Just wanted to share my experience...
I went to the US consulate at chennai for my first time H1 stamping. My employer is a (genuine, from what I know) consultancy firm and I had all the docs that I could think of.
My appointment was for 14:15 hrs and I appeared before the consulate at 14:00 (as per the appointment letter). However, I was asked to join the queue as they were running behind schedule. So, I stood in the scorching sun for about 20 mins and was allowed to enter. Once inside, I was asked to stand in another line with the following docs: I797, I129 copy, appointment letter, HDFC receipt and passport. The guy at the counter examined the docs and put all those in a separate folder and gave it to me. And, I was told to wait and then there was a roll call for people at various time slots. When I began to wait, people at 13:15 slot were being called. I began my wait and after about 1 hr, 14:15 batch was called. So, I go expecting to enter the interview room. Alas! there is yet another winding queue I was to join and a wait of 30 mins and then could enter another room. And, a wait in more room and then to join another long queue for finger printing. Then, we were to sit down and wait for a while before there is enough space to join yet another winding queue, which at last led to the visa officer!!
At last, I got to talk to the officer at 17:15!
And, here is the interview transcript:
VO: Hello
Me: Hello
VO: Can I have your documents?
Me: Sure
VO: Give me your degree certs
Me:
VO: How did you know about this company?
Me: They were contracting to my previous company
VO: What are you going to work on?
Me:
VO: Do you have the client letter?
Me: I've the contract agreement between the client and my prospective employer
VO: Ok, your visa is issued and it'll be couriered to you.
Me: Thanks
This was a pleasant surprise for one who was expecting to get 221g :0
The entire conversation would have taken less than a minute, I guess.
So, it was a total of 3 hrs wait, of which 1 hr I could get to sit and 2 hrs standing in the line.
Words of wisdom based on my experience :)
- Eat well and store enough energy before you enter the consulate. Nothing other than water is available there (infact, I think, they should have atleast some energy drink there :-) ).
- Be confident while talking to the visa officer. I'm sure you would have heard this so often. I'm repeating it as the scene inside the interview room is bound to make anyone nervous. And, I could see that the officer looked up at my face from scanning the document once keenly and I think it was to read my face. So, confidence is the key and tell yourself that even if you don't get the visa, it is not end of the world! That should give you a cool-head, I guess.
Thanks.
I went to the US consulate at chennai for my first time H1 stamping. My employer is a (genuine, from what I know) consultancy firm and I had all the docs that I could think of.
My appointment was for 14:15 hrs and I appeared before the consulate at 14:00 (as per the appointment letter). However, I was asked to join the queue as they were running behind schedule. So, I stood in the scorching sun for about 20 mins and was allowed to enter. Once inside, I was asked to stand in another line with the following docs: I797, I129 copy, appointment letter, HDFC receipt and passport. The guy at the counter examined the docs and put all those in a separate folder and gave it to me. And, I was told to wait and then there was a roll call for people at various time slots. When I began to wait, people at 13:15 slot were being called. I began my wait and after about 1 hr, 14:15 batch was called. So, I go expecting to enter the interview room. Alas! there is yet another winding queue I was to join and a wait of 30 mins and then could enter another room. And, a wait in more room and then to join another long queue for finger printing. Then, we were to sit down and wait for a while before there is enough space to join yet another winding queue, which at last led to the visa officer!!
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