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Consular Processing Issues
 
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1) Comments: Posted this earlier, by mistake, to Family Based Green Cards - People's Experience thread.
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Consular Processing Experience
category: IR5 (parents)

Interview Date: Feb 2009
Consulate: Chennai, India

Jan 28, 2009: Called panel doctor Vijayalakshmi and fixed an appointment for Jan 31st, 11 AM.

30th Jan 2009:
Reached Lister Labs at 6:30 AM and no one was there. Security opened the gate and gave us the first token. We were out by 8:30 AM. Collected Sealed envelope at 4:30 PM. X-Ray, blood test cost: Rs 810.

31st Jan 2009:
Visited panel doctor Vijayalakshmi. She asked my mom about childhood illnesses (chicken pox), health history, current prescriptions, etc. Conducted thorough medical examination, looked at my mom's vaccination record and administered 2 shots. We had to wait for half an hour for the vaccines to arrive - delivery problems

She asked us to make 2 copies of her medical report and then gave us the report in an unsealed envelope. We asked her about sealing the envelope. Apparently, this is not needed since it is an all-clear report.

13th Feb 2009, 8 AM: Interview at the consulate.

Folks queue up from 6:30 AM. We reached the consulate by 7:45 and there were 50 ahead of us (including other non-immigrant visa applicants with 7 AM appointments)

2. Normal security checks at the entrance. All documents in a clear folder, no cell phones etc

3. We were seated in building 2, after one of the VFS folks checked our appointment letter. We were told to wait until our name is called. No tokens at this stage. We waited until 10 AM (2 hour wait)

4. Interview was in 3 stages.

First, an Indian officer calls you and checks all the documents, and gets the medical certificate from you. The Indian officer spoke Tamil and asked my mom a few questions (number of children, prior visits, whether my mom intends to immigrate,etc.

I had with me 2 affidavits re: my mom's name discrepancy between her passport and my birth certificate and produced it when asked about it. My mom also signed DS-230 Section II at this point in front of the IO.

We got a token at this point.

At the second stage, an American officer took my mom's finger prints and asked no questions. This happened about 10 minutes after the first interview.

At the third stage, about 10 minutes after the second, my mom was called for the interview by an American Immigration Official (woman IO). I requested a Tamil interpreter, since I'd been told earlier that I can't translate for her. This was in an email from the IV section of the US Consulate.

The IO smiled and told me to translate!

My mom was administered the oath, was asked about number of children, who is in India and who is in the US, whether my mom understood the nature of "permanent residency", number of trips to the U.S., visits to any other country, any stay longer than 6 months in the U.S etc.

The 3rd stage IO called the first stage IO and they had a conversation, flipping back and forth the passport pages, apparently looking for entry/exit immigration stamps/dates. She looked at DS-230 as well for the dates of visits. They were counting the months using their fingers My mom had stayed for less than 6 months during her previous trips on visitor visa and so no harm done.

The IO was smiling during the entire time. She asked me what I did, when I reached India, what was my first US visa. She flipped through I-864, my U.S passport (and remarked that I travel a lot), and asked me if I had made travel arrangements for my mom, and arranged with VFS for passport delivery. I told her I am waiting for immigrant visa approval before buying tickets and that I did pay the courier fees at VFS for passport delivery. The IO mentioned that it may take up to a week to get the passport and the sealed envelope.

Finally, she said every thing looks fine and "Congratulations and welcome to the United States. Enjoy your stay" to my mom. She returned the original birth certificate, marriage certificate etc to me at this point.

All this took about 20 to 30 minutes. All three interviewing officers were cordial (not just with us). All in all, a very pleasant experience.

Since our interview was on a Friday, I expected to pick up the passport on Monday but VFS and the consulate were closed due to Presidents' Day. Went to VFS Tuesday evening between 4 and 5 and collected the passport and papers. We were also told not to open the sealed envelope. I didn't want to wait for the courier delivery and opted to collect the stuff in person.

Came back to the U.S with mom, via SFO.

We were the first in the new immigrants queue and the finger printing and checking of documents took about 30 minutes. The actual time was more like 5 minutes but the USCIS officer was finger printing and getting the signatures of about 7 folks in the queue and then started checking the sealed envelope. So, after my mom's finger printing was done, we had to wait for 7 other guys to do the same before the officer took our sealed envelope and examined it and then stamped the passport with the date of entry. The officer told us that it would take up to 6 months for the GC to arrive.

No questions at the customs and we were waved through.

