Hello all,
I see that many members of this forum, who appeared for stamping at Chennai have been through VISA stamping successfully, some have been sent back to get more documents , read 221 g and some refused after background checks etc.
I belong to the second category where I have been asked to get more documents for the second time. In an increasing trend, the VO's look very closely into two things:
a) The profile of the company the applicant is going to work for. ( Employee strength, offices, payments earned by all employees, projects / clients of that company)
b) UG / PG degree of the applicant and his/her ability to play the role of a Programmer analyst / software engineer, etc. if the applicant has a non-CS degree.
If you work for a big company - ( BIG - global presence, large no: of employees, increasing Number of VISA's issued under the name of that company), you will not have any major issues, some VISA officers might come down hard on you, but, they will eventually give you the VISA.
If you work for a small company, and you are the first person from this company to appear for the interview at Chennai, then, be ready to present a lot of information, again, it depends on the VO. There are cases, where a small company has had its employees come from delhi or mumbai, and appeared for interview at their resp consulates and obtained the VISA. But, if the applicant is representing a small company that's never been heard of in Chennai consulate, they might ask you to bring more information. Some VO's are very good at spotting misinformation or instances where the employer is trying to hide some information. In such cases, you have no other go than to accept the 221 g they are going to give and bring back more information.
Let’s come to the education of the applicant. Even if you work for a big company, in case you have a non-CS degree, there are cases where applicants were given a 221g. Before this happens, be sure to mention any programming courses you have done in your UG / PG. Do not mention courses you've done from computer training institutes, the VO will not even care to hear you. Also be ready to present the education evaluation, a copy will do, that was sent to USCIS while your employer filed for your H1B. Some times, the VO asks for it.
In your I-129 there's a section which mentions the degree of the applicant, if your employer or her attorney has mentioned the correct degree then no issues.If not, then you may get a refusal or a 221g asking for more documents. Also, make sure your employer clearly mentions the degree in your offer / appointment letter.
Pls. note that the VO comes down hard on applicants to sort out any fraud cases and make sure that the applicant does not land up in a company that does not pay him/her and makes the applicant's life miserable. Due to the enormous number of complaints that DOL / USCIS / INS has received over the last many years from suffering H1B holders, the state department is trying to make the VISA issuance real difficult for applicants from small time companies. And this is very prevalent at the Chennai consulate.
Yes, some applicants have a hard time with some VO's,but, keep your cool and do not feel dejected if you get a refusal. Get the documents required and appear for the interview with confidence. Be positive, as that's what I am trying to be. Also, remember what you had said in your previous encounter. For example, if you met a VO for the first time and say that your company does work on A, B, and C and the VO asks you to come back with more information. Next time you go, make sure you do not change what you had said earlier. The VO records most of the responses that you give to their questions.
The above is not a generalized opinion and is based on my experience and that of the other applicants whom I saw at the Chennai consulate during my interview days. Do not take it as the best advice, as the VO can ask for any other information apart from the above. My idea is to make future applicants to be bit more prepared.
Members - Pls. let us all know your views.
All the Best!
I see that many members of this forum, who appeared for stamping at Chennai have been through VISA stamping successfully, some have been sent back to get more documents , read 221 g and some refused after background checks etc.
I belong to the second category where I have been asked to get more documents for the second time. In an increasing trend, the VO's look very closely into two things:
a) The profile of the company the applicant is going to work for. ( Employee strength, offices, payments earned by all employees, projects / clients of that company)
b) UG / PG degree of the applicant and his/her ability to play the role of a Programmer analyst / software engineer, etc. if the applicant has a non-CS degree.
If you work for a big company - ( BIG - global presence, large no: of employees, increasing Number of VISA's issued under the name of that company), you will not have any major issues, some VISA officers might come down hard on you, but, they will eventually give you the VISA.
If you work for a small company, and you are the first person from this company to appear for the interview at Chennai, then, be ready to present a lot of information, again, it depends on the VO. There are cases, where a small company has had its employees come from delhi or mumbai, and appeared for interview at their resp consulates and obtained the VISA. But, if the applicant is representing a small company that's never been heard of in Chennai consulate, they might ask you to bring more information. Some VO's are very good at spotting misinformation or instances where the employer is trying to hide some information. In such cases, you have no other go than to accept the 221 g they are going to give and bring back more information.
Let’s come to the education of the applicant. Even if you work for a big company, in case you have a non-CS degree, there are cases where applicants were given a 221g. Before this happens, be sure to mention any programming courses you have done in your UG / PG. Do not mention courses you've done from computer training institutes, the VO will not even care to hear you. Also be ready to present the education evaluation, a copy will do, that was sent to USCIS while your employer filed for your H1B. Some times, the VO asks for it.
In your I-129 there's a section which mentions the degree of the applicant, if your employer or her attorney has mentioned the correct degree then no issues.If not, then you may get a refusal or a 221g asking for more documents. Also, make sure your employer clearly mentions the degree in your offer / appointment letter.
Pls. note that the VO comes down hard on applicants to sort out any fraud cases and make sure that the applicant does not land up in a company that does not pay him/her and makes the applicant's life miserable. Due to the enormous number of complaints that DOL / USCIS / INS has received over the last many years from suffering H1B holders, the state department is trying to make the VISA issuance real difficult for applicants from small time companies. And this is very prevalent at the Chennai consulate.
Yes, some applicants have a hard time with some VO's,but, keep your cool and do not feel dejected if you get a refusal. Get the documents required and appear for the interview with confidence. Be positive, as that's what I am trying to be. Also, remember what you had said in your previous encounter. For example, if you met a VO for the first time and say that your company does work on A, B, and C and the VO asks you to come back with more information. Next time you go, make sure you do not change what you had said earlier. The VO records most of the responses that you give to their questions.
The above is not a generalized opinion and is based on my experience and that of the other applicants whom I saw at the Chennai consulate during my interview days. Do not take it as the best advice, as the VO can ask for any other information apart from the above. My idea is to make future applicants to be bit more prepared.
Members - Pls. let us all know your views.
All the Best!