the hottest immigration tracker |
| Got questions on U.S. immigration? |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Topic: Chennai consulate H1B stamping
Hello all,
I am an Indian who is going to go Chennai for H1 stamping (8th year) in the coming months. My Labor and 140 have been approved and my EAD is already approved for 2 more years and I have a valid AP for slightly past my return date. My questions are:
1) Is there going to be any question regarding why I am going for stamping even though I have EAD/AP?
2) Any loopy questions from the interview officer to be expected? I know this varies from individual to individual, but are there any gotchas I need to look out for?
3) I work for a fairly large midwestern software firm (NOT desi owned, around 7000 employees). Should I expect any grilling on projects, duration etc.,?
Any recent experience in this matter would be helpful.
Thanks.
|
have a invitation letter from your employer stating your current resposibilites, projects you are working and why are you required back again to USA ie, what projects you hve to complete after coming back from Indai
thanks
|
Have your LCA and complete I-129 petition in hand, You should be fine. I have been there recently.
|
bitingnails4gc , I have a similar case as yours. I got my H1B stamping done for the 7th year from Kolkata Consulate.
You should not have any issues/questions if you have the papers in order. Make sure you carry the following supporting docs .
1. Employment Verification Letter
2. Project Experience Letter/Job Duties
3. Recent Salary Slips (3)
4. Recent W2 (3)
5. I129
6. LCA
|
Hello all,
I am an Indian who is going to go Chennai for H1 stamping (8th year) in the coming months. My Labor and 140 have been approved and my EAD is already approved for 2 more years and I have a valid AP for slightly past my return date. My questions are:
1) Is there going to be any question regarding why I am going for stamping even though I have EAD/AP?
2) Any loopy questions from the interview officer to be expected? I know this varies from individual to individual, but are there any gotchas I need to look out for?
3) I work for a fairly large midwestern software firm (NOT desi owned, around 7000 employees). Should I expect any grilling on projects, duration etc.,?
Any recent experience in this matter would be helpful.
Thanks.
I had AP in hand before I left for India last year and got H1 stamped after 9th year. I used new H1B stamp to enter and never showed AP anywhere. I kept AP as a backup. The Visa interview however was as rigorous as ever. |
I used my AP, I guess that is the best thing to do.....Why bother Embassy people......
|
I used my AP, I guess that is the best thing to do.....Why bother Embassy people......
I was not that casual about using H1. I had researched hard and there were lot of unanswered questions about use of AP when H1 was valid. This was in Oct/Nov 2007.
Later this Murthy Article came out: http://www.murthy.com/news/n_efftrv.html |
bitingnails4gc , I have a similar case as yours. I got my H1B stamping done for the 7th year from Kolkata Consulate.
You should not have any issues/questions if you have the papers in order. Make sure you carry the following supporting docs .
2. Project Experience Letter/Job Duties
Hi,
Thanks for all the responses. Who will/should provide the above mentioned document? My manager? My lawyer? Myself? Please advice.
Thanks. |
bitingnails4gc,
You can write the letter on your own describing your job duties, role , projects and duration. Print it out on the letter head of your company and get is signed by your reporting manager (do mention his email/phone).
|
I went for H1 stamping 2months back to Chennai consulate. I carried following docs
1. Employment verification letter
2. Be preapred to explain about job and team / organization.
3. All pay stubs for the current year
4. All W2 forms since in USA.
5. All H1 approvals and filings with LCA since the entry into USA.
6. If the company name changes, be prepared to carry relevent documentaion. I had to carry letter from HR and H1 amendment papers.
7. Experience letters from all of the past employers. For short projects, when employment letters were not available carry the timesheets from client.
8. All the papers about the GC (labor, I-140, I-485, AP & EAD)
While taking appointment it is necessary to select "Holds the same category visa" since it is just renewal.
|
Hi viridien,
Thanks for the informative reply. I have the documentation for all the items listed in your post except Labor and I-140. My company refuses to provide them to me :-(. Also, your answer for the "same category visa" is different than what the rest of the folks said here. My visa stamp expired several years ago although I've been maintaining my H1 status with I-797 extensions. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
|
Hi, you dont need to have the GC papers in hand. All they need is the job related documents. In order to prove that you've been working in USA for a long time, you can carry your utility bills in hand and have the tax returns as well. Pay stub is to prove that you are not getting the salary less than the the standard H1B wage. If you are working as a permanent employee, then get the letter from your HR or Manager stating that you are going working on this projects since and going to continue for at least another years. If you are working as a consultant, you could get the same letter from your manager(client) too. Please ask them to give the contact phone number and the official email id.
S..
|
Hi viridien,
Thanks for the informative reply. I have the documentation for all the items listed in your post except Labor and I-140. My company refuses to provide them to me :-(. Also, your answer for the "same category visa" is different than what the rest of the folks said here. My visa stamp expired several years ago although I've been maintaining my H1 status with I-797 extensions. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks.
This is an opportunity for you to make a strong case to your manager and get a copy of Labor and I-140 approval notices. Approach professionaly and be serious and straight about it.
Now that you've taken help from the forum, it will be nice to contribute back to it by updating your profile with your cases. It helps get a better view of approval/time trend. Thanks. |
Since you entered US with H1 visa and you are holding the status continuously with I-797 renewals, though it is not stamped on passport. If you do not select this option, I think they go through the interview process of initial H1 stamping. One of my colleague had simialr experince. They told him it is counter visa to him and gave visa w/o any question at Mumbai consulate. I think the concept of counter visa is, they check all the documents before the interview date. But I do not know much details how it really works.
Though my company provided me with labor and I-140 notice copy, I think they are not important. You may carry the filing documentation atleast. But I think AP, I-485 are important ones to carry.
Though the documents listed may be long and heavy ( My whole cabin was full of these docs), I'ld suggest you to carry all the docs.
wish you all the best.
|
Why do you go for visa stamping?
|
Wtng4Ever:
Thanks for the information.
In the second paragraph Murthy says that, "Using the AP to enter the U.S., however, terminates one's nonimmigrant H1B (or L-1) status". I may be woring, but guess that nobody has a clear answer on this.
|
Take all the documentation i.e., previous 797 approvals, atleast 6 paystubs, Employment letter, last 2 years W-2, letter from your company to the consullate and other regular documentation. If you have all the docs in place it is very easy. I had been to India in July and got it stamped in Chennai for another 3 years ( I already finished 6 years in USA) without much questions.
Good Luck and best wishes
GCWaiting999
|
letter from your company to the consullate
Good Luck and best wishes
GCWaiting999
I've gone for visa stamping before but never had this. What is its purpose and what are its contents? Please advice.
-Thanks. |
I can understand the validity of client letter in case of new H1B visa stamping! Can the US visa officer ask for such a stupid letter, during H1B renewal visa??
No client will give a client letter or any kind of experience certificate on company letterhead!
|
I can understand the validity of client letter in case of new H1B visa stamping! Can the US visa officer ask for such a stupid letter, during H1B renewal visa??
No client will give a client letter or any kind of experience certificate on company letterhead!
Exactly my thought. Is this something that's asked for certain types of companies? |
They can issue a letter mentioning that that you are employed by them since so and so period and will continue the employment with us and request the consulate to issue the visa. If you have spouse and children they can mention their names also.
They have to mention in detail your job responsibilities and technologies you are working right now. This letter has to be addressed to the consulate where you are attending the interview.
I am sure your company must be having a format to issue these kind of letters.
Thanks
GCWaiting999
|
|
|
