My my wife and I are currently in VA on a H4 and H1B status
respectively. I am doing a J1 waiver with ABC Universty since
10/13/05. I first came to the US on a B1/B2 visa in 1996. I converted
to a F1 student status in 1998 and then worked for six months on a H1B
status from 10/00 to 05/01. I joined a residency training program on a
J1 status from 06/01 to 06/05. I have travelled to India thrice while
on J1. My wife joined me in this country on a J2 visa in 2003 and has
also travelled once to India. Since we got our H1B/H4 status in 10/05,
we have not travelled to India.

My wife is planning to visit India 06 and has her visa interview
scheduled in Bombay. We are a bit apprehensive regarding the same and
would like to seek some advice regarding this matter. We have heard
(multiple immigration forums) that the consular officers in India are
quite erratic in issuing H4 visas especially if the H1B is still on a
status. There are some forums who are advising travelling to Mexico or
Canada. However, the websites for the same suggest that it is best to
travel to the country which issued the passport (India) to get your
H1B/H4 stamped. We are not sure at this time what the best option is
for us. We do have all the documents mentioned on the consulate
websites. I am not sure if we have any advantage going to Mexico or
Canada by road rather than by air. Is it certain that we will not be
asked to hand over over our original I-94s if we travel by road? Also,
if our H1B/H4 visas are rejected, how do we re-enter the US? What
happens if my wife travels to India alone and her H4 gets rejected?
What happens if we travel together to India and get rejected? How do
we re-enter the US? There are
some law firms which are offering to send their paralegals with us for
the interview in Mexico. Is that going to be helpful as they are
asking for a substantial amount of money?

Other than the documents requested on the US consulate websites, what
other documents should we carry?

I will appreciate it if someone can reply back at their earliest
convenience with exact references as I already have the layman's
information through zillions of immigration forums.