Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
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So, how many going from India? How many got tickets and how many got visa + tickets? I've got a ticket so far.
How many going from India to BHW Conf?
- Thread starter Paranoid Android
- Start date
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- Jan 30, 2013
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Thats nice and goodluck.I wish I will be there in next year's conf/meetup.
- Mar 26, 2013
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There's a lot of people from India wondering and asking about Visas, so if someone knows the process or has gone through it, consider making a thread or letting others from India know. Seen a fair few people saying they can't get one, so I'm sure it'd help a lot!
You'd get a high 5 from me as a thanks!
You'd get a high 5 from me as a thanks!
Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
- 2,864
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Ok So I have my visa interview scheduled for this week and I just got back from the biometrics center where I had been to have my fingerprints done. I'll throw some info on US Visa Application for Indians from my research. Appears to be pretty much the same for the rest of the world too. Unfortunately there is no cheat sheet or a BH way to get a US visa.
Here is a brief guide, typing this in a hurry on a Monday morning, so this post is going to have its problems. Feel free to post below if you have questions and I shall answer to the best of my knowledge.
The most common visa type that people apply for is the B1/B2 Visa. B1 is for business is B2 is for tourism. Check out wikipedia for usa visa types if you wish to know what all you can do with your B1 and B2 visas. You can do anything with a B1, solicit business, look for premises for an office, sign contracts blabla, register a company etc. You can't run that company with your B1 visa though, you will have to come back home and apply for an Immigrant visa. This B1B2 is a non immigrant visa type, issued for 10 years.
Thanks to New York's taxi drivers, half of whom are Indians and not being the nicest taxi drivers of all, who take the longest routes to destinations, never return change, demand $10 above meter etc., USA would like to look at all non immigrant visa applicants as Immigrants. Its a huge country 3 times the size of India with a third of its population. They find it an easier and cheaper thing to do to block all possible immigrants during the visa interview. So basically to get a visa, all that you have to do is let the interviewing officer know that you have business to take care of here and you are going to come back. You don't tell him this to his face, but what you tell him should reflect this. You are going to come back.
Give them a reason not to deny your application
Visa applications are denied in most cases because the officer feels that you don't have enough ties to your homeland. I have a wife and a growing up son, a decent balance of property, stocks, insurance etc etc and some cash in the bank to pay for my tickets and buy maybe ham burgers 3 times a day when I'm there. So this should be justification enough to not refuse a visa for me.
If you're 20 years old, don't tell them that a cpa company has employed you and they are paying you or you're going to meet your affiliate manager. Don't tell them you're going to Vegas to party either.
If you haven't traveled anywehre else and your passport has been brand new with all pages empty, the officers might not want you to be visiting their country the first time as a tourist. If you have travelled to a few other countries it is good.
Give them a reason to approve your application.
Now, why approve my visa? Do you really have a reason to go to the USA? Of course you do, the BHW conference. But it happens in Nov, and DD wants to close the early bird this Friday. If you apply for a visa today for an event thats happening in Nov, the officer might ask you why you have applied for a visa now for an event thats 7 months away. 1 or 2 months in advance is usually acceptable.
Therefore, look for other conferences happening in the USA. It doesn't have to be anything related to internet marketing. I have a relative who runs a Sodium Chloride manufacturing plant at Pondicherry. So with a letter from him saying I'm shopping for his requirements, I applied for an expo pass for $60 for a 2 day Chemical Factory Equipments event happening at Salt Lake City, and the organizers of the event were happy to give me a Visa Invitation Letter addressed to the Consular officer, Chennai USA Consulate. Bingo. Reason enough for the B1.
As for the B2, you are going to need another letter. A moderator and a good friend here on BHW was kind enough to give me a letter instantly when I asked him for one. The visa invitation letter that I got from the conference clearly states that all expenses will be my own. If you work for a company there will be a company sponsorship so you won't have much issues. But when you are an individual applying, you will need to let the officer know that you do have someone who will be there if you run out of money. So the letter addressed to the Consular Officer, US Consulate, Chennai should read something like this.
Please don't use this exact format, use a spinner or something, unique content should work better at the consulate.
How to go about it?
Do NOT hire a consultant or anyone who claims to provide usa visa assistance on CL. Your getting a visa depends on how you present yourself and what the consultant tells you might put you off course. Take my advise and do not do it.
Go to ustraveldocs.com and register there. Fill up the application form. Be Honest with the questions, in the application form, you don't want to be misrepresenting anything. Pay the fees and Schedule your Biometrics like 2 days before the interview at your consulate.
Get your Income Tax Returns for the last 3 years, bank statements for the last 1 year. Paypal statements should be an added advantage. Demat Statements, Property Tax receipts etc etc are all good.
Go get the biometrics done. They take your photo, don't smile, look right into the lens like you mean business. Get your fingerprints done next, collect your passport and you're out of there.
