Navigating the US Visa Process: Simplified Guidelines for First-Timers

The B1 visa process can be a daunting experience for first-time applicants, especially because of the overwhelming information available online.

Writing this article was motivated by the lack of comprehensive and up-to-date information available in a single source for the B1 visa process. Many sources focus on views and gimmicks rather than providing genuine guidance. I hope this article will help you clear some of your doubts and provide valuable insights for first-time applicants.

Locate Visa Office: My location was New Delhi.

How to reach US VAC, Delhi: It is within the Shivaji Stadium metro station itself. Easily get into the nearest metro station and navigate the metro path from DMRC Mobile Application.

How to reach the US Embassy, Delhi: It is in Chankyapuri. You can reach here via Lok Kalyan or Sir vishweshwaraiah moti bagh Metro Station. Take an auto to the US Embassy. Should not cost over 50 Rs. Arrive one hour early for the interview.

Essential Documents and Preparation:

To begin the B1 visa application, ensure you have two folders (transparent folders suggested, not mandatory) for better document management:

Folder 1:

1. Your Passport (Including previous passports, if any)
2. DS-160 Confirmation Page
3. Visa interview Appointment Confirmation
4. Company Invite letter for a business trip

Folder 2:

1. Updated Resume
2. Highest Degree & Education Certifications
3. Current employer’s offer letter
4. Service/Release letters from previous organizations
5. Last two years ITR / Form 16's
6. 6 months of payslips
7. 6 months of Bank Statement
8. Travel Agenda (Tentative travel dates, Tentative Stay)

*Always carry your ID cards with you.

*No need to bring photographs for a B1 Visa interview if you are a first-timer as they will click your photographs in US VAC Centre, anyway.

The Two-Step Process:

The B1 visa application involves two steps:

Step 1: VAC Office Visit for Biometric: During this visit, you can carry folder 1. You are allowed to take your switched-off phone and bag inside the VAC office, but ensure no electronic device is in your bag. If you accidentally bring an electronic device, you must submit it near the US VAC office in the metro station, which will incur a charge of approximately 500 Rs for 15 minutes. After a simple process that includes photographing and fingerprinting, you will receive a reference slip for the next steps. This does not take over 15 mins if the queue is manageable.

Step 2: US Embassy Visit for Interview: For the US Embassy visit, carry both folders. Arrive early and wait in the designated waiting area, as standing on the road is not permitted. There will be multiple queues for different processes:

1. To enter the embassy premises: You need to be in the waiting area till the guard calls out your time slot. There is a huge queue in the US Embassy — Delhi, as there are many F1 applicants.
2. To submit your phones and electronic items: Any electronic item is not allowed, so you will have to submit your phone right before entering the embassy. The phone collection center is right in front of the embassy. Guards will guide you. The embassy manages this center itself. They charge 50 Rs for each item. They collect cash, so recommended carrying some cash with you.
3. For security check and document verification: Once you are done with phone or electronics submission, you can enter the embassy. Again, there is a long queue. They check your passport and let you in. You can carry your bag/purse with you. You go through the security check and they scan your bags.
4. For biometrics: In this process, you will be aligned with a counter where you show your passport and relevant form. For e.g.: For B1 you just show your passport but for H1B they ask for a service fee and an I-20 form as well.
5. For the final visa interview: this is the final step where you are aligned to a counter where you give your visa interview. The interview is very short (not over 15 mins). The interviewers are not from India, so make sure you are attentive and have knowledge of common terminologies. Like they might ask about your salary and you should tell them your salary in dollars to avoid confusion.

Tips for the Visa Interview:

A visa interview is not like a job interview. It is a Visa eligibility interview. The officers are just validating if you are eligible for the visa category you have applied to. In my case, my visa category was B1. Officers will ask simple questions to verify the information provided in your application, such as your job title, organization details, sponsor for the trip, and reasons for the visit. Remember to be genuine during the interview and confidence would follow that.

Formals are recommended for B1 visas, however for other visas I have seen people wearing casuals too and they are really not very much concerned about clothing.

Avoid over-rehearsing internet answers, as these officers are conducting thousands of interviews daily and they will easily understand your INTERNET ANSWERS. We all are humans and if you try to be over-smart, they will understand that and you might end up creating a bad impression. Instead, ponder on your genuine reasons for the trip. Dress formally, be well-prepared, and speak clearly to make a positive impression. Provide concise and accurate responses, keeping in mind the officer’s understanding of English may differ from yours.

My B1 Visa interview experience:

Officer: Hello Meghna, may I have your passport, please?

Meghna: yes

Officer: So Meghna, what’s your job title, and why you are visiting the US

Meghna: Hello, Officer. I am an experienced IT Professional with a background of 6 years in the industry. Currently, I hold the position of <my job title> at a <My Org Name>. In this role, I collaborate with multiple stakeholders to comprehend priority requirements and oversee their implementation.

My visit to the US is prompted by an invitation to participate in the Program Increment Session. This event focuses on planning the upcoming IT requirements, and as an <My job role>, I play a key role in devising efforts, timelines, and strategies to deliver the prioritized requirements efficiently within the next three months.

Officer: So how many years have you been associated with <My Org Name>

Meghna: 21 Months

Officer: Have you ever traveled to the US or any other foreign country

Meghna: No

Officer: Who is sponsoring your trip and is there someone else joining you?

Meghna: <My Org Name> is sponsoring my visa. No one else is accompanying me.

Officer: Your manager is based out of India or US?

Meghna: US

Officer: You are headed to Atlanta?

Meghna: Yes

Officer: Do you have relatives in the US? Where is your family based?

Meghna: No, my family is based out of India.

Officer: Thanks Meghna, your visa is approved.

Additional tip For F1 Visa Applicants:

The rejections were majorly because of the students not being able to justify why they want to move abroad for studies. Why can’t they study that generic subject in India itself? So F1 visa holders should have a strong real reason for studying abroad.

F1 visa sponsors: if parents are the visa sponsors for students, but if the annual income of parents is low, your visa will get rejected. I saw someone’s visa getting rejected even after mentioning 25LPA as his Father’s compensation. So you can imagine they are looking for students who are financially strong. Students should create a strong case for their sponsorship if they are not financially strong or have taken loans to avoid rejections.

The next important topic is, what will you do after pursuing this course? They are checking if you will return to India after course completion or not and you should justify that you would come back to India after this course. Otherwise, they might reject your visa under suspicion of you being a potential immigrant.

Where is your family based? Again, this question is to validate whether you are a potential immigrant or not. So mention your India connections so that they get assurance that you would come back to India.

Conclusion:

The B1 visa process, though initially confusing, becomes more straightforward with proper preparation and understanding. Remember to be genuine, confident, and concise during your visa interview. This article aims to provide helpful insights for first-time applicants and wishes them the best of luck in their visa journey.