Electronic Form I-94–Automation Started by CBP

 

Due to the Automation Process started by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from 30th of April, 2013, USCIS has begun updating certain forms requesting applicants and petitioners to enter the admission number from their Form I-94 and/or their:

• Passport information, including passport number, country of issuance and expiration date; and
• Travel Document information, including Travel Document number, country of issuance and expiration date.

[Source – USCIS]

So, prior to this automation, the Form I-94 which was given to you by the airline staff to fill up and submit it to CBP at the port of entry, is not needed anymore.

You can pull your electronic Form I-94 in paper format from CBP’s website (www.cbp.gov/I94).

In USA on H-1B–International Driving Permit, Foreign Driver License, Interim Permit and Learner Permit

 

If you have your International Driving Permit - IDP along with your Foreign Country’s Driver License, you can drive up to 6 months or so, depending upon which state you are in. But you ultimately going to need a USA Driver License.

To start with, you will have to apply for a Learner’s Permit, which requires you to appear for a written test at your nearest DMV office. Depending upon which state you are in, you can download the State-Specific Driver’s Manual from State’s DMV Website. For example, for New York State, you can get the Driver Manual from New York’s DMV Website. Besides that you can also get a printed copy, free of charge, of the same Driver’s Manual from a nearby local DMV Office.

You need to have at least 6 points of proof of identity. For any new arrival, following can be used to accumulate 6 points:

1. Foreign Passport with I-94 – Primary ID – 4 points
2. Social Security Card – Secondary ID – 1 point
3. ATM or Debit Card – Secondary ID – 1 point

Click here for an Online 6 Point Document Selector for the state of New Jersey.

Fees (Source: NY DMV):

Once you successfully passed the Test, you will be given an Interim Permit immediately, which looks like:

Within two weeks you will receive the original Learner Permit in your mail box, which looks like:

Job Hunting in USA on H-1B–Preparing your Resume/CV

 

You should have to two sets of Resume/CV – a brief one and a detailed one. Wherever you apply, you should use your brief Resume/CV. If, they need more detail, they’ll ask you and then you can send them the detailed one.

You should not mention any personal information in your resume – like:

• Date of Birth
• Age
• Nationality
• Religion
• Race/Cast
• Passport#
• Marital Status
• Languages

As for your educational background – use terms that are known in USA. For example:

In USA	In Pakistan
School - Grades 1 - 5	Primary
School - Grades 6 - 8	Middle
School - Grades 9 & 10	Matric / Matriculation / SSC / O-Level
School - Grades 11 & 12	Inter / Intermediate / HSC / A-Level / FSC / FA

Do not mention the location of your School/College/University. For example:

B.S (Computer Engineering) in 2001 from Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Similarly, in your work experience, do not mention the location of your workplace. For example:

Java Developer – May, 2001 to Mar, 2003 – Al Ghanem Net LLC, Karachi Pakistan.

If you have worked in companies who are known globally or in USA or have a representation in USA, then also mention them. For example:

Senior Software Engineer II – Northstar Technologies Inc. (Sibisoft Pvt Ltd)

Make sure, you have clearly mentioned following in your work experience:

• What role you played in each of the projects you worked on
• What technologies and tools you used in each of the projects

Make sure you’ve mentioned your primary email and mobile/cell number clearly on your resume/cv.

In USA on H-1B–First Thing First–Start Building Your Credit History or Credit Score

 

You need to open a Checking Account in a Bank. For those of you who are coming from Pakistan, what you call Current Account in Pakistan is called Checking Account in USA. To open a Checking Account you need your Original Passport and I-94. You will receive a Photo Debit Card, which you can use in ATMs, POS machines, Online Purchasing etc.

! Interest Alert ! Banks also have Saving Accounts which works on interest.

Similarly, you’ll have to apply for a Secure Credit Card. The only difference between a Secure Credit Card and a regular Credit Card is that you pay for your Credit Line in advance to safe the Bank from risk of defaulted payments. While in case regular Credit Card, Bank offers you a certain amount of Credit Line depending upon your Credit History or Credit Score. But, because you are new to USA and you don’t have any Credit History or Credit Score yet, so you have an option to “buy” your Credit Line for your “Secure” Credit Card. If you pay $2000, your Credit Line will be $2000, so on and so forth. Other than that, there’s no difference in a Secure and a regular Credit Card, both works exactly the same.