Go to the interview with all the docs. You can't carry your phone or other electronic devices that are potential detonators inside the consulate. Be sure to schedule your appointment for the earliest available slot. Later down the day they get tired. Also, get your appointment in the middle of the week. Nobody likes Mondays and these officers are no exception. Don't wait till Friday either, they might already be thinking about their diplomatic weekend parties or something.
Get into the consulate, get your token number, and wait for your number to be announced. There is always a queue in front of the counter where 3 people might be waiting. The visa officer observes you the way you move in the queue, body language and stuff while he is interviewing the one right in front of him. They look at you and try to figure out how desperate you are to drive a taxi, and how nervous you are, what you're wearing and stuff. I'm planning on wearing my favourite semi formals. No desperation or nervousness as for me its if I get a visa I get it, if not fuck it.
I'll update how my interview went.
Common Frequently Asked Question: What if you get a visa and you don't go to Salt Lake City to buy the Sodium Chloride manufacturing equipment on its date that you fill up at the application form, but show up in Vegas in Nov for the bhw conf?
A: Well, if you got the money, fly once to Salt Lake city to taste the waters. USA for us is the other side of the world, if not, show up in vegas, and if the immigration officer asks you why didn't you show up earlier, you tell him that your uncle bought sodium chloride manufacturing equipment from China or something and you didn't have to come, and now that you have a visa, you're here for a conference for something thats related to what you do. Show him the bhw ticket here and you should be let through.
VISA RECEIVED - METHOD COMING SOON.
Here is a brief guide, typing this in a hurry on a Monday morning, so this post is going to have its problems. Feel free to post below if you have questions and I shall answer to the best of my knowledge.
The most common visa type that people apply for is the B1/B2 Visa. B1 is for business is B2 is for tourism. Check out wikipedia for usa visa types if you wish to know what all you can do with your B1 and B2 visas. You can do anything with a B1, solicit business, look for premises for an office, sign contracts blabla, register a company etc. You can't run that company with your B1 visa though, you will have to come back home and apply for an Immigrant visa. This B1B2 is a non immigrant visa type, issued for 10 years.
Thanks to New York's taxi drivers, half of whom are Indians and not being the nicest taxi drivers of all, who take the longest routes to destinations, never return change, demand $10 above meter etc., USA would like to look at all non immigrant visa applicants as Immigrants. Its a huge country 3 times the size of India with a third of its population. They find it an easier and cheaper thing to do to block all possible immigrants during the visa interview. So basically to get a visa, all that you have to do is let the interviewing officer know that you have business to take care of here and you are going to come back. You don't tell him this to his face, but what you tell him should reflect this. You are going to come back.
Give them a reason not to deny your application
Visa applications are denied in most cases because the officer feels that you don't have enough ties to your homeland. I have a wife and a growing up son, a decent balance of property, stocks, insurance etc etc and some cash in the bank to pay for my tickets and buy maybe ham burgers 3 times a day when I'm there. So this should be justification enough to not refuse a visa for me.
If you're 20 years old, don't tell them that a cpa company has employed you and they are paying you or you're going to meet your affiliate manager. Don't tell them you're going to Vegas to party either.
If you haven't traveled anywehre else and your passport has been brand new with all pages empty, the officers might not want you to be visiting their country the first time as a tourist. If you have travelled to a few other countries it is good.
Give them a reason to approve your application.
Now, why approve my visa? Do you really have a reason to go to the USA? Of course you do, the BHW conference. But it happens in Nov, and DD wants to close the early bird this Friday. If you apply for a visa today for an event thats happening in Nov, the officer might ask you why you have applied for a visa now for an event thats 7 months away. 1 or 2 months in advance is usually acceptable.
Therefore, look for other conferences happening in the USA. It doesn't have to be anything related to internet marketing. I have a relative who runs a Sodium Chloride manufacturing plant at Pondicherry. So with a letter from him saying I'm shopping for his requirements, I applied for an expo pass for $60 for a 2 day Chemical Factory Equipments event happening at Salt Lake City, and the organizers of the event were happy to give me a Visa Invitation Letter addressed to the Consular officer, Chennai USA Consulate. Bingo. Reason enough for the B1.
As for the B2, you are going to need another letter. A moderator and a good friend here on BHW was kind enough to give me a letter instantly when I asked him for one. The visa invitation letter that I got from the conference clearly states that all expenses will be my own. If you work for a company there will be a company sponsorship so you won't have much issues. But when you are an individual applying, you will need to let the officer know that you do have someone who will be there if you run out of money. So the letter addressed to the Consular Officer, US Consulate, Chennai should read something like this.
Please don't use this exact format, use a spinner or something, unique content should work better at the consulate.
How to go about it?
Do NOT hire a consultant or anyone who claims to provide usa visa assistance on CL. Your getting a visa depends on how you present yourself and what the consultant tells you might put you off course. Take my advise and do not do it.
