kshatriya, can you share details on K-1 interview status?

[yeye 0]

kshatriya, your K-1 interview status says 'Rejected - 221g'

It will be beneficial to others if you could share the details for receiving 221g.

Did they reject K-1 or are they requesting more information to submit? If you can share the details of the information, that would be great.

Hope everything works out for you.

Thanks and Best wishes

Edited April 10, 2008 by yeye

[DanielParul 50]

Is that true?? Hope things get sorted out too... I got a 221g too, but did not accept it coz the CO made a mistake. after arguing with them for 30 minutes they took it back and issued me a visa 2 days later.

Tell us what happened, maybe someone can help or advice.

Hope things work out for you soon...

[CarolynRitesh 0]

Really Parul? I didn't hear that you had any problems - I must have missed that post! What mistake did the CO make?? Glad you got yours sorted quickly! How is life in the US so far?

I don't want to speak on Kshatriya's behalf, but other K1's in Chennai seem to be having the same problem lately. Kshatriya, let us know how things are going!

[bengalilover 0]

DanielParul: Could you write the full story on your 221G? What did they ask and how did you handle it?

Good luck to Kshatriya

[DanielParul 50]

Ok, here goes... coz I love to talk abt this

10 days before the interview I submitted all the papers at the VFS (even he was impressed with my evidence).. On march 04th, D and I reached the consulate and were called to the counter after 40 minutes where they returned my package as I had submitted to the VFS (unopened).. When I was called for the actual interview, the CO asked me a few questions like :

Whats your fiance's name?

Whats his relationship with your family?

Did you have an engagement ceremony? I said NO because he proposed to me at 3 at night while my mum and dad were sleeping in their part of the house (Red Flag)

He gave me a 221g and told me that I can't ask him any questions... Just submit all docs to the VFS. The same docs that they had returned without checking.

Daniel and I walked up to another counter and explained what had happened and he said that he cannot help coz we need to give a list of 20 people invited to the engagement (the non existant one).. We tried to reason with him and he kept insisting on the list of invitees. Thats when Daniel lost his cool and told the guy at the counter to call his supervisor so he could complain about the CO's treatment and attitude.

That got their attention and the guy told us to wait while he checked with the CO.. He came out 10 minutes later and told us that they will take my papers again and review them only because the petitioner was insisting and told us to check in 1 week. Also while we were leaving the consulate, he called me back and took the 221g letter back saying, I will not need it anymore.

We called the DHS at night and were told that I was in AP.. Daniel explained the whole situation to the agent and even she found it peculiar. She even said that once a 221g is given they will not take it back, looks like they realised they had made a mistake and took it back. She even asked us to send in a written complaint as that helps DHS keep a check on Consulates...

Well, guess what!! We called the Consulate after a day and were told that the visa had been issued and I could collect it from the VFS in 2-3 days..

Fishy, isn't it?? If they had any real reason to give me a 221g, they would have stuck to it... The whole process seems so shady and unfair. I saw most girls who had applied for K3's get 221g that day and they did not have any idea what it was.. Thanks to VJ, we knew we did not deserve a 221g and were able to correct it.. Wonder what happens to all those poor girls

[yeye 0]

CarolynRitesh,

You mentioned "...but other K1's in Chennai seem to be having the same problem lately".

Can you provide more details on what you mean?

DanielParul,

Good to hear that you avoided 221g. Did you submit the 20 invite list in your package to VFS? It seems like 20 invitee list is the new thing the consulate are asking. There are other posts where the same was requested.

Could you also provide the forms that you need to fill for packet 3?

I am really unclear about VFS. The forms for packet 3 and medical together get submitted to consulate. What do you need to submit to VFS?

If you can outline the process and when/where of packet 3, medical, and packet 4 for Delhi consulate, that would be very helpful since you have gone through it.

And what if you live in a city where there is no VFS. Do you still need to send anything to VFS?

Thanks

[CarolynRitesh 0]

The thread below contains the story of a K1'er through Chennai on Monday, it is quite similar to Kshatriya's story I believe:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120698

As far as VFS is concerned, they are the outsourced courier group for the Consulate - including the service that couriers your passport/visa back to your home. You don't have to submit everything in advance, but it is claimed on the web-sites that your processing will be delayed if you don't. That I am not really sure about... My personal feeling is that the COs do not look at the information that we send via VFS until the day of the interview, and they pull it out of a folder that contains our I-130 information as well as the VFS documents. (For those applying from the US, they would probably have your complete package in one place)

While not required to send documents in advance, I can bet that it would make your interview experience a little more frustrating, the COs and staff might be a little pissy with you for having to organize things at the window, etc. Again, just my feeling/guess on that.

