Successfully had 8th year H1 (and H4 for wife) stamping at Chennai on 01/25. Details below:
Appointment (thru TTS) was at 2:15 PM. Stood in line at 1 PM.Took 2 hours to enter into consulate. Waited for another 4hrs inside for my turn. Told VO that I've been on H1 for past 7 years. He asked if I happen to have 2005 W2, which I had. I showed him all 7 years' W2s. He briefly asked about company and client and told to pay Visa fee.
It may help someone here to know that my current I-797 approval is valid only up to May 2006. i.e. I only had 4 more months left and was a bit worried if that could create any problem. Luckily, it didn't.
One more thing, VO asked me if my employer has already filed permanent immigration petition. I told him yes and mentioned him the stage my GC process currently is at. Aside from me, I've noticed 3 more returning applicants got H1 revalidation without any trouble.
Below notes are for first time H1 seekers that I observed while waiting for my turn:
I have seen lot of first time H1 applicants being asked to either get Marketing analysis or being put under Admin Processing. For 3 guys, VO told that he is going to inform USCIS to cancel H1 approval as he felt they are not eligible for H1 visa based on their academic/career background. I didn't mean to discourage anybody here, just informing what I've noticed. If you don't hold Comp Science degree, be prepared to support your case with additional training provided by your current employer. He is not accepting the certificatin obtained from training institutes. The guy in front of me showed M.S(comp) degree he got from Univ. Of Honolulu(HWI). VO felt it was not genuine and asked him as to where and for how much did he buy that cert and escorted him to some other room. Apart from experience letters from previous employers, VOs are asking for original Offer letters from all previous employers. So, if you've them, it certainly strengthens your case.
On a different note, don't book your flight/train return ticket on the same day, it is likely you may not make it. I've noticed lot of people complaining that they missed their flight/train as we had to wait till 7 PM inside consulate.
Appointment (thru TTS) was at 2:15 PM. Stood in line at 1 PM.Took 2 hours to enter into consulate. Waited for another 4hrs inside for my turn. Told VO that I've been on H1 for past 7 years. He asked if I happen to have 2005 W2, which I had. I showed him all 7 years' W2s. He briefly asked about company and client and told to pay Visa fee.
It may help someone here to know that my current I-797 approval is valid only up to May 2006. i.e. I only had 4 more months left and was a bit worried if that could create any problem. Luckily, it didn't.
One more thing, VO asked me if my employer has already filed permanent immigration petition. I told him yes and mentioned him the stage my GC process currently is at. Aside from me, I've noticed 3 more returning applicants got H1 revalidation without any trouble.
Below notes are for first time H1 seekers that I observed while waiting for my turn:
I have seen lot of first time H1 applicants being asked to either get Marketing analysis or being put under Admin Processing. For 3 guys, VO told that he is going to inform USCIS to cancel H1 approval as he felt they are not eligible for H1 visa based on their academic/career background. I didn't mean to discourage anybody here, just informing what I've noticed. If you don't hold Comp Science degree, be prepared to support your case with additional training provided by your current employer. He is not accepting the certificatin obtained from training institutes. The guy in front of me showed M.S(comp) degree he got from Univ. Of Honolulu(HWI). VO felt it was not genuine and asked him as to where and for how much did he buy that cert and escorted him to some other room. Apart from experience letters from previous employers, VOs are asking for original Offer letters from all previous employers. So, if you've them, it certainly strengthens your case.
On a different note, don't book your flight/train return ticket on the same day, it is likely you may not make it. I've noticed lot of people complaining that they missed their flight/train as we had to wait till 7 PM inside consulate.