H1B - now I can fly
Sep 22nd 2004, 10:12 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
H1B - now I can fly
My passport has been returned this morning only two days after the London
embassy interview. All that was in the package was the passport itself
(with the visa safely stuck inside) and the original Notice of Approval
I797B. Big relief; now I can make travel arrangements for October.
I seem to recall reading somewhere there would be a brown envelope to take
with me when I fly to present at the port of entry. Does this not apply to
an H1B I wonder?
When I fly, do I still fill in that green-coloured card on the plane? And
which queue do I line up in to go through Immigration at the airport?
(By the way, for anyone who has their London interview scheduled and is
wondering what happens, I can report that the whole process took over three
hours. When you arrive, don't be worried if there is a long queue, as
marshals move along the queue calling out people for the next appointment
slot who then form a shorter queue. Inside, you pay your £10 cash for the
courier service, pick up a supermarket-deli ticket, and wait to be called
for the preliminary handover of papers. You go to a booth and stand up in
front of a window. I was asked for my passport, the two application forms,
the Notice of Approval, the red bank stub for the £60 fee, and that was
that. The man was very friendly.
You sit down again and wait for the interview proper, which again involves
you standing in front of a glass window again. The lady was efficient and
professional. I was asked first to produce my left index finger for
electronic printing, and have to admit my nerves had taken over after the
long wait and I got into a complete pickle as to which is my index finger.
I was asked questions about the job I have been offered, how did I find it,
what job do I do now, how long for, where was I educated, why am I
interested in going to my chosen state, and then, at the end, the lady told
me my visa had been approved, which surprised me as I didn't know they'd
tell me straight away.)
embassy interview. All that was in the package was the passport itself
(with the visa safely stuck inside) and the original Notice of Approval
I797B. Big relief; now I can make travel arrangements for October.
I seem to recall reading somewhere there would be a brown envelope to take
with me when I fly to present at the port of entry. Does this not apply to
an H1B I wonder?
When I fly, do I still fill in that green-coloured card on the plane? And
which queue do I line up in to go through Immigration at the airport?
(By the way, for anyone who has their London interview scheduled and is
wondering what happens, I can report that the whole process took over three
hours. When you arrive, don't be worried if there is a long queue, as
marshals move along the queue calling out people for the next appointment
slot who then form a shorter queue. Inside, you pay your £10 cash for the
courier service, pick up a supermarket-deli ticket, and wait to be called
for the preliminary handover of papers. You go to a booth and stand up in
front of a window. I was asked for my passport, the two application forms,
the Notice of Approval, the red bank stub for the £60 fee, and that was
that. The man was very friendly.
You sit down again and wait for the interview proper, which again involves
you standing in front of a glass window again. The lady was efficient and
professional. I was asked first to produce my left index finger for
electronic printing, and have to admit my nerves had taken over after the
long wait and I got into a complete pickle as to which is my index finger.
I was asked questions about the job I have been offered, how did I find it,
what job do I do now, how long for, where was I educated, why am I
interested in going to my chosen state, and then, at the end, the lady told
me my visa had been approved, which surprised me as I didn't know they'd
tell me straight away.)
Sep 23rd 2004, 4:48 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: H1B - now I can fly
"Louis" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> My passport has been returned this morning only two days after the London
> embassy interview. All that was in the package was the passport itself
> (with the visa safely stuck inside) and the original Notice of Approval
> I797B. Big relief; now I can make travel arrangements for October.
>
> I seem to recall reading somewhere there would be a brown envelope to take
> with me when I fly to present at the port of entry. Does this not apply to
> an H1B I wonder?
There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
> When I fly, do I still fill in that green-coloured card on the plane? And
> which queue do I line up in to go through Immigration at the airport?
No, it's the white-colored card. The green one (I-94W) is for entering
as a tourist on a visa waiver. Now you have a visa, you need to fill
the I-94 card. At the airport, go to the line for non-immigrants; only
the US citizens and green-card holders go to the oter one.
Good luck.
> My passport has been returned this morning only two days after the London
> embassy interview. All that was in the package was the passport itself
> (with the visa safely stuck inside) and the original Notice of Approval
> I797B. Big relief; now I can make travel arrangements for October.
>
> I seem to recall reading somewhere there would be a brown envelope to take
> with me when I fly to present at the port of entry. Does this not apply to
> an H1B I wonder?
There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
> When I fly, do I still fill in that green-coloured card on the plane? And
> which queue do I line up in to go through Immigration at the airport?
No, it's the white-colored card. The green one (I-94W) is for entering
as a tourist on a visa waiver. Now you have a visa, you need to fill
the I-94 card. At the airport, go to the line for non-immigrants; only
the US citizens and green-card holders go to the oter one.
Good luck.
Oct 27th 2004, 5:50 am
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 277
Re: H1B - now I can fly
Warning:
I was once given a severe dressing down by an immigration officer at Dulles Airport POE for not carrying my I-797. He told me he was putting a note on my file to have me deported if I didn't present it next time.
(The irony was, I was travelling on an E1 which does not need an I-797!)
Chris
>There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
>In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
>but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
I was once given a severe dressing down by an immigration officer at Dulles Airport POE for not carrying my I-797. He told me he was putting a note on my file to have me deported if I didn't present it next time.
(The irony was, I was travelling on an E1 which does not need an I-797!)
Chris
>There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
>In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
>but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
Oct 27th 2004, 7:04 am
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 565
Re: H1B - now I can fly
Originally Posted by Chrisdc
Warning:
I was once given a severe dressing down by an immigration officer at Dulles Airport POE for not carrying my I-797. He told me he was putting a note on my file to have me deported if I didn't present it next time.
(The irony was, I was travelling on an E1 which does not need an I-797!)
Chris
>There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
>In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
>but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
I was once given a severe dressing down by an immigration officer at Dulles Airport POE for not carrying my I-797. He told me he was putting a note on my file to have me deported if I didn't present it next time.
(The irony was, I was travelling on an E1 which does not need an I-797!)
Chris
>There's no additional documentation for H-1B, the visa is sufficient.
>In theory, at the POE you should have the notice of approval with you,
>but I haven't heard of anybody who had to show it.
But a H1B-holder should always! carry his I-797!