Go to ustraveldocs.com and register there. Fill up the application form. Be Honest with the questions, in the application form, you don't want to be misrepresenting anything. Pay the fees and Schedule your Biometrics like 2 days before the interview at your consulate.
Get your Income Tax Returns for the last 3 years, bank statements for the last 1 year. Paypal statements should be an added advantage. Demat Statements, Property Tax receipts etc etc are all good.
Go get the biometrics done. They take your photo, don't smile, look right into the lens like you mean business. Get your fingerprints done next, collect your passport and you're out of there.
Go to the interview with all the docs. You can't carry your phone or other electronic devices that are potential detonators inside the consulate. Be sure to schedule your appointment for the earliest available slot. Later down the day they get tired. Also, get your appointment in the middle of the week. Nobody likes Mondays and these officers are no exception. Don't wait till Friday either, they might already be thinking about their diplomatic weekend parties or something.
Get into the consulate, get your token number, and wait for your number to be announced. There is always a queue in front of the counter where 3 people might be waiting. The visa officer observes you the way you move in the queue, body language and stuff while he is interviewing the one right in front of him. They look at you and try to figure out how desperate you are to drive a taxi, and how nervous you are, what you're wearing and stuff. I'm planning on wearing my favourite semi formals. No desperation or nervousness as for me its if I get a visa I get it, if not fuck it.
I'll update how my interview went.
Common Frequently Asked Question: What if you get a visa and you don't go to Salt Lake City to buy the Sodium Chloride manufacturing equipment on its date that you fill up at the application form, but show up in Vegas in Nov for the bhw conf?
A: Well, if you got the money, fly once to Salt Lake city to taste the waters. USA for us is the other side of the world, if not, show up in vegas, and if the immigration officer asks you why didn't you show up earlier, you tell him that your uncle bought sodium chloride manufacturing equipment from China or something and you didn't have to come, and now that you have a visa, you're here for a conference for something thats related to what you do. Show him the bhw ticket here and you should be let through.
VISA RECEIVED - METHOD COMING SOON.
Last edited by a moderator:
Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
- 2,864
- 4,209
I just got back from the consulate, and the officer said............ 'Congratulations, your visa is approved, enjoy your trip.'
Last edited:
IRL.info
Regular Member
- May 10, 2012
- 498
- 47
That's absolutely fantastic Paranoid Android. Hopefully you will inspire others to follow in your footsteps. Really looking forward to meeting you in Vegas, it's going to be awesome.
prab1996
Elite Member
- Jan 8, 2013
- 3,492
- 2,044
o0 never though if it's that easy.
usually one have to wait until you get your passport mailed to you .
(you will only know about approval or disapproval after you will open the mail)
good luck with your trip, i think i also may be there.
-=-
BuildMoreLinks
Elite Member
- Jun 7, 2012
- 4,422
- 1,415
@PA I will be applying next week for the visa and will pm you more details, may be we can meetup again in U.S of A.
Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
- 2,864
- 4,209
Looking forward to meet you too, and the other big guys in Vegas
Its not easy man. 3 people before me were given the rejection letter, I thought I was next and was thinking whom to ask to delete this thread to save some embarrassment if mine was denied too. If they give you the passport back along with a letter that says your visa is denied, it means you're denied. If they keep your passport and say Congratulations, it meens you're approved. Well, you're scaring me now. Hope I do find the Visa sticker on my passport when I get it man.
Post questions here bro, answers will be useful for everyone.
Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
- 2,864
- 4,209
I just made a Journey thread with more edits here
http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...getting-10-year-usa-b1-visa-being-indian.html
http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...getting-10-year-usa-b1-visa-being-indian.html
Paranoid Android
Elite Member
- Jun 20, 2010
- 2,864
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Nope, I posted this thread on the 15th, spent hours reading, filled up the application form on the 16th, scheduled Biometrics for the 17th, Visa Issued on the 19th, I should get my passport on the 21st. The application status shows Printing, so I might even get it tomorrow. So No, it doesn't take time to acquire
- Oct 27, 2005
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We've teamed up with some of the world's most influential and provocative thinkers and we're sponsoring the event which will truly help you maximise your earning potential. It's a unique, no holds barred UNconvention: UNGAGGED - hosted this year by Erika Napoletano.
UNGAGGED will break rules. Rules you may not know existed but which have constricted every other SEO convention you have ever attended.
At UnGagged, geniuses who know how to help you profit, will speak without fear of being told to STOP, by the corporates who think they're in charge.
You'll hear stuff you won't hear anywhere else, ever again. (At least, not until the next UnGagged!)
Things are changing. And we're excited to be part of the change.
Looking forward to seeing you at UnGagged.
Check out the UnGagged discussion here http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackhat-seo/f213-ungagged-2014/
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