I have a H1B visa interview at the embassy. What can I expect?

Question

The interview is at the US embassy in the UK what can I expect. And my UK passport has 2 years left on it. Will this cause a problem.

Answer 1

Your passport should be no problem.   Arrive at the embassy half an hour before your appointment.  Do not bring a camera, cellphone or even car keyring with battery control for doors etc.  They will NOT let you in with them, or keep them for you until you come out again.  there is a little newsagents just down from the Embassy that will keep stuff like that for you.  They charge 5 pounds.  

You will need to queue outside the embassy.  There is no shelter from rain.   You will need to show proof of your appointment, and your visa application.  Then you go into a security area where you go through same procedure as you do when going through airport security.

Then you go round into the embassy and they check your documentation again.  Then you go take a seat and wait on your number being called.  It is always busy so be prepared for a wait.  I was over 3 hours to get a visa.  They may call you twice.

Make sure you do have all your paperwork and any extra proof that they ask you to bring with you.  If you forget even one thing, you will NOT get in.

And when you do get your visa.  You will probably not get it away with you.  They will send it and your passport back to you via courier.   It cost me 14 pounds.   But some folk had to pay 20 pounds.  They accept cash or credit card, but not Visa electron.  I was just down for a visa a couple of weeks ago.

Also the visa does not gauruntee entry to USA.  You need to show as much proof and more that you are able to support yourself, and have good reason to return to UK at the end of your Visa.  If Homeland security is not convinced, they can make you go right back to UK.

Here is US Embassy website.  Just click on "Visas to the U.S. it tells you all the stuff you need there.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/

Hope all goes well.

Answer 2

2 years before expiration of your passport is plenty, so don't worry about that.

At the interview they will probably ask you about the employment related to your applications: what title it is, what your responsibilities are, what the company does, etc. Also, they might ask about your employment and education background, why you qualify for that job, etc. They might also ask you what kind of living arrangements you have/will have, what your spouse does, things like that.

Answer 3

Expect them to ask you a bunch of stupid questions like, how many times you go to the bathroom a day?