If you are short on money, than a minimum recommended Credit Line for a Secure Credit Card is $2000. Although, you can go for less than that too.

! Interest Alert ! In order to build your Credit History or Credit Score, you will have to do your purchases via Credit Card. So it is recommended to always synchronize your purchases with the amount you have in your Debit Card or Checking Account. Always, clear your Credit at the end of every month. Finally, if you are going through tough times and are short on money, stop using Credit Cards altogether, or you will be lost in the maze of interest with no outlet.

So what Credit Reporting/History/Score is?

Credit reporting is a system lenders use to decide whether or not to give you credit or a loan and how much interest they can charge you for it. Your credit report is based on the bills payments you have missed or been late paying, loans that you have paid off, plus your current amount of debt. A credit report contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) gather this information and sell it to creditors, employers, insurers, and others.

Based on the information in your credit report, lenders calculate your credit score so they can assess the risk you pose to them before they decide whether they will give you credit. The higher your score, the less risk you pose to creditors. Your score can range anywhere from 300-850.. Aiming for a score in the 700s will put you in good standing. A high score, for example, makes it easier for you to obtain a loan, rent an apartment, or lower your insurance rate.[Source – USA.GOV]

How to improve your Credit Score?

Make sure you get your apartment, car, utilities, telephone and services in your name and make sure you pay all your bills and rent on time.

In USA on H-1B–First Thing First–Your Social Security

 

The first thing you should do is to get enroll for Social Security.

You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card. Do not carry your card with you. Keep it in a safe place with your other important papers. [Source – SSA]

You only need I-94 and your original Passport, which will be a proof of your Age and your Identity, which is required to file an application for Social Security Number/Card.

You can locate the SSA offices or affiliates that are closest to you from - https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

When you reach the relevant SSA office, you will have to fill an application form called, Form SS-5, see snapshot below:

Officials will ask some questions mostly related to your Age and/or Identity i.e. your Passport. If every thing is ok, then they will inform you about the time when you can expect the Social Security Card in your Mail.

A Social Security Card looks like:

Valid for work only with DHS Authorization.

New Birth Certificate in English from NADRA–Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

Why New Birth Certificate from NADRA?

Older birth certificates are in Urdu Language and in order for them to be used in processes in foreign countries (Green Card processing, for example), you need to get a new one issued from NADRA.

Location / Address / Map

Any NADRA Swift Registration Center NSRC.

NSRC @ Awami Markaz, Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi.

View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday through Saturday – 9:00 to 17:00 PST

Fees & Duration:

• Fee - PKR 50
• Duration – 5 days

Required Documents:

1. Photocopy of CNIC of your parents
2. Original Birth Certificate, if you have one
1. If you do not have original certificate, than an application from your parents, confirming the date of birth
3. Photocopy of your CNIC

Process:

1. Fill the form, shown above
2. Attach all the documents mentioned above
3. Submit the form and documents to any NSRC
4. Get the receipt

International Driving Permit–IDP– Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

Why International Driving Permit?

An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in USA.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in USA, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

Location / Address / Map

View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday to Saturday - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday - 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Lunch Break - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Required Documents:

1. Three recent Passport size photographs
2. Photocopy of Valid Passport and Valid Visa Copy
3. Photocopy of Local Driving License
4. Photocopy of CNIC
5. Medical Certificate

Fees & Duration:

• Fee ~ PKR 600
• Duration – Same or next day.

Process:

1. There’s a Post Office opposite to the Clifton Driving License Branch. Go there and buy stamp ticket for International Driving Permit.
2. Go to the Reception Area and ask for International Driving Permit form
3. Fill the form, paste the stamp ticket on the top right corner.
4. Attach photocopies of documents mentioned in the section above
5. Keep original documents with yourself which you may have to show to the Driving License Branch Officials.
6. Attach photographs
7. Submit the filled form with all attachments.
8. There’s a fee which you have to pay
9. You will have to appear before the License Authority to get your IDP approved and collect it at the same time.

Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp on Passport–Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

What is Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp?

For every Pakistani citizen, who is going abroad for any reason, it is a mandatory requirements to get NICOP, Life Insurance and Protectorate of Emigrants stamp on his/her passport. It is IMPORTANT to note that without the Protectorate of Emigrants stamp, ASF/FIA/Custom officials at the airport will not allow you to get onboard.