What you do HAVE to do is pay the courier fees to VFS in advance. And I would also guess, you probably have to let them put a sticker on your actual passport. We tried to submit VFS docs. with just the photo-copies of Ritesh's passport pages, but they would not accept them. (This - a guess again! - is probably to track the passport after the interview) There is a website for VFS and contact numbers for your questions, but they will tell you to 'follow the consulate/embassy intstructions' for most things.

The VFS Website Home:

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/Home.aspx

I hope that helps a little!

[CarolynRitesh 0]

Ok, here goes... coz I love to talk abt this

10 days before the interview I submitted all the papers at the VFS (even he was impressed with my evidence).. On march 04th, D and I reached the consulate and were called to the counter after 40 minutes where they returned my package as I had submitted to the VFS (unopened).. When I was called for the actual interview, the CO asked me a few questions like :

Whats your fiance's name?

Whats his relationship with your family?

Did you have an engagement ceremony? I said NO because he proposed to me at 3 at night while my mum and dad were sleeping in their part of the house (Red Flag)

He gave me a 221g and told me that I can't ask him any questions... Just submit all docs to the VFS. The same docs that they had returned without checking.

Daniel and I walked up to another counter and explained what had happened and he said that he cannot help coz we need to give a list of 20 people invited to the engagement (the non existant one).. We tried to reason with him and he kept insisting on the list of invitees. Thats when Daniel lost his cool and told the guy at the counter to call his supervisor so he could complain about the CO's treatment and attitude.

That got their attention and the guy told us to wait while he checked with the CO.. He came out 10 minutes later and told us that they will take my papers again and review them only because the petitioner was insisting and told us to check in 1 week. Also while we were leaving the consulate, he called me back and took the 221g letter back saying, I will not need it anymore.

We called the DHS at night and were told that I was in AP.. Daniel explained the whole situation to the agent and even she found it peculiar. She even said that once a 221g is given they will not take it back, looks like they realised they had made a mistake and took it back. She even asked us to send in a written complaint as that helps DHS keep a check on Consulates...

Well, guess what!! We called the Consulate after a day and were told that the visa had been issued and I could collect it from the VFS in 2-3 days..

Fishy, isn't it?? If they had any real reason to give me a 221g, they would have stuck to it... The whole process seems so shady and unfair. I saw most girls who had applied for K3's get 221g that day and they did not have any idea what it was.. Thanks to VJ, we knew we did not deserve a 221g and were able to correct it.. Wonder what happens to all those poor girls

Wow Parul, thank you for sharing your story!! It makes me soooooo angry to read it, and reinforces my belief that having the spouse/fiance with you is important. I know when I have had to go to other consulates for my own visas for travel, etc., I would not have felt super comfortable 'losing it' to a staff member - you just feel like you will risk some kind of lifetime ban or something! But as an American citizen, I was prepared to do anything necessary to help my immigrating spouse (being polite or pissy as the situation required!).

I am not sure what is up with the consulates here and the whole 'engagement' process - too many people getting 221g's for lack of parties, 221g's for engagements being taken as weddings - it is all just very very odd. I will say to be very clear in ALL document submissions about what you have done as far as proposals and engagements, and make sure that you state what is what!

If couples can't attend the interview together, make sure that the wife/husband, fiance/fiancee is ready to explain all these things. I know it can be a financial/vacation time crunch for people, but wow, I would recommend spending that money up front and getting here so that you don't risk the old blue sheet at the interview!

Good luck to everyone, and please keep sharing your stories - both good and not so good!

[DanielParul 50]

Ok, here goes... coz I love to talk abt this

10 days before the interview I submitted all the papers at the VFS (even he was impressed with my evidence).. On march 04th, D and I reached the consulate and were called to the counter after 40 minutes where they returned my package as I had submitted to the VFS (unopened).. When I was called for the actual interview, the CO asked me a few questions like :

Whats your fiance's name?

Whats his relationship with your family?

Did you have an engagement ceremony? I said NO because he proposed to me at 3 at night while my mum and dad were sleeping in their part of the house (Red Flag)

He gave me a 221g and told me that I can't ask him any questions... Just submit all docs to the VFS. The same docs that they had returned without checking.

