Introduction

Planning for getting employed in the US? Many professionals across the globe holding excellent education, experience and skills can plan their employment in the USA. One of the best mode to get started with your employment in the US is to apply via the process of H1B visa stamping. The process of H1B visa stamping is door to get approval for non-immigrant work visa in the US for six long years.

The H1B visa stamping is a great option to find work in the US for experienced candidates for a specific amount of time. This creates opportunity to get higher salary in comparison to their home country. Here is the guide to the complete process of H1B visa stamping in the USA.

What is H1B visa Stamping process?

Meaning of H1B visa stamping is to get the visa approval for the US while in the process of Immigration. The approved visa for the states is not enough to get direct entry in the USA. You need to go via the process of security clearance at the POE (Port of Entry) before entering in the USA. The approval for the visa in the USA can be one of the proof for the security clearance.

Documents required for the H1B visa stamping:

Submit Documents:

One square photograph of dimensions between 600-1200 pixels, smaller the size of 240 kB and in JPEG format.

A H1B visa Application form DS-160 completed online at U.S. Department of State. Keep a printed copy of the form handy would be required to represent while the time to schedule interview later.

Additional Documents:

Print of your current resume and letter from current employer

Company details, Company project documents

H1B visa approval from the previous employer (only if applicable)

A printed copy of Form I-29 and I-797

Original educational degree/diploma certificate

Official copy of the I-20 forms in case of having a U.S. education degree

OPT EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card (only if applicable)

Original transcripts from the university or college

Documents for the U.S. government:

Social Security Card

Taxation forms of W2 received within past 2 years

Taxation returns of 1040

Original letter from the client

Original driver’s licence

Interview documents:

Physical copy of your DS 160 online application form

The official letter of the confirmation of your scheduled interview appointment along with a printed copy

Current valid passport (Should not expire before the period of you visa validity)

A passport size photo of the applicant

A printed copy of the approved I-797 notice and I-129 petition

A copy of the visa fee’s payment confirmation

Other

There would be a few personal documents that are supposed to be submitted for the process. The submission for the personal documents will differ as per the category of the visa applicant. Applicants planning to apply for children and spouse visa would also be required to submit a few documents as per the visa category of the applicant. The embassy of the applicant’s country will be able to assist for the documents required for the application for children and spouse visa, because the required documents might differ as per the applicant’s country.

Process of Security Clearance:

After gathering with the required documents, the applicant requires to complete with the payment for the application and schedule an appointment. The applicant must schedule the following appointment:

• (a) With the offsite facilitation center
• (b) With the Embassy

The applicant must complete the payment for the fees associated with the H1B visa application. A copy for the payment confirmation of the fees can be collected from the U.S. visa service website & time can also be scheduled on the website within a year of making the associated fee’s payment. And also to know more about complete guide for H1B visa process.

Interview process:

The visa applicant should arrive for the scheduled interview 1 hour prior of the time to avoid the delay from the consular office. Check all the documents required for the interview in advance. It is better to be positive, calm and honest in the interview. It is important for the applicant to be precise and clear about the details of his/her specific details for the position of filing and the details about the employer.

When should I apply for H1B visa stamping?

It is important for the applicant to understand the right time for the applying for H1B visa stamping.The time for the application of H1B visa stamping should neither be early nor late, does the application require to be processed on time. Best would be to reach your legal counsellor to know the right time of applying for H1B Visa stamping.

The applicant should check their employment letter received from the U.S. Employer for the start date mentioned by the employer on the letter. As per the procedure, applicant is required to apply for the before three months of the start date of the employment.

The approval from the Embassy might take longer as the rule set of each country is different from the other. Therefore, the stamping for the applicant’s H1B might take longer as expected.

The process for H1B visa re-stamping

The process of your H1B re-stamping cannot be conducted in the US. The applicant need to follow the same process for H1B visa re-stamping which is followed while applying first time for the H1B visa stamping. The applicant requires to complete the process of H1B re-stamping the in any country except the USA or best to apply from concerned home country.

The applicant needs to get their passport re-stamped in case if the H1B visa has expired and the approval for the one to be renewed has been received. Therefore, either if you are applying for the first time of H1B visa stamping or for H1B visa re-stamping the process cannot be completed within the US.

