Is it okay to select regional language for H1-B interview?

[lakshya]

Hi all,

I just booked my H1-B visa appointment online for Nov 27 in Mumbai but only Hindi was available. I did not want to risk it because I already have my tickets purchased so I just went ahead with it. Does anyone know if it is okay to take the interview in a regional language or should I cancel? The problem is that I will have to wait 24 hours before making a new appointment and date are not guaranteed if I cancel my current appointment.

Any help will be highly appreciated!

Thanks.

[abhishek78]

Hi all,

I just booked my H1-B visa appointment online for Nov 27 in Mumbai but only Hindi was available. I did not want to risk it because I already have my tickets purchased so I just went ahead with it. Does anyone know if it is okay to take the interview in a regional language or should I cancel? The problem is that I will have to wait 24 hours before making a new appointment and date are not guaranteed if I cancel my current appointment.

Any help will be highly appreciated!

Thanks.

Considering current situation, I wont cancel any appointment, if I were you. You can always go during interview and tell you are fine with English, you opted for regional language as no dates were available with English. I dont think language preference will matter. That's my opinion.

[lakshya]

Considering current situation, I wont cancel any appointment, if I were you. You can always go during interview and tell you are fine with English, you opted for regional language as no dates were available with English. I dont think language preference will matter. That's my opinion.

Thanks. This is exactly what I have decided to do.

[spreeth84]

I would like to do the same. But I am just wondering if that could possibly work against you.
Maybe I will call Stanley and ask this tomorrow. Hoping someone has done this in the past and has some inputs

[raghvi]

I would like to do the same. But I am just wondering if that could possibly work against you.
Maybe I will call Stanley and ask this tomorrow. Hoping someone has done this in the past and has some inputs

I would not risk it. Other language interview are designed for specific people and purposes who cant communicate in English. Just because an interview date for English is not available immediately/as per ones convenience one should not by pass the system and take a local language appointment and then later on say that they are ok to do interview in English. Imagien if everyone starts doing the same.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

[amrika]

I think Raghvi is right.

[abhishek78]

I would not risk it. Other language interview are designed for specific people and purposes who cant communicate in English. Just because an interview date for English is not available immediately/as per ones convenience one should not by pass the system and take a local language appointment and then later on say that they are ok to do interview in English. Imagien if everyone starts doing the same.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

Possible. But on the other hand, it's a preferred language for interview, not the ONLY language that the person can speak in. And already everyone is doing it, as the new system is so crappy, no one can even find a date for interview in English. If consulate reject a case based on non-English language preference, even seeing the person been working in US for many many years, that'll be totally ridiculous. I think it'll be very improbable.

Disclaimer: My personal opinion, not a legal advice.

[ssd8278]

Possible. But on the other hand, it's a preferred language for interview, not the ONLY language that the person can speak in. And already everyone is doing it, as the new system is so crappy, no one can even find a date for interview in English. If consulate reject a case based on non-English language preference, even seeing the person been working in US for many many years, that'll be totally ridiculous. I think it'll be very improbable.

Disclaimer: My personal opinion, not a legal advice.

Absolutely agree to that! Either you sit looking at dates 24/7 and still no guarantee that it will be available OR reschedule your vacation/wedding/surgery etc etc as per consulate's kindness in allotting dates OR take what is available and still not break their rules!
And repeating what abhishek78 said,your employer would have never hired you to work in US if you were not able to speak English.And since you are still working there and not yet fired,that means you fit DOL/USCIS etc requirement.So why would the consulate question or have a problem with that?

P.S. Totally my personal opinion. Not an advice!

[abhishek78]

... Either you sit looking at dates 24/7 ....

I so wish we could atleast do that....but no, some 'great' designer of the system once woke up and thought, 'hmmm, I dont think a web application server can take more than few thousand requests per day, lets stop user checking for date from more than 10 times'. Being in s/w myself, I can even imagine which stupid idiot gave such a person any job.

[ssd8278]

I so wish we could atleast do that....but no, some 'great' designer of the system once woke up and thought, 'hmmm, I dont think a web application server can take more than few thousand requests per day, lets stop user checking for date from more than 10 times'. Being in s/w myself, I can even imagine which stupid idiot gave such a person any job.

I know! Even IRCTC does not do that! lol.. Its a different story that it takes its own sweet time to respond and sometimes book tickets for you..
Jokes apart...I totally understand how frustrating it might be for people looking up interview dates being in the same boat myself! The day this process changed, I contacted vfs thru email/phone many times and asked them when should I start looking for Nov last week dates. They said they dont know.Fill up the form,pay the fee and then keep checking.Finally they even stopped responding on chat.. I thought may be it will open up 2-3 weeks before like in the previous process.Moreover the appointment wait times option on call/web said 8,6 or 2 days.. Asked people,looked up dates.. no luck. Ended up booking a date in Hindi,cancelled it looking at responses on web saying its not recommended.again called the center,no convincing reply.Booked the same slot again,in Hindi as nothing was available.
Just hope it does not create problems

[happybuddha]

I think Raghvi is right.

Me too.
I think the negative prejudice most non-Indians(Americans in this case) develop is due to the lack of candor and demeanor of a few people who are always trying to act smart and think they can stay a step ahead of all other people who are waiting in queue to do the right thing. In my opinion, they are just waiting for bad news, which is bound to come sooner or later. Remember, the VOs can ban you from entering the US for life if they find misrepresentation of facts or choices.

[shravan87]

I would like to do the same. But I am just wondering if that could possibly work against you.
Maybe I will call Stanley and ask this tomorrow. Hoping someone has done this in the past and has some inputs

Did you get any info from Stanley? or any other sources ?