Got H1B and H4 Visas approved

[ramsmyles]

Interview Time: 1st Feb, 2008 9.15 AM

1) Reached Center at 8.00 AM. The security officer asked us to come back at 9.00 AM. Reached the security back at 9.00 AM
2) Security asked us to provide the Interview letter and the passport to confirm the identity. Once confirmed, we moved inside the door.
3) Another security personnel checked for any electronic items and also any sealed covers. Ladies need to go through a separate security checkpoint.
4) We were directed to the finger printing counter. Here, for H1B Visa, we need to provide
· Passport
· Visa Interview Letter
· DS-156, DS-157
· DD for extra $31
· Visa fee slip
· Petition Doc I-747B
· Visa appointment letter

For H4 Visa
· Passport
· Visa Interview Letter
· DS-156, DS-157
· DD for extra $31
· Visa fee slip
· Visa appointment letter

5) Once done, we need to provide them with the finger prints
· Four fingers at once (except thumb) of left hand
· Four fingers at once (except thumb) of right hand
· Both the thumbs joined together
The officer would give all your docs back in a separate blue folder.

Note: Make sure you keep your fingers safe without any cuts and bruises or else they will ask to postpone the interview.
6) Next we joined another queue for the DD transfer. For people who have taken separate DD for $31, they need to join this queue.
7) After this, we were directed to the main interview hall. As we joined this queue, a Visa officer was already talking to the interviewees telling some good words about how to address the visa officer at the counter and how to speak to the officer.

Now we were waiting for our turn to go to the counter for the Interview. There were around 50-60 people waiting for their turn before us. There were around 6 counters. Counter 1 was for taking fingerprint for the people who were unable to give the print earlier due to excess sweating etc. Counters 2-5 were for the interview. Counter 6 was for the people who needed language interpreters.

A visa attender (Indian) would make couple of people stand in front of every counter for their turn. We were watching all the Visa Officers at the counters and were praying to be able to go to counter 5 because the officer was talking to the people smiling while others were very serious.

Luckily I was put in the line for counter 5. I watched that the people at the other counters were given blue form. Suddenly, my heartbeat increased. I was waiting around 3-4 feet from the person before me. However, I was able to hear them clearly. The person before me was asked for the offer letter and degree certificates and the person didn’t have them. His Visa was rejected.
Now it was our turn. We reached the counter and said Good Morning to the officer. The officer was busy with his previous case. Suddenly, he turned towards us and smilingly said hello. We also responded back with Hello with an open smile.

VO: Can I have your folder, please?
MySelf: Sure and we gave my folder.
He looked at the folder for 1 minute and
VO to my wife: What is your qualification?
My Wife: XXXXXXXXXX
VO to me: What is your qualification, sir?
Myself: XXXXXXXXXXX
VO to me: What is your project?
Here, as soon as I started, he asked me for the project document
VO to me: Can I see some project document?
Myself: Sure, here it is.
VO to me: Can I see your company’s financial documents and tax papers?
Myself: Sure, here it is.
Vo to me: Do you have any notarized list of employees?
Myself: Yes.
Vo to me: I want all other papers that you have.
Myself: Okay. And I gave all other documents.

The Visa officer looked at his computer for couple of minutes and entered something into his computer. We were eagerly waiting for the golden words. Suddenly, he turned at us and smiled. Seeing this, I was confident that he would approve our visas. Then he told us the golden words “Your Visas have been approved, Congratulations. Have a nice trip to America.”

We replied back with Thank you.

He also told us “Sir, it is illegal to sit to bench on H1B. If you or any one of your friends experience this and are not getting paid, please call to the number on this voucher”. The VO gave us a voucher and pamphlet for more information.

Saying Thank you again, we returned back.

[ramsmyles]

I know this is huge, but I hope this would help many others like me who gained so much info from this forum.

I thank one and all who started this forum, maintained it and the people who are uploading it with their experiences.

once again Thanks. I will update my US travel experience on this forum.

[delhiramanathan]

Well done and congratulations. Please furnish the number given in the voucher so that who ever sitting in the bench can make use of it

[IndianSing]

congrats!!!

plz let me the number on the voucher so that it will be helpful for me and others also.

Thanks

[ramsmyles]

I was given one voucher and one pamplet.

1. Pamplet from "The National Women's Health Information Center (From U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Help)"
2. Voucher from "Legal Protections for H-1B Workers"

For the First (NWHIC), three phone numbers were provided:
If someone you know is a victim of abuse or violence, or they are recovering from an assault by a stranger
a. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
b. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673. When dialing the hotline, one will hear a menu and can choose #1 to talk to a counselor. The caller will then be connected to a counselor in his or her area who can help.
c. Victims of abuse or violence also can contact the National Women's Health Information Center at the US Dept. of Health and Human Services at 1-800-994-9662 and 1-888-220-5446 or visit their website at http://www.4women.gov/violence/goups/immigrant.cfm

For the second - Legal Protections for H-1B Workers:
1-866-4US WAGE (1-866-487-9243) or visit the website at www.wagehour.dol.gov

The details on the voucher was:
Temporary non-immigrants who enter the United States with an H-1B visa and work in speciality occupation or as fashion models have the following rights:

a. Wages/Benefits: You must be paid the actual wage, which is the same wage rate your employer pays other workers with similar experience and qualifications, or the local prevailing wahe for the occupation in the area of intended employment, whichever is higher. You must be paid for non-productive time caused by the employer or by the lack of a license or permit; and you must be offered fringe benefits on the same basis as offered to U.S. employees.

b. Illegal deductions: Your employer may not require you to pay, either directly or indirectly, any part of the petition filing fee; or to pay a financial penalty for leaving employment before a date set in the expenses (such as attorneys fees for preparation and filing of the H-1B Labor Condition Application).

c. Working Conditions: Your employer must provide you with working conditions on the same basis and criteris as provided to similarly employed U.S. workers (such as hours, shifts, vacations, seniority-based benefits). Notice: Your employer must provide you with a copy of the Labor Condition Application.

4. records: Your employer must keep records of the hours your work and the wages you are paid. You should keep a record of the hours worked and the employer's name, address and telephone number. You may examine the public disclosure documents that the employer is required to keep that provide information about the employer's compliance with Labor Condition Application's attestations.

5. Discrimination: Your H1-B employer may not intimate, threaten, blacklist, discharge, or in any other manner discriminate againt any employee, former employee, or job applicant for disclosing information that is reasonably believed to be violations of H-1B requirements or for cooperating in an investigation or other proceeding concerning the employee's compliance.

[IndianSing]

Thanks very much for the useful info..

[delhiramanathan]

Welldone ramsmyles and well appreciated.