Mehamood Shaik
Oct 18 · Visa & Immigration · 2 answers
Sharing my experience in case it helps anyone preparing for their US visa interview. My profile Indian citizen, recent graduate Employer: Microsoft Purpose: Internal conference in Seattle Visa: B1/B2 The appointment process Microsoft arranged a group appointment for around 25 employees travelling to the US within a few days. We completed our fingerprints, photograph and visa interview on the same day, at the same location. We paid through US Visa Scheduling, but Microsoft coordinated the group appointment. There were multiple active interview booths. Around 21 of us got approved, but 4 were refused. The weird part All four people who got rejected were interviewed at the same booth, one after another, in the same queue. The queue apparently stopped after those four. The questions they received were along the lines of: Why are you going to the US? How long have you been at Microsoft? Have you travelled internationally before? All four were recent grads who had joined Microsoft around three months ago. They explained that they were going for a Microsoft event and had no previous international travel history. The questioning seemed quite brief, and all four were refused. My interview I explained that I was going to Seattle for an internal conference with around 1,800 participants worldwide, specifically for early-career employees and recent graduates. I was also asked about my role, tenure, salary, interview rounds, travel history and reasons to return to India. I answered honestly and directly. We received our passports roughly one day later. Honestly, having Microsoft coordinate the appointment and get biometrics and interviews done together was convenient. Big Tech perks, I guess?
- H1B
