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sreedotk · 16th August 2007, 01:53

Since FE and ER's requests for American Travel i am putting down my experiences

Visa Process:-

Travelling for the first time to US entails you getting a Visa. Since most of you are going to be travelling for Business i am putting down my the process for the same.

1. Getting a visa Appointment
Go to the site https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx. The site has most of the official formalities so i am not going to get to the details of the same.

Plan your US trip well in advance and with a reason to travel. ( Min a month in advance)

If you are not very comfortable with conversing in English request for the language assist and you can get interviewd in most of the Major languages in India. This may though delay your interview appointment as the language experts are in demand.

Make Sure you have all necessary office papers collated including and not limited to
1. Your official invite letter for either your client and / or your US office
2. If your employement with the company is 1 year or less carry your appointment letter (always a good idea to carry)
3. If you are a business man going to sell wares in the US like a jweller or a Clothing professional carry brochures . If you have company brochures carry them
4. Filled in forms in your own handwriting. Please write is as legibly as you can and preferably write it yourself.
5. Two Demand drafts towards application fees and visa fees. Make sure you carry from approved banks.

Optional documents
1. Pay stubs
2. Tax documents

At the visa interview

1. Smile - It does wonders to your confidence and as they say first impression is the best one

2. Dress Neatly and Formally. Ties and business attire will give an air of sophistication. Smell good invest in a good deo. And if you grow facial hair trim it and look neat.

3.Make sure you arrive 15-30 mins before your appointment at the gate of the consulate. Dont get their in the morning if you have an afternoon appointement you dont want to be soaking in your sweat when you get infront of your interviewer

4. Answer all questions truthfully and in as many words necessary. if you are going to stay in company provided accomdation say the same like " i am going to be staying at a company guest house in "X" city and "Y" state. You dont have to explain how to reach there .

Questions you can expect.

What is your nature of business in the US
How long do you plan to stay in the US?
Are you going to be reimbursed for your professional work?
Who is going to take care of your expenses in the US?
Are you going to be travelling in the US?
Do you have any immediate relatives in the US. (Immediate includes father mother, grandparents, Siblings. Need not necessarily inlcude your uncles and cousins)
Have you travelled to any other countries ?
Have you ever been deported or rejected issue of Visa for any other country.?

This is from my little knowledge of having travelled a dozen times and having attended the Visa interview twice . First time i received a Single entry visa through my employer and did not even have to go to the Embassy as they did not have the compulsory interview then. Second time i went to the embassy and the whole process took about 3 hrs from entry.

Tomorrow i will try and put my experience of travelling to the US.

16th August 2007, 01:53	#37 (permalink)
sreedotk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 98	Travel to the US- The Visa Hoop Since FE and ER's requests for American Travel i am putting down my experiences Visa Process:- Travelling for the first time to US entails you getting a Visa. Since most of you are going to be travelling for Business i am putting down my the process for the same. 1. Getting a visa Appointment Go to the site https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx. The site has most of the official formalities so i am not going to get to the details of the same. Plan your US trip well in advance and with a reason to travel. ( Min a month in advance) If you are not very comfortable with conversing in English request for the language assist and you can get interviewd in most of the Major languages in India. This may though delay your interview appointment as the language experts are in demand. Make Sure you have all necessary office papers collated including and not limited to 1. Your official invite letter for either your client and / or your US office 2. If your employement with the company is 1 year or less carry your appointment letter (always a good idea to carry) 3. If you are a business man going to sell wares in the US like a jweller or a Clothing professional carry brochures . If you have company brochures carry them 4. Filled in forms in your own handwriting. Please write is as legibly as you can and preferably write it yourself. 5. Two Demand drafts towards application fees and visa fees. Make sure you carry from approved banks. Optional documents 1. Pay stubs 2. Tax documents At the visa interview 1. Smile - It does wonders to your confidence and as they say first impression is the best one 2. Dress Neatly and Formally. Ties and business attire will give an air of sophistication. Smell good invest in a good deo. And if you grow facial hair trim it and look neat. 3.Make sure you arrive 15-30 mins before your appointment at the gate of the consulate. Dont get their in the morning if you have an afternoon appointement you dont want to be soaking in your sweat when you get infront of your interviewer 4. Answer all questions truthfully and in as many words necessary. if you are going to stay in company provided accomdation say the same like " i am going to be staying at a company guest house in "X" city and "Y" state. You dont have to explain how to reach there . Questions you can expect. What is your nature of business in the US How long do you plan to stay in the US? Are you going to be reimbursed for your professional work? Who is going to take care of your expenses in the US? Are you going to be travelling in the US? Do you have any immediate relatives in the US. (Immediate includes father mother, grandparents, Siblings. Need not necessarily inlcude your uncles and cousins) Have you travelled to any other countries ? Have you ever been deported or rejected issue of Visa for any other country.? This is from my little knowledge of having travelled a dozen times and having attended the Visa interview twice . First time i received a Single entry visa through my employer and did not even have to go to the Embassy as they did not have the compulsory interview then. Second time i went to the embassy and the whole process took about 3 hrs from entry. Tomorrow i will try and put my experience of travelling to the US.