An Indian Reddit user recently shared their B1 visa approval experience on the platform, offering practical insights and encouragement for others navigating the U.S. visa process. The individual, who is married with a child, received their business visa approval on June 13 at the Chennai U.S. Consulate, following a seamless interview process.
The journey began with biometrics on June 5 at the Delhi VAC, which reportedly took less than 10 minutes due to minimal crowd. For the main interview in Chennai, the applicant had a 9:00 AM appointment, arrived early at 8:15 AM, and was promptly let in. The entire process was completed by 8:45 AM, marking a swift and efficient experience.
The Redditor shared that the interview questions were straightforward, including:
- Purpose of visit
- Client and employer names
- Years of experience
- Visa sponsor
- Family and property ties in India
Apart from the purpose of visit, all responses were kept brief—typically one or two words. No supporting documents were requested by the visa officer.
While the atmosphere at the consulate was reportedly tense and quiet—making it easy to overhear rejections—the applicant emphasized staying focused during the interview: “Forget the surroundings and think like it’s a one-on-one conversation. This helped me a lot.”
In terms of preparation, they started by studying sample questions through Reddit and ChatGPT, even conducting mock interviews. However, they soon realized over-preparing was increasing anxiety and instead chose to stay calm in the final weeks.
The user carried an extensive set of documents, including DS-160 and appointment confirmations, salary slips, Form 16, marriage and birth certificates, property documents, and an itinerary—though none were asked for.
In a message of gratitude to the Reddit community, the applicant said, “Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. Let me know if I can help in any way.”