Location / Address / Map:

Protector of Emigrants
Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
14-J, Block No.6, Near KFC,
Nursery, PECHS, Karachi.
View Larger Map

Timings:

Submissions are only allowed during 09:00 and 12:30 PST. On Friday submissions are only allowed during 09:00 and 11:00 PST

Required Documents:

1. Original Passport – with H-1B Visa Stamp
2. 4 Photocopies of #1
3. Original I-797
4. 3 Photocopies of #3
5. Original Computerized National Identity Card CNIC
6. 4 Photocopies of #3
7. Original National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis NICOP – If you have have applied for the NICOP and have the Token issued by NADRA, than this NICOP Token would also suffice.
8. 3 Photocopies of #5
9. Original Employment Offer or Contract
10. 4 Photocopies of #7
11. Resignation Letter given to previous employer
12. NOC if your last employer was a Government functionary
13. Life Insurance
14. 2 CNIC Photocopies of your blood relative i.e. Father, Mother, Siblings, Children – required for Life Insurance
15. Bank Challan Receipts
16. Information Form
17. Photographs – At least 4.
18. For #4 and #17 above – If you have more, keep them with yourself, because it’s my experience that our government departments are too obsessed with collecting Photographs and Photocopies of CNIC. The amount of photocopies of documents these government department requires, each one of them “attested” with a 17 or higher grade officer is just insane! I believe this is the main reason why stationary guys and notary public guys are still in business :)

Fees & Duration:

• Fees – Total PKR 6,500 – See breakdown below:
1. State Life Insurance – PKR 2.000
2. Employee’s Welfare Fund – PKR 2,000
3. Protector Registration Fee – PKR 2,500
• Duration – Same day

Process:

• IMPORTANT TIP: Go straight to #10 i.e. the Helper Guy. You will see a man, in his late forties. Ask him about the process, he will guide you step by step, fill your forms, challan, etc, make your file ready to submit by yourself and will accept any nominal fees from you for his services. He doesn’t seems to be greedy as you usually see such places. Seems educated and very polite person to talk to. In my experience, the government should hire him for helping people in such a great manner. But then I thought, may be when he is hired, he might become one of those that are sitting on government seats!
• For all those who can remember the steps and can go through the process on their own, read further
• Go to #7 i.e. Reception Area and tell them that you want the Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp on your Passport.
• They will ask to show the required documents
• They will issue you the Information Form, NBP Challan etc.
• Now, you will have to submit Challan and Fees to three different banks; National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited and United Bank Limited.
• See the map below to locate these:
  View Larger Map 
  
• Go “inside” HBL first and ask for “Employee’s Welfare Fund” Challan. Fill the challan, submit PKR 2,000 and get the receipt.
• Go to the window of NBP, the one which is on the far right side – see the small red circle mark on the image map above. Submit the challan along with PKR 2,500 and get the receipt.
• Go “inside” UBL, fill the “Deposit Slip” with following details
• Account# – 621-7
• Title of Account – State Life
• Amount – PKR 2,000
• Submit the Deposit Slip along with PKR 2,000 and get the receipt.
• Go to photocopy shop and make copies 2 copies of all the receipts
• Go back to the Protectorate of Emigrants Office, fill the forms, attach photocopies, photos, Challans, and other required documents, mentioned above.In what sequence? please ask that Helper Guy I mentioned in first point, because I just forgot the sequence :)
• Present this file (containing all documents, challans, etc) to Reception Area i.e. #7 in the image above.
• You will then be asked to take this file to the Protector of Emigrants Registration Section show at #16 in the image above.
• The Protector of Emigrants Registration Section will check all documents and will send the file to the Protector of Emigrant Officer
• Protector of Emigrant Officer will sign, emboss on Passport and forward the file to the Briefing Section
• At 15:00 PST the Briefing Section will conduct a session where he/she will brief all the newly protected individuals with all the necessary aspects of rights on foreign soil, protection of Government of Pakistan, Insurance matters, Incident and Health Hazards, etc..
• After the briefing session, you will be handed over your original documents which includes the Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp on your Passport.

Post H-1B Visa Stamping–National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis–NICOP

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

What is NICOP:

NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) is a registration document to be issued to a valid/legitimate citizen of Pakistan. It is actually an English version of your Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).

Location / Address / Map:

Any NADRA Swift Registration Center (NSRC).

TIP: If you are also planning to apply for Protectorate of Emigrants Stamp, then, there’s a NADRA Swift Registration Center NSRC inside the same building hosting the Office of the Protectorate of Emigrants.

