Below is my experience with the H1-B visa stamping at Chennai consulate.
Appointment: 13 Sep 2012, 07:30AM
Travelled from Bangalore to Chennai the previous day. Since I have a relative in Chennai I stayed with them. I am sure there are some good hotels nearby US Consulate. Reached the consulate on 13th Sep at 7:00AM. There were about 20-30 people and we were let in around 07:15AM.
After the brief security check, we were let in and asked to be seated. None of the counters were open. Around 07:45AM few counters were open and I was called to a counter within 5 mins. The officer looked into my documents, asked for my old passport and said he cant accept the photo and would require me to get new photo. Photos will be taken at the consulate itself by paying Rs.100. I suggest that people get photos at the consulate as there is a fair chance of him/her rejecting the photo even though everything looks good.
There was queue already as many people were waiting to get their photograph and the photographer was yet to come. He came around 8:15AM and took our photographs. I took the photos, looked at the screen and stood at the counter where my token number was called. He put a rubber band to the documents this time and asked me to get my fingerprints at another counter. I had to wait again for 10 min at this counter. Once I was done with the finger prints I was asked to go to the other building.
In the other building there were lot of people seated and time was about 8:35AM. I looked at the screen and my token number was called within 15 min. The counter to which I went had an American Indian as the VISA officer. There were two people in front of me in the queue and noticed that those two had come for B1 & H1 respectively. The VO seemed cool and she was not asking lot of questions. The person in front of me was already working in the US and come for H extension. He was not tensed at all and neither was I. He went to the VO and surprisingly was asked a lot of questions. However, he was cool and answered all of them. He was issued the visa.
Next it was my turn.
Me: Good Morning Madam.
VO: Good Morning. How are you?
Me: I'm doing good. How are you?
VO: Good. Thank you.
I passed over the documents(which was given to me in the other building) to VO. VO looked at the documents.
VO: So which company do you work for?
Me: Answered.
VO: What's your role? (She started typing something on her computer)
Me: Answered.
VO: Do you work on a client location?
Me: No
VO: Looks like you got your Masters in the US.
Me: That is correct. I've been working at the same company for over 1.5 years now.
VO: Yes, I can see that.(She stopped typing)
VO: Alright, your visa has been issued.
Me: Thank you. Have a good one.
Headed out of consulate. Auto drivers outside the consulate seem to be VISA consultants in their own right. I told the auto driver my visa got rejected (assuming he would charge less, which he did). He said maybe it was L1 and hence the rejection. Had I gone for H1 it would have been definitely approved! Auto gyaan :)
Feel feel to leave your comments and share your experience(s). I wrote this blog in a hurry and also after 3 months so have recollected as much as I could.
Update:
Since Sep 26, 2012 the VISA process has changed. 2 appointments are to be scheduled instead of 1. Few friends of mine had been for H and F visa under this new format. Though it was a hassle, they got their visa approved.
Appointment: 13 Sep 2012, 07:30AM
Travelled from Bangalore to Chennai the previous day. Since I have a relative in Chennai I stayed with them. I am sure there are some good hotels nearby US Consulate. Reached the consulate on 13th Sep at 7:00AM. There were about 20-30 people and we were let in around 07:15AM.
After the brief security check, we were let in and asked to be seated. None of the counters were open. Around 07:45AM few counters were open and I was called to a counter within 5 mins. The officer looked into my documents, asked for my old passport and said he cant accept the photo and would require me to get new photo. Photos will be taken at the consulate itself by paying Rs.100. I suggest that people get photos at the consulate as there is a fair chance of him/her rejecting the photo even though everything looks good.
There was queue already as many people were waiting to get their photograph and the photographer was yet to come. He came around 8:15AM and took our photographs. I took the photos, looked at the screen and stood at the counter where my token number was called. He put a rubber band to the documents this time and asked me to get my fingerprints at another counter. I had to wait again for 10 min at this counter. Once I was done with the finger prints I was asked to go to the other building.
In the other building there were lot of people seated and time was about 8:35AM. I looked at the screen and my token number was called within 15 min. The counter to which I went had an American Indian as the VISA officer. There were two people in front of me in the queue and noticed that those two had come for B1 & H1 respectively. The VO seemed cool and she was not asking lot of questions. The person in front of me was already working in the US and come for H extension. He was not tensed at all and neither was I. He went to the VO and surprisingly was asked a lot of questions. However, he was cool and answered all of them. He was issued the visa.
Next it was my turn.
Me: Good Morning Madam.
VO: Good Morning. How are you?
Me: I'm doing good. How are you?
VO: Good. Thank you.
I passed over the documents(which was given to me in the other building) to VO. VO looked at the documents.
VO: So which company do you work for?
Me: Answered.
VO: What's your role? (She started typing something on her computer)
Me: Answered.
VO: Do you work on a client location?
Me: No
VO: Looks like you got your Masters in the US.
Me: That is correct. I've been working at the same company for over 1.5 years now.
VO: Yes, I can see that.(She stopped typing)
VO: Alright, your visa has been issued.
Me: Thank you. Have a good one.
Headed out of consulate. Auto drivers outside the consulate seem to be VISA consultants in their own right. I told the auto driver my visa got rejected (assuming he would charge less, which he did). He said maybe it was L1 and hence the rejection. Had I gone for H1 it would have been definitely approved! Auto gyaan :)
Feel feel to leave your comments and share your experience(s). I wrote this blog in a hurry and also after 3 months so have recollected as much as I could.
Update:
Since Sep 26, 2012 the VISA process has changed. 2 appointments are to be scheduled instead of 1. Few friends of mine had been for H and F visa under this new format. Though it was a hassle, they got their visa approved.