How to prepare for the Interview process of H1B visa stamping?

Useful tips for the preparation of interview of H1B visa stamping:

Here are few tips for the interview preparation of H1B visa stamping:

1. Dress professionally for the interview session. Carrying a professional look not only helps to make a good impression on the visa officer but also becomes a help to boost your confidence. Try to follow solid shirts and regular trousers. Avoid wearing sport shoes, jeans, prints.

2. It is not necessary that the visa officer is always going to ask a lot of questions. But while answering any question be very honest. Avoid bluffing about an answer if you’re unsure about it. Best will be to say that you don’t know about the answer in case if you’re not aware about the answer.

3. Be focused in the interview. Answer any question actively and confidently. It is completely your choice whether you want to answer in short or if you want to elaborate your answer. The answers should more reflect the information which you want to share to the visa officer.

4. Try to be 1.5 hours early from the scheduled time. A time slot for morning will be more preferable. This can be a help to avoid any delay in waiting for long.

5. When asked about your education and qualification details, you should be well versed with the details like your highest qualification, any specialisation, and your salary package, etc.

6. Organise your files and folders very perfectly. It is very rare that the visa officer might ask you to show a documents but while searching for the document you should know where you have placed the document into which section of the file. It shouldn’t occupy a lot of time for you to search a document. For better division you can use book marks and paper clips.

7. Here are few points that might result into rejection of your visa:

• • Avoid carrying any kind of device or gadgets in the interview room like mobile phone, waist band, Bluetooth headsets, etc.
• • Missing details of your academics or having less mile stone in your academics.
• • Lack of skills and knowledge about your main field.
• • Unclear or not smooth while answering about your motive behind moving in the USA.
• • One of the reason for rejection can also be lack of funding’s with the applicant.

Tip: : There will be a glass between you and the visa officer in the interview room. You would require to answer the questions from a mike. Make sure that you are four fingers away from the mike while answering and reply all the questions positively.

FAQ's (Search Content)

We have listed with a few frequently asked questions for the process of H1B visa stamping process by the applicants:

1. When am I allowed to enter the US on my H1B visa?

The USCIS (United States Citizenship Immigration Services) will allow to enter the USA 10 days prior of starting date of your work visa, after being your H1B visa stamped.

2. When can the spouse of H1B visa start working in the USA?

The spouse and dependent of H1B visa can also apply for the employment authorization document if the H1B visa holder is having approved I-140 immigration petition from the USCIS. The spouse anddependent visa holders can work on the approved EAD till the time the H1B visa is valid of the principal visa holder.

3. How can I get my first H1B visa stamped if I am already in the USA?

If you’re already in the USA and want to get your H1B visa stamped in that case the best option will be to get is stamped from your home country.

4. What should I do if my H1B stamping is rejected?

The reason for the rejection of the H1B stamping can due to incomplete submission of documents, frauds, incomplete fees in the process. The applicant can re-apply after collecting the relevant reason for the decline in the H1B visa stamping.

5. What is Premium Processing?

Premium Processing is a service which fastens the time to process your I-129 petition from the USCIS. This doesn’t mean that premium processing will raise the chances of your selection in the lottery. It do not ensure approval in H1B visa stamping as well.

6. Do I need to leave the USA if lose my job on H1B visa?

No, you will get a 60 days of grace period from the time period of your unemployment days after losing the job from the sponsoring employer to find a new job. In case of failure in searching for a new employer one can also look into the options for their visa transfer or prepare to leave for the home country. If you lost your job and looking for new job opportunity in USA

7. For how many time can one stay in the USA on the status of H1B visa?

The total duration under the H1B Visa is for 6 years as the contract with the concerned employer. However, the H1B visa initially is approved for 3 years and the visa holder can get to work for additional 3 years in case if received with approved H1B visa extension.

8. What is H1B Visa drop box?

H1B visa drop box means that one can get their H1B visa stamped without attending any personal interview by a US visa officer only if eligible for it.

9. Can I switch to a new job before H1B visa Stamping?

Yes, but your new employer would require to request for the extension of your H1B visa while filing for your H1B petition.

10. How much time do H1B visa stamping take?

As per the demand, the H1B visa stamping process might take one to four weeks of time.