04 Feb 2009: Received welcome letter which stated that we should receive the GC within 30 days.
Name: user4567
Location: CA, United States
Name: user4567
Location: CA, United States
Posted on: Mar 5, 2009  Email this link to friend(s)
2) Comments: Mumbai Sep 24th CP Interview Experience

At last it is over - the wait and agony of many years!

First, I want to thank this spectacular group and everyone who have shared their views and ideas... this forum has been a great asset for everyone appearing for CP.


Last stage of my Green Card experience went through a tough ride and we saw a lots of tipsy turvy roads.

Here is my journey of the GC:

Mar 2003 - Applied for labour.
May 2006 - Applied for I-140.
June 2006 - I-140 got approved.
November 2006 - Applied for CP
June 13th - Interview scheduled in Mumbai. My wife and I get into a severe a Motor Vehicle Accident just before going to India. My wife is injured badly and we had to cancel the trip to India.
July 16th - Interview rescheduled in Mumbai. We couldnot travel because of her injuries.
Next interview scheduled for 24th September.

September 12th - We reach India late night.
September 13th - We had not received the updated appointment letter by the time we left for India, so went for collecting it from US consulate. Could not collect as I did not realise that the traffic will be so bad, and missed the 9.00 to 11.30 AM window. Then, I decided to go to the VFS so that atleast they can check I have all the documents. VFS person was very polite and he said that I have all the docs, however today is the last date to submit the documents for 24th September interview. He can not take the document because we were not having the updated appointment letter.

September 14th - Today we had to go for the Medical Test to Breach Candy. Staff was very nice - but the hospital itself was not so nice ... way inferior to the expectation we had in mind. We started from our home at 5 in the morning to beat the traffic - this time we really "beat" the traffic - reached there at 6.00 AM and had to wait for 1.30 hours before the medical test started. Was done with X-Ray and blood test by 9.30. They asked us to come back at 11.30 to meet with doctor for vaccination etc. I ran to the US consulate to get the appointment letter.... waited in the queue for 30 mins. Got the letter and rushed to the VFS. VFS clerk now said you have passed the last date for this interview and he will have to check with supervisor. Kept my fingers crossed, and he came back after 10 mins and said that it is ok for them to take the packet today. At last docs are submitted. I am given the receipts. Then we came back to meet the doctor. We were given the vaccinations. Collected the report at 3.00 PM.

Sep 24th - Reached the consulate at 6.30 AM. Waited in car till 7.00 and by that time a huge line was formed. An indian officer called all the immigrant visa cases and created a new line of almost 20 - 30 people. Got in by 8.15 AM.
First an indian officer called us around 8.45 AM - looked at all papers patiently. Then said that mine Birth Certificate from Indian Consulate is not acceptable and I need to get one from local municipal.
Around 9.30 AM, An American Officer called for the interview, and cracked some jokes.
Also asked which university did I go on the USA for Masters? I replied.

He said all papers are fine and your visa is approved. However, you need to provide Birth Certificate from India for visa to be issued.

I asked our parents to send an affidavit in place of Birth Certificate. My father sent the document by Bluedart courier company on Sep 24th, but recieved the courier only on 29th. What a poor service and timeliness provided by Indian courier companies!! However my cousin in Mumbai had provided the affidavit on 27th realising that we may not get the courier at time.

Sep 27th - Submitted the BC and passports agin to VFS and paid the courier fees.

Sep 28th (Friday) - US consulate was not issuing visa today.

October 1st - Reached the VFS for collecting passport at 3.30. The stars and stripes lounges closes at 4.00 so waited outside for an hour. At 5.00 PM we all went inside to collect the visa. The officer called my token and said that your visa is not issued yet. I was panicking by now as I had no idea why there is a delay and I already had overstayed in Mumbai.

October 2nd - Gandhi Jayanti and everything is closed today.

October 3rd - Reached the VFS for collecting passport at 3.30. The stars and stripes lounges closes at 4.00 so waited outside for an hour. At 5.00 PM we all went inside to collect the visa. At last I was called for collecting passport and was said that the visa was approved.

October 6th - Traveled back to the USA. My POE was Boston. There was huge line of both Non-immigrants and US citizens/PRs in the same queue (Because of some reason there was only one line for both of them). An officer asked the citizens and PRs to come forward. We also came out and went to the immigration officer. He asked which company has sponsored my visa. Then he did the finger scanning and said Welcome to the USA. And then we went to the seconday inspection, where we were the only people. The officer took our finger impressions and asked to sign a form. Then we proceeded to the custom.


Please let me know if you will need any details.

Thanks you guys again for all your help.

