H1 blue slip from Mumbai with comments

[orion06]

Light at the end of the tunnel

Hello friends,
I finally received the much awaited letter from the consulate to submit my passport. I'm guessing, this is it!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: MUMBAI, N IV <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Subject: Message from the U.S. Consulate Mumbai
To:

Dear Sir:

Greetings from the Nonimmigrant Visa Section of U.S. Consulate General Mumbai.

Please follow the instructions below in order to continue processing your pending visa application further.

We are ready for final processing. Please submit your passport, pending letter and the courier envelope to the Consulate General via any of the VFS offices. Please carry a copy of this email for ready reference.

Please note that this email communication does not confirm that your visa is issued at this time.

Thank you,
Regards
Mumbai NIV/lp

Here is a recap of my journey:
27 Oct: after completing my masters, enter India for Diwali (had my petition approved, fresh stamping)
2 December: Interview. Received 221g
19 January: Submitted documents
28 March: Letter to submit passport

Employer: A small startup in my field of study. 4 employees with me being the only H1B

I had spend 3 months out of status as I waited for my H1B petition approval. And earlier my EAD was denied since I had made a mistake of applying late.

Despite a complicated case like this, I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Cheers and good luck to everyone. Hold on!

[abhi1985]

@orion06

Congrats..
Finally your wait is over...

[abhi1985]

@g1984
Today I tried to e-mail "U.S.VFS helpdesk Mumbai" <[email protected]> regarding my
status of application.It's working now.You should try to e-mail them again.

[vijayvisausa]

@orion06

Congratulations....case like yours keep our hopes alive.

[sandeepiitm]

@orion06

Hearty Congrats. Your wait is over.
What kind of documents you submitted?
I am waiting since 15th Dec 2011. then Submitted all documents again on 20th Jan. So not sure whether my wait is from 15th Dec or 20th Jan but its "Waiting".

[blueguy]

Finally received the email

I finally received email from mumbai consulate to submit passport.

Here are details of my case:

Interview date : 19 dec 2011
documents submitted : 27 dec 2011
email received to submit passport : 28 march 2012
Employer : direct employee

good luck to everyone !!

@orion06
What is pending letter mentioned in the email ?
What documents are you planning to submit along with passport ?
Do you have any idea how much time it takes to get back passport ?

[orion06]

Light at the end of the tunnel

@orion06

Hearty Congrats. Your wait is over.
What kind of documents you submitted?
I am waiting since 15th Dec 2011. then Submitted all documents again on 20th Jan. So not sure whether my wait is from 15th Dec or 20th Jan but its "Waiting".

Thanks.
I had submitted company tax papers, bank statements, employee details, my academic records, company contracts if any...
I understand the pain but I have no idea how the consulate works. Just hold on!

@orion06
What is pending letter mentioned in the email ?
What documents are you planning to submit along with passport ?
Do you have any idea how much time it takes to get back passport ?

The 221g letter that we got.
I'm carrying my H1B petition letter, CEAC code, Email copy, Appointment letter and HDFC slip just to be sure
IMHO I don't know. But I'm guessing about 4-5 days?

[sandeepiitm]

@blueguy
Wow.. Congratulations to you too. 2 good news on same day. Please pray for us to get out of this frustrating phase.
Wish you good luck.

@blueguy
What documents you submitted?

[blueguy]

@sandeepiitm
Thanks.
I submitted detailed description of project, copy of petition, my academic certificates, my w2s and income tax returns of 3 yrs

[bluehat]

Got a reply from mumbai consulate today -

Please follow the instructions below in order to continue processing your pending visa application further. You DO NOT require scheduling another appointment. Please visit the Consulate General any business day at 9.30 am with your pending letter, passport, courier envelope and other documents pertaining to your visa application.

My petition was re affirmed by the USCIS on 23rd feb, It took them more than a month to call for the second interview.

I hope i get through this.

[krish_kk123]

221g Blue from Chennai

Am glad to see 2 H1bs getting cleared on the same day,,,,as someone just mentioned this will serve us some more energy to keep our frustration levels under control. I have been waiting since Jan 13th without any updates,,,,just hoping to see something good today or tomorrow.

Anyways,,,,,Guys pls keep posting.......

[vishal416]

@orion06 and blueguy

guys, awesome news.. congratulations... hopefully u ll get ur visa s stamped ina few days... morethan congratulating on getting this approval, you guys should be congratulated on having faith and patience since this long.

I m also waiting since 6th Jan, to hear back from the Consulate.

[sandeepiitm]

@blueguy and @orion

Is your employer has more than 50% employee who are not on H1b?
I read one article and US is making sure that company can file H1b only if they have more than 50% employee who are US citizen or on GC.

[orion06]

Thanks everyone. Yes, faith and patience are the only two things that I had during this period. I kept loosing one or the other from time to time but alas, saw a light.

@sandeepiitm
My employer is a small startup (founded in 2009) consisting of 4 US citizens and me being the only and first H1B. I remember people raising doubts against very small companies. But as you can see, that isn't the case always. I like to believe that as long as your documents are proper with no discrepancies anywhere, one should get through. And no, there is no rule of 50% that I know of.

[orion06]

So I just came back from the consulate after submitting the passport. Back in December, during my interview, they had asked me to get a new passport (old one was visibly damaged) which I did during the waiting period and submitted it along with the old one today. Now, I just hope that this doesn't add to any further delays.
Fingers crossed!