Protector of Emigrants
Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
14-J, Block No.6, Near KFC,
Nursery, PECHS, Karachi.
View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday through Saturday - 09:00 - 17:00 PST

Required Documents:

1. Passport
2. Computerized National Identity Card – CNIC

Fees & Duration:

1. Normal – 30 days – PKR 4,500
2. Urgent – 15 days – PKR 5,000
3. Executive – 7 working days – PKR 6,000

Process:

1. You will be asked to show original CNIC and Passport
2. Official of NADRA will fill a form and get your signatures
3. Your picture will be taken
4. Your finger prints will be taken
5. You will be handed over a print-out of completed form
6. You will have to get this printed completed form, attested with a 17 or higher grade officer
7. You will than have to submit the attested form to NADRA
8. On submission NADRA will issue you a token, carrying unique number to track your case and as a proof of evidence that your NICOP is actually in process.
9. TIP: if you have to get the Protectorate of Emigrants stamp as well, you can use this NICOP token instead of waiting for the NICOP card.

Tracking or Checking Status:

You can check the status of your NICOP application online via NADRA website:

http://www.nadra.gov.pk/index.php/search/tracking

Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

I will now discuss about post visa stamping action items in a series of post, these includes:

1. Verify H-1B Visa Information – Verify if all the information mentioned in your H-1B Visa is correct and no information is missing.
   
2. Get your NICOP – National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis – from NADRA
   
3. Get your Passport Stamped by Protector of Emigrants, Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment
   
4. Get your International Driving Permit (IDP) [OPTIONAL]
   
5. Get your new Birth Certificate from NADRA [Required for GC in future]
   • New Computerized Birth Certificate for Green Card or Permanent Residence
     
6. If you do not have the old Birth Certificate than you need 3 Affidavits; One from your Mother and two from very close relative; testifying your Date of Birth [Required for GC in future]
   
7. Before you Fly – Tips

221(g) Administrative Processing and the Actual Visa Stamping

 

On the day of your H-1B Visa Interview at US Consulate or Embassy, when Visa Officer finished asking questions, he/she will conclude the interview by letting you know whether you succeed or failed in the interview. If you succeed, there are two cases:

1. The Visa Officer hand over to you a 221(g) Administrative Processing Form and say that Administrative Processing is required in your case.
   
   It is possible that the Visa Officer will ask for some more documents related to you or your Sponsor, which you and/or your Sponsor has not submitted throughout the process. Not that these documents were required initially, but they might need them in your case for further clarification.

   It is also possible that they don’t ask for any further documents and your application still have to go through the Administrative Process.

   The actual amount of wait might also vary from case to case. Generally they give you the time of 6 to eight weeks, but in actual it can be less or more than.

   “After the interview, many visa applications necessitate further routine but required administrative processing, an integral part of the visa adjudication process that can be neither waived nor expedited. Individuals whose applications require this processing will be informed of that fact at the conclusion of their interview. Most administrative processing is completed within 60 to 90 days of the visa interview, but some cases do take longer. We cannot predict how long this processing will take for any particular case.”

   Source - http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant_visa_faqs.html

    

2. The Visa Office will inform you about an estimated time frame when your H-1B Visa will be stamped on your Passport.

UPDATE – You can now Check your Visa Application Status Online, click to read more

In either cases, once your H-1B Visa is stamped on your Passport and your Passport is ready to be collected from American Express, you will receive a call from American Express representative to come and pick it up.

On the Interview Day - US Embassy/Consulate’s Interview Process for H-1B Visa Applicants

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

• Try to reach 10 to 15 minutes early on the interview day. Please note that it is not recommended by the Consulate to reach earlier than 10 to 15 minutes.

• Parking – If you are on personal conveyance than you can park your vehicle at the locations highlighted with green lines, in the picture below:

1. Outside the premises of US Consulate Karachi - The security personnel will register your entry by asking your Name, Passport Number and Check In Time
2. Main Gate – Through which you enter into the US Consulate Karachi’s premises.
3. Security Check – You will asked to hand over whatever folder, file you have. Besides that you will be asked to take off your leather belts, wallets, glasses, keys, in fact any thing that is other than your clothes. Once checked and satisfied, they will return your items back to you.
4. Walk way to the main waiting area.
5. Waiting area with a shed and seating arrangements for applicants
6. Waiting area with a shed and seating arrangements for applicants
7. Entrance gate to the building
8. Finger Printing Area – Your finger prints will be taken and your height will be measured. They will also ask in which language you want to give the interview, if you have already not checked it on the sticker that was pasted by American Express on the back or front of your passport.
9. The final waiting area – Contains at least 9 or 10 rows of 4 seats each like:
   [01 [05 [09
   [02 [06 [10
   [03 [07 [11
   [04 [08 [12 …..
10. Interview Counters – Visa Offer’s Interview Counters – Total of 5 or 6.

