the staff there.
DO NOT take any electronic items like phones and smartwatches, if possible leave them somewhere with your acquaintances or there will be lockers anyway but that consumes a bit of time if there’s a rush.
Good luck to all aspirants and the most aspect they will look is for your confidence in whatever you speak, remember all the notes you filled I. the DS form, keep calm and maintain composure. You will anyway have all the docs carried with you so all you need to have is a cool conversation with the VO, it’s just a normal discussion with them and the first timers will get nervous easily, try avoiding that.
Experience 25: H1B with In Person Interview at Mumbai
Nov:23rd Biometrics appointment at 9:30 am Chennai. Needed documents DS 160 conformation, Appointment conformation, Passport- Done at 10:30 am
Visa interview-
Dec:1 at 8:50 am based on appointments conformation .Reached 8:00 am
Then called based on appointment slot 8:50 am
Just show passport and go ahead for security check .
(They have locker if you carry mobile )
I didn’t carry anything except documents file .
They ask to sit on chair located waiting area for 45 minutes .
After 45 minute they allow to enter in embassy for documents verification line at counter no 42
They needed
1 – passport
2- original i797
3-Employment verification letter
4-LCA
Then they said to go for biometric at counter No 37
Then again stand in a que for Visa Interview
Representatives allot Counter No 36 .
I stand assigning window
My turn comes
VO: Good morning! How are you doing?
Me: Very Good morning Sir, I am doing good . How are you doing
Vo : doing good
Vo: *** is your petitioner
Me: Yes
Vo: are you working with the same ***
Me: Yes Sir
VO: what is your job title and what you do?
Me : replied
VO: How long you work for company
Me :Replied
Vo: Ho you are also holding B1 Visa.
Me: Yes
Vo: Which location are you going?
Me: replied.
Then He started typing and said your visa approved and gave white paper has information about password collection and QR code of rules for H1 B .
Me: Thank you very much sir
All the best to you guys….
