In this article, I will be talking about all the steps I went through in the visa process, the visa interview, and the rest of the things that come after it when I landed in the USA.

I will also provide the whole timeline at the end and it may not be the same for you. But COVID did screw up the process schedule for me.

Before you proceed any further, this is a visa process from India to the USA.

Visa Process

The steps I went through with Visa Process are specific to the company I work for. So the steps might not be exactly the same for you but the process should be the same.

The process involves:

1. Employer applying for H1-B cap.
2. Submitting all required docs to employers so they can keep them ready if the lottery is approved.
3. Getting selected in the lottery.
4. Getting the petition approved.
5. Filling DS-160 forms for both H1-B and H4 applicants.
6. Making payments and scheduling appointments for both.

My Timeline:

Jan 31, 2020, - Based on some criteria of experience and other things my company had selected my name to be added as part of the H1-B cap 2020. So I got a mail from the immigration team to submit documents.

Feb 4, 2020, - Post submitting documents in the company portal, I got an acknowledgment that docs will be reviewed.

Feb 18, 2020, - Post validating I was asked for Stage 2 documents.

Apr 1, 2020, - (Fortunately not an April fool message) - Got a mail that I got selected in the H1-B lottery.

Apr 13, 2020, - I was asked for more Stage 2 docs.

Jun 29, 2020, - Got a mail that the petition was filed with USCIS and it may take 5 to 6 months for a petition to be adjudicated.

This was the time when covid cases hit the 100,000 per day mark and put a long pause on everything as consulates operated with limited employees or were shut and only some visa-type appointments were only allowed.

Fast forward to Feb 2021 - checked for an update but consulates are still closed

Jul 7, 2021, - Finally, the company paid visa fees for me and my spouse.

Visa appointments are not available.

Fast forward Nov 2021 - Nudged the immigration team that I need an appointment as it's opened.

Nov 10, 2021 - Visa appointment confirmed.

Visa Interview

Once the interview is scheduled, your immigration team will let you know about the process and how you need to prepare, and the documents you need to carry. Make sure you prepare and carry all those.

It's better for H1-B and H4 applicants to go together if possible.

The process involves:

1. Attending VAC(Biometrics).
2. Attending a Visa interview. If selected they will take your passport. I will not cover any rejection scenarios which involve rejection, denial or getting a slip.
3. Getting back stamped passport directly to your house or to a center nearby where you need to pay some fees and collect it.
4. Checking how many years have been stamped and if there are no errors in the visa.

My timeline:

Jan 4, 2022, - Visa VAC.

Jan 6, 2022, - Visa Interview.

Jan 18, 2022, - Stamped passports.

Pre Travel

There are certain things before your travel that you need to do. Although this may differ from person to person, this is what I did:

1. Get a US SIM from your employer.
2. Get some loans from your employer in form of cash and/or prepaid cards.
3. Get your credit card approved before you land in the US.
4. Talk to your parents and in-laws(if married). Give them clarity on your plans and if they are retired give them a financial roadmap on what they need to spend and what you can afford to send.
5. Clear all your credit card debts.
6. Make sure to fill your account with sufficient funds if any loan is getting deducted as you may not be able to send money once you land in the US immediately or for at least some months as there will be a lot of things to take care of.
7. Make sure the CTC you are getting from your employer in the US is sufficient for living and all the expenses which may occur post-tax. You should not be surprised.
8. Pack all the things and weigh them properly so you don't have to pay a huge amount per kg increase than the limit of your airline.

Sim

Ask your employer for SIM and later you can port the same number in the US to your preferred carrier. Never try to change the number it's a lot more tricky in the US as you need to update a bunch of stuff if you change the number.

Cash / Prepaid card

Ask your employer for a loan and get it in form of cash or prepaid card.

Credit Card

In the US almost everything runs on credit and your credit score history is important for you to get loans.

Although you can go to the US and get a card the amount you get approved for is very less and in the range of 500$ - 1500$ as you don't have any history they hesitate to provide more.

But there is a way to get this before via an app called Zolve. They use the credit score you have right now in Experian and CRIF to issue you a card with a higher limit. You can get up to 10,000$ in credit.

Use the referral code added below when you register so we both can get 10$ cashback :).

Head over to https://account.zolve.com/signup/email
Add below referral code
ZOLVE-NV5T2

Once all the docs are submitted in the app and if approved you can request the card once you land in the US. But before that, you would get a virtual card in the app to start using.

Travel

If this is the first time you are ever on a long flight you will be excited but certainly will lose the excitement some hours down the flight. I suggest relaxing, boozing, and sleeping after all you deserve a treat and some rest after a long process and finally, you are here.

the USA

Not sure where your port of entry(POE) would be but I landed in SFO. Be prepared for all the questions and have documents handy.

Make sure to behave properly and declare all the things to customs. Customs and Border protection folks are really good and they respect you being genuine to them.

Make sure you double-check the stamp and the end date of what the customs writes / stamps. This will come in your I-94 document. This document's end date precedes your visa end date. So whatever date is mentioned here is the last day you can legally be in the USA. Beware of that.

Take a cab to your hotel. Zolve card to rescue as Lyft doesn't have cash on delivery. Not sure about uber :)

Most important things to do:

1. Create a bank account. SSN is not needed and can be updated later.
2. Get SSN. (H4 holder won't get SSN)
3. Get a State id for you and your spouse(H4).
4. Find a house for rent.
5. In California, if you don't have a rental history which obviously is the case, you need to have a guarantor so you don't pay a huge deposit. So if you have one that's great. Not sure about other states though.
6. Get internet.
7. Get Electricity setup.
8. Get a Driving license. (No need to get a car immediately if you have a good mass transport system which is the case in San Jose where I stay)
9. Enjoy and work hard.

Timeline

It took 2 yrs and 11 days of waiting for me to land finally in the USA. Obviously, it won't be the same for you. I blame covid and the closure of consulates. If not would have easily moved soon. Also, remember even if you get the visa if there are no project requirements then things may stall.

How do I feel after 6 months

That's for a different article.

I will also write some articles on visa renewals, i140, and H4EAD soon. Keep watching out for this space.

Links

For DS-160 - ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/Default.aspx

For payment and appointment - cgifederal.secure.force.com