The total process from your entry into the premises as mentioned in #1 above, up till your interview and exit, it would take around 2 and a half hours or so. The actual interview with the Visa Officer will be just around 15 minutes or so.

Finally, what Visa Officer will ask in the interview? stay tuned for next post on this.

Interview at US Embassy/Consulate

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

1. All visa applicants, irrespective of age (including infants), are required to appear for an interview at the designated Embassy/ Consulate on the specified date. All applicants below age 14 must appear along with their parents, copies of parents NIC should be provided while submitting the applications.
2. Applicants must carry following documents while appearing for the interview:
   • Valid Original Passport and all previous passports
   • Fee Receipt issued by AEG having the interview date specified on it
   • Original academic degrees/ diplomas/ certificates with a photocopy set of all those documents
   • Any other documents, at their own discretion, to support their visa case (e.g. full travel details, detailed educational information etc.)
   • Original CNIC
3. At the interview, visa officer after review of your application may ask for additional information from you; and will advise the decision on your visa application. Following situations are likely
   • Visa is refused; passport will be returned by the visa officer
   • Visa is approved with some additional administrative process; either a letter would be given to that effect and passport is retained or on your request passport can be returned
   • Visa is approved; passport will be retained and will be returned after a week or so through the visa center where the application was submitted
4. On receipt of the Passport with visa sticker from the Embassy/ Consulate, applicant will be notified on his/ her contact number. You may collect passport personally or through an authorized representative in writing along with copy of his CNIC on surrendering one original Receipt and the letter given by the Visa officer.
5. If you have taken back the passport prior to visa issuance, you would be advised by the Embassy/ Consulate to submit passport once the visa is ready. You are required to submit passport through the Visa Center on payment of applicable service charges. On receipt of passport back from Embassy/ Consulate same process as defined in point 9 will be followed.

Nonimmigrant Visa Unit - Karachi
U.S. Consulate General
Plot No 3-5, New TPX Area
Mai Kolachi Road
Karachi, Pakistan
Phone Inquiries:
(+92-21) 3527-5000
Monday - Friday, 2:00 to 3:00 PM

Fax: (+92-21) 3527-5885
For visa related inquiries: KarachiVisaQuery@State.gov
View Larger Map

Submit H-1B Visa Documents and Fees to American Express and Schedule your Embassy/Consulate Interview

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

Once you have submitted online your Nonimmigrant Visa Application DS-160, you have to submit following documents and fees to:

American Express
Ground Floor, Shaheen Complex
Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road
PABX 92-21 3263 0260-80
amextravelkarachi@aeg.com.pk
Web: http://www.aegusvisa.com.pk/

View Larger Map

List of Documents to submit:

1. Confirmation page of DS-160
2. Original Passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of submission along with an enlarged (A4 size) copy of the first two pages of current and old passport. Original passport would be returned after due verification
3. Copies of previous passports first 2/4 pages, covering 15 years of travel
4. Travel history form for last 10 years. You will get a paper document from American Express on which you can fill your Travel history.
5. One photograph; having size of 2X2 inches preferably color photograph taken against a white or off-white background, printed without borders on non glossy paper. Computer Scanned photographs are not acceptable and photograph cannot be modified in any way, re-touched, penciled or altered by computer software Photograph should have been taken within last 6 months.
6. I-797, I-29
7. HEC Form – You will get this document from American Express. Fill it, sign it and attach it with the rest of the documents
8. Original SSC (Metric) Certificate
9. Original HSSC (Inter) Certificate
10. Original Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD’s Degree/Certificate
11. Original SSC (Matric) Marks Sheet
12. Original HSSC (Inter) Marks Sheet
13. Original Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD’s Transcript
14. Submit H-1B Visa Fee - US$190
1. Do not forget to get the receipt
15. Once you submit all these to American Express
1. Take receipt against submitted visa application
2. Take an interview appointment date. (Interview date will be noted on the Visa Fee Receipt).