For more information on this topic click here
Name: amiteshks
Location: United States
Posted on: Oct 18, 2007  Email this link to friend(s)
3) Comments: Succesful CP (Mumbai) and POE (Newark)

Hello All,
Heres my experience on the CP

Flew to India on June 12th (Interview Date June 26th) Since you have to submit documents to VFS 7 working days prior to Interview.

Flew Virgin Atlantic ti Mumbai and went straight to VFS from the Airport. They are open from 8.00am - 12.00 and 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Documents Submited to VFS
- Copy of the first, second, last page of the current passport, copy of all us visa's in the current passport.
There is no need for old passports and copies of all pages.
- Original birth certificate and one copy
- Appointment letter and one copy (its one copy per person, so if you are with a wife then you will need 2 copies)

They gave me a receipt and put a bar code on the back of my passport.

Consulate Experience
- Arrive at the consulate at 7.00am. Did not avail of the VFS stars and stripe lounge, there is no need to. Make sure you carry everything in plastic bags, no cell phones, pda's balckberry;'s laptops, briefcases etc.. Umbrella is OK.
- Stand in the Line, no need to worry how long the line is.
- At 7.10am they will call all immigrant visa applicants to the front and you go thru security (Separate lines for men and women)
- They give you a wodden stick which you have to return on the way out.
- Was asked to sit on the right side.
- Name was called promptly at 7.30am
- Indain officer asked for thr letter from employer, asked my status (Single or married) and for the Medical (I had mine done at lilavati. Very efficient. I had already done my vaccinations, sdo I carried those reports and did not have to repeat them)
- Then I sat for the next 4.5 hrs
- Finally I was called at window 16 at noon.
- Asked to take oath
- Basic questions
- Who is the sponsorer
- When did you start working for them
- Are you in India on company work
- Do you intend to continue working for the sponsoring company
Then they asked me to sign the DS-230 and a form stating that I will work for the primary sponsorer when I return to the US

- Then the officer told me that she wa keeping my case pending as she needs a letter from my employer stating that I still have a job. Pointed out to her that I did submit the letter in the morning. She shuffled the papers and found it stapled under the copy of my birth certificate.

- No problem, you are all set, you can pick up your passport later. Donot forget to carry the X-ray with you when you go to the US (The consulate did not ask for the x-ray)

- It took 3 days to get my passport back. Interview was on Tuesday and I got the passport back on Friday evening. Those were the most stressful days I have had in a long time. Kept wondering what could have gone wrong...
But everythig was fine

POE Newark.
Waited for 2.5 hrs. There were only 2 officers and they decided that they will process immigarnt visa's last. There was one other guy with me. We were the last ones left in the secondary inspection area.

The actual process took only a few minutes. Sign the form, fingerprint of the right index finger. Who is the sponsorer.

They asked me extar questions as I have a private pilots licence.
When did you start flying ? Why did you want to take flying lessons. When was the last time you flew (as a pilot).
Thats it.

NOw just have to wait for the Card to show up in the mail.

I was told that I can travel on the stamp in my passport till I get the card, then I have to start using my card.

For more info on this topic click here
Name: k
Location: United States
Posted on: Jul 5, 2007  Email this link to friend(s)
4) Comments: CP Interview Experience

Hello,

I finally received my Green Card yesterday. My wife got hers 2 weeks ago. Here are the filing dates.

I-140 (EB1) filed in July 2006 (Approved in 2 weeks)
I-485 sent to NVC in September 2007
Interview notification from Chennai US Consulate on January 17, 2007
Interview at Chennai on February 12, 2007
Received the passports on February 20, 2007
Validation stamp in the passport on February 28, 2007
Welcome Letter (wife) on March 6, 2007
Green Card (wife) received on March 7, 2007
Welcome Letter (mine) on March 7, 2007
Green Card (mine) on April 9, 2007

I got my PCC from Indian Consulate in SFO and my wife had to get two PCCs (one from the passport office in Bhopal) and the other one from Bangalore Police Commissioner's office. As for the brith certificate, I could not get one from the municipal authorities. The consulate accepted my school leaving certificate as the proof of DOB.

We had to submit all our documents at the VFS Bangalore office 2 weeks prior to our interview. The VFS guys told my wife that she had to get PCC from the passport office as well. We did not have enough time to get a PCC for my wife from the Indian Consulate in SFO, so we chose to get hers from India. Our Consular interview was at 8:00 AM.

