H1b Visa Application Process LONDON FAQ

Folks,

Thought of sharing what is needed as I move on with the whole process with some tips;

a)Documents Needed :

1) The entire bundle of papers you will receive from your sponsors. This will include appointment letter, description of your role, description of the company and their clients, photos of their office, where you will be working (client letter if applicable).

2) A copy of your appointment advice after you schedule it online

b)Carry all Originals;

1) Academic Testimonials
2) Work Testimonials
3) Passports (Including old passports with stamped US Visas) ** People who had filed for H1b with their Indian Passports but have now gotten British Passport, may carry both Old Indian and New British Passport together with Original Surrender Certificate and Photocopies of the same.

c) Complete your DS-160 online. This is Mandatory. You can do it here

https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

- Select the Location in the pop list (the place where you will be appearing for your stamping- for those in UK England- London)
- Start an application

Tips: Once you start filling out your application please save at every stage.
before you start filling out your application keep your photograph
ready and scanned. You can test it first.
The specs are same as the photo used for OCI 51mmX51mm.
The photo should be jpg format and min 600 dpi
The photo file size should be less than or equal to 240KB
Click on Test Photo
Click on Choose file
Chose the file on your machine and click open
Click Next Selected upload photo
You will get the Photo Quality Standards Result
''Photo passed quality standards'' with a green tick mark.
Click Continue Using this photo.
Just above the start application button you will see your photograph
With photo test passed and a checkbox checked (Include photo in application)
Now Click Start an Application

Now you will see the Application ID and Date (NOTE THIS DOWN OR PRINT IT)
You will see a Security Question Poplist
Choose whatever question and answer and then click Continue

You will come to the Personal Information Page
Enter details and click save
You will get the message
''Your application has been saved to the database. For the next 30 days, you will be able to retrieve your application from the database by providing the Application ID and answering security questions.''
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You will see a button Save Application to File
Click on it and it will download a Dat file
Each stage when you click on this button it will download a new version of the same file.
You can keep doing this and click continue with application button
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Click Next Personal 2 and so on.
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You can redo your application at anytime later by opening the Dat file you have saved on your local machine.

The Process is as follows;

Instead of clicking on Start and Application (the First Button)
Click the Next Button Upload An Application

Select Location First as before

Choose the Dat file from the location on your Comp where you have saved it.
Click Open
It will show you the previously saved application path
It will ask a couple of Security questions
- First five letters of your name
- Year of Birth
Enter the above and click upload data
You will come to the application page with the ID and date
And it will ask you for the security question again(Which you set up)
Enter the Answer and Click Continue and complete your application.
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At the end of your application note
Confirm your Photo
Once you submit your application you cannot modify it.
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The File ID is important for Fixing up your appointment at the London Embassy online.
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d) Fixing up your appointment Online

You can do this online.
You will need to register for an account
You can pay the fees online.

Schedule your appointment here...

https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/users/sign_in


IMPORTANT POINT:

The DS160 is a document which will be a crucial document for everything in the Immigration Journey . In the diplomatic imbroglio currently playing out
this was cited by the INS and it is important that you give full and correct information no matter how trivial it may seem inorder to be on the
safer side and to avoid mishaps in the future.

Here is an example. One of the questions in the DS-160 is Have you ever been arrested...... even if you were pardoned or not prosecuted???

As we know many people in the UK are stopped, asked to go to the police station and nothing comes of it. THere are instances where cases are dropped. People discharged with Cautions.

If you click NO to the question you never know if it is going to come back to haunt you later.

If you click Yes you will need to meet a consular officer and also get a ACRO certificate from the Hampshire Police Constabulary.

Also keep in mind that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to the USA and You can download the application form and send out all the required info for the certificate after keeping sufficient time between your application and Interview.

Hope this helps.
Cheers
vr

When you get to the embassy, you will find two queues.
The one to the left will ask you to furnish the following
the acknowledgement/confirmation of the DS-160 and
The appointment Instructions.
Then you are asked to move to the queue on the right which is the one which will start moving towards security.
The ask you to take your passport out along with the visa instructions and DS-160 confirmation. All the rest can be inside your bag.
They also show you a list of prohibited stuff like iphones, tablets,recorders on a card. If you have any of the items on the list they wont let you in.
IMPORTANT :
Many people print copies of the ds-160. This is not what they want. When you submit your DS-160 online finally you get a confirmation number and a bar code below.
You need to retrieve the submitted application from the same site and then Print this off.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BROUGHT THIS ALONG:
Just 100mtrs away there is a Pharmacy raking in the moolah. They charge GBP6/- for 30mins internet access and allow you to take this printout. The folks at the embassy gate act as salesmen for this pharmacy asking people to go there. It is located next to a restaurant with a Red Canvas Canopy on the same road and can be seen from the queue.

The pharmacy also provides locker facility for the items prohibited in the US embassy which some people brought along by mistake. They charge for it. 10Quid I think.

SECURITY CHECK:
The ask all the people to remove their belts, keys and watches and pop them in a plastic cover(which they give).
Then Security lets in 4 people at a time.
Everything is asked to be put in plastic basins and put through the scanner.

RECEPTION:
Then you are allowed in to the Visas Reception (An inverted L) from the security.
At the reception they a scan the Barcode on the DS-160 confirmation and ask you to wait in the Visa Interview Waiting room.
Tokens are issued and you go in.(There are multiple copies of the token)

VISA INTERVIEW WAITING ROOM:
This is a spacious room, with chairs and a Large screen displays the token and counter numbers.
There are 11 counters 1 -11.
When your number first comes up you proceed to the counter.
They took the Passport, DS-160 confirmation and Interview Instructions and tokens.
They then fingerprint you First 4 fingers of Left hand, then First four Fingers of Right hand and Finally the thumbs of the Left and Right Hands together.
They ask you if you have the photograph you provided online with the DS160 and took it and scanned it (I Believe better quality through higher Pixel Density) and return it back to you.
You are then given one token back and asked to watch the screen till your token appears again for the actual interview.

ACTUAL INTERVIEW:
The actual Interview happens in counters 12-20.
Numbers reappear on the screen at random and not sequentially and you have to be patient and not expect to see your number because N30 was earlier than N40 and so on.
They provide coffee, cold drinks etc which are kept at the far end of the room to the let of the Screens which display the queue and token numbers.

Finally when your number appears you go to the Counter (one from the 12-20) and this is where the interview questions are asked.
I went in and came out in 20 seconds. My luck nothing asked except if I have been to the US before. I said yes.
The lady says your visa is approved. You will get your passport in 3 to 5 working days. Good luck. I thank her and am off.
DIRECTIONS:
Its just 700 metres from the Bond Street Station.
Easy approach is
As you come out of the Bond Street Underground Station Turn left towards marble arch.
In 75 metres Turn Left on Duke Street.
In 100 Metres you will reach Grosvenor square- Turn right
In 50 metres you will see the US Embassy on the Left (a lot of gun toting security too prominent to miss)
cheers
vr