Submit Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application DS-160

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

Once you’ve received your H-1B Package from your Sponsor, you can now go ahead and submit the Online Non-immigration Visa Application DS-160. The DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form, is for temporary travel to the United States. Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

Go to Consular Electronic Application Center website. This website is hosted by US State Department and they recommend that you use Internet Explorer or Firefox browser to access the DS-160.

Before you start filling the DS-160, make sure you have following documents with you:

• Photo (digital or soft copy). Please refer to the Photograph Requirements for detailed guidance.
• Passport
• Travel itinerary, if you have already made travel arrangements.
• Dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States, if you have previously travelled to the United States. You may also be asked for your international travel history for the past five years.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae - You may be required to provide information about your current and previous education and work history.
• Other Information - Some applicants, depending on the intended purpose of travel, will be asked to provide additional information when completing the DS-160.

Do note that, you can save your application or return to a partially completed application. When you begin a new DS-160, you will be issued a unique application identification (ID) number after selecting and answering a security question. Write down the Application ID displayed on the top right-hand corner of the page. If you need to close the browser before submitting your application, you will need this Application ID to continue your application.

IMPORTANT – You have to fill separate DS-160 for every family member going with you to USA. Once you finish your DS-160, on the “Thank You” page you will see an option to create a family or group application. When you select this option, certain information from your application, such as destination, will automatically be imported to and displayed on a new application.

After you have completed the DS-160, you must take these next steps below:

• Print and keep the DS-160 confirmation barcode page. (You do not need to print the full application.)

The Sponsor will send the H-1B Package Documents to the Candidate

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

Once your H-1B petition I-129 is approved and your Sponsor received the I-797B Approval Notice from USCIS, your sponsor will courier you, that original I-797B along with a copy of your petition which includes all documents submitted to USCIS for case approval.

The H-1B Package you will receive from your Sponsor via courier include following documents:

1. Original I-797B Approval Notice as show here
2. Copy of your H-1B Petition I-129
3. Copy of all documents which your sponsor submit along with your H-1B Petition I-129 to USCIS
   1. Copy of your Resume / CV
   2. Copy of your Degrees / Transcripts / Certificates
   3. Copy of your Passport
   4. Copy of your Education Evaluation Letter
   5. Copy of your Offer Letter with complete Job Description
   6. Copy of an official letter from Sponsor describing why you are a best fit for the job
   7. Copy of your US Itinerary
   8. Copy of any other supported documents that Sponsor has submitted to USCIS

How courier will deliver your package?

The delivery mechanism for such a package is little different from normal courier deliveries. Once the local city office receives your package, they will call you on your mobile/cell phone and confirm with you if you are expecting a package delivery from USA. Once you confirm them, they will send the rider to your location and the rider will deliver the package and get your signatures at the time of delivery.

List of Document required by H-1B Work Visa Sponsor

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

Once you have accepted the Offer Letter from H-1B Work Visa Sponsor. You will be required to submit following information and scanned copies of documents for the processing:

Information Required

1. First Name
2. Middle Name
3. Last Name
4. Any other Names used
   
5. Email Address
6. Contact Number(s)
7. Date of Birth
8. Country of Birth
9. Province of Birth
10. Country of Citizenship
    
11. Passport #
12. Date Issued
13. Date of Expiry (MUST BE VALID FOR A MIN. OF 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR)
14. Consulate/Embassy (City) in your Country
15. Country
    
16. Ever been on H-1B visa before?
1. If yes then provide all dates of previous stay in From Date / To Date format
17. Social Security Number / SSN (if any)
    
18. Highest Level of Education Completed
19. Total Years of Experience in IT industry
    
20. Additional info for those who are already in USA
1. Date of Last Arrival
2. I-94#
3. Port of Entry
4. Current US Address
5. Current Status
6. Previous Receipt / Case Number

List of Documents

1. Scanned Color Copies of:
1. Passport (Biographic Pages)
2. Resume
3. All Diplomas / Certificates
4. Degrees and Transcripts (with Translation into English, if required)
5. Previous Work Experience / Job Reference Letters
6. Additional documents for those who are already in USA
1. Scanned Color Copies of:
1. I-94 with visible stamped date of entry
2. Previous Approval Notice(s)
3. Recent Pay Stubs

IMPORTANT – Please make sure you have Machine Readable Passport which must be valid for a min of one year.