Our documents were first reviewed by an Indian officer. She asked me to justify why my case was filed in EB1-OR category. (weird! I didn't know Indian officers would ask these questions). She asked my wife whether she would be interested in working after she got her GC. After this, we waited for about an hour before the American officer interviewed us. She asked us the following questions:

1. When did we get married?
2. How did we meet?
3. Asked me to talk about some of the awards I received
4. Asked me to show her my BE and MS degree certificates

She then asked us to take the oath, took our finger prints and told us that our passports would be dispatched in a week's time. Our port of entry was SFO. It took us almost 4 hours to finish the immigration formalities.

Documents I submitted for the Consular Interview:

DS230 (Originals + Copies)
Employment Verification Letter (HR, Notarized)
Letter from my Manager (Notarized)
W2s, Tax returns of the past 3 years and copies
PCC from Indian Consulate in SFO
School Leaving Certificate (for Birth Certificate; Original + copy)
Degree Certificates
Pay stubs (6 months)
Current Bank Balance Letter + 6 months Bank statements
Immigration style photographs (4)
Medical records + Immunization
Past I94s, I20, Student EAD card, Past H1B approvals
Marriage Certificate and Wedding Pictures
I134 - Affidavit of support

Thanks to everyone who has answered all my questions and thanks to the moderators for maintaining such a useful forum. If any of you have questions, please send me a private message and I will respond.

For more info on this topic click here
Name: Krishna
Location: United States
Posted on: Jul 5, 2007  Email this link to friend(s)
5) Comments: POE experience after succesful CP @ Islamabad
The Immigrant Visa looks like a H1B1 visa stamp but the information is obviously different. The embassy also hands out a packet with top right part perforated. It has a white paper on the front which has your picture and information on it.

I landed at Chicago O'Hare airport at about 3:15 PM. While in the plane, I had filled only the customs forms and not the I-94 white form. After landing, I went to the New Immigrant line. The officer looked at the IV and took the packet from me. He sent me to the NSEERS special registration line.

I had to wait for two and a half hours before being called. They interviewed in no particular sequence and people who came later were seen sooner The officer asked me 3 questions but no finger printing was done here. The questions were: How long were you gone? Where did you go? What kind of work do you do?

Then, he sent me back to the new Immigrant line. There was one person ahead of me. I was called. He took my Right index finger prints on two sides of the same card type paper and made me sign on both sides as well. Then, he stamped my passport with DHS stamp that showed the date of entry only.
I was told that this is temporary green card and plastic one will come in 6 months. He also stamped the customs form.

I was then on my way to get my luggage.

For more information on this issue click here
Name: confused cp
Location: United States
Posted on: Sep 8, 2005  Email this link to friend(s)
6) Comments: Succesfull CP at NWD! THANK YOU!

Hello everyone.
I am back and a PR finally (after 6 years of waiting!!)
Had my CP at NWD on April 18
I stayed at the Park Hotel in Delhi and went to Apollo hospital for my medical. Would recommend both the hotel & Hospital since they are very professional & prompt service.
I had sent my name check via email the night I arrived in NWD

At the interview they only asked three questions to me
Which co. do you work for?
what does you co. do
what do you do for your co?
They asked my wife if she studied in US (she was on an F1 visa)
I revieved my passport two days later in Mumbai
Arrived in Houston - No questions asked at the port of entry. Was asked to stand in the visitors line but was not required to fill the I-94 form.
The stamping at POE took only five minutes but had to wait there for three hours just for those five minutes.

I would like to thank this forum. Without it, it would have been very very diffucilt for me to get answers for all my queries.

For more information on this topic click here
Name: lb_CP_NWD
Location: United States
Posted on: May 5, 2005  Email this link to friend(s)
7) Comments: Am back! Now a permanent resident!

Hi everyone. I am back as a permanent resident. Had a successful interview. The interview was pretty easy, a young american guy asked me a couple questions regarding my work and then told me my file was fine but the fingerpritning machine was down so to please wait. I waited for 30 mins and then was asked to go back on Friday. The lines outside the Mumbai consulate are awful, be prpeared to wait for a long time in the hot sun. Since the fingerprinting system was down the day of my interview I was asked to go back along with all the other immigrant visa applications for that day. Went back 2 days later as per their instructions and the fingerprints were taken. Picked up the passport and visa same afternoon, long wait time for that too.. Called at 2.30, the window opened at 4.30.
Port of entry was real cool, took like maybe 5 minutes, and I finally got the invaluable but unimpressive stamp.
This website and the people here have been great.
For more information on this topic click here
Name: aonflux
Location: United States
Posted on: Apr 25, 2005  Email this link to friend(s)
 
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