Daniel and I walked up to another counter and explained what had happened and he said that he cannot help coz we need to give a list of 20 people invited to the engagement (the non existant one).. We tried to reason with him and he kept insisting on the list of invitees. Thats when Daniel lost his cool and told the guy at the counter to call his supervisor so he could complain about the CO's treatment and attitude.

That got their attention and the guy told us to wait while he checked with the CO.. He came out 10 minutes later and told us that they will take my papers again and review them only because the petitioner was insisting and told us to check in 1 week. Also while we were leaving the consulate, he called me back and took the 221g letter back saying, I will not need it anymore.

We called the DHS at night and were told that I was in AP.. Daniel explained the whole situation to the agent and even she found it peculiar. She even said that once a 221g is given they will not take it back, looks like they realised they had made a mistake and took it back. She even asked us to send in a written complaint as that helps DHS keep a check on Consulates...

Well, guess what!! We called the Consulate after a day and were told that the visa had been issued and I could collect it from the VFS in 2-3 days..

Fishy, isn't it?? If they had any real reason to give me a 221g, they would have stuck to it... The whole process seems so shady and unfair. I saw most girls who had applied for K3's get 221g that day and they did not have any idea what it was.. Thanks to VJ, we knew we did not deserve a 221g and were able to correct it.. Wonder what happens to all those poor girls

Wow Parul, thank you for sharing your story!! It makes me soooooo angry to read it, and reinforces my belief that having the spouse/fiance with you is important. I know when I have had to go to other consulates for my own visas for travel, etc., I would not have felt super comfortable 'losing it' to a staff member - you just feel like you will risk some kind of lifetime ban or something! But as an American citizen, I was prepared to do anything necessary to help my immigrating spouse (being polite or pissy as the situation required!).

I am not sure what is up with the consulates here and the whole 'engagement' process - too many people getting 221g's for lack of parties, 221g's for engagements being taken as weddings - it is all just very very odd. I will say to be very clear in ALL document submissions about what you have done as far as proposals and engagements, and make sure that you state what is what!

If couples can't attend the interview together, make sure that the wife/husband, fiance/fiancee is ready to explain all these things. I know it can be a financial/vacation time crunch for people, but wow, I would recommend spending that money up front and getting here so that you don't risk the old blue sheet at the interview!

Good luck to everyone, and please keep sharing your stories - both good and not so good!

I considered myself wise enough to be able to handle an interview atleast, considering that I had travelled to the US before and to the UK umpteen times and was on a work visa in the UK when Daniel and I met. When it comes to interviews at the US consulate New Delhi, every bit of logic and knowledge failed me coz the CO did not even want the answers to the questions he asked me...

I do believe that it is very important to have the USC spouse/fiance(e) at the interview just in case anything goes wrong, the 'ALIEN' spouse/fiance(e) cannot even question or ask for an explanation.. the USC can (they atleast listen to them)..

Oh! and I did not submit the list of 20 invitees coz we did not have anengagement.. its just funny coz we had to explain that an engagement party is a very indian concept.. To us our engagement was a very private affair and so it is to most Americans too.. Daniel proposed and I said yes...it was private to save him the embarrassment if I had said NO

yeye,

If you did not have an engagement party - just write a letter to the consulate saying that there was no engagement party. If you did, carry photos of the same and have a few people sign on a letter stating they attended the engagement on XX/XX/XXXX date at XXXX place.

Once ur case reaches the Consulate. Do not wait for them to send pkt 3. Just print out a DS230 part 1 and fill it up, submit it at the consulate. 4-5 days later, call them up and go collect your interview letter with pkt 4.. and get your medical taken care of... The doctor will give you a sealed medical report and X-Ray.. You will need to submit all forms, medical report (not X-Ray) and evidence to the VFS atleast 10 working days prior to the interview. Make a copy of everything you submit to the VFS. Carry cash Rs. 365 or so (I forget) for courier fee. The bank draft for visa fee is to be submitted to the consulate when you go for the interview...

Thats the jist (spelling!!) of it... Don't wait for the consulate to send you the pkts... I got my pkt 4 after Daniel and I came to the US (10 days after my interview )

All the best for your interview

[ELW 5]

DanielParul thanks SO much for your fascinating story!! :dance: Congrats on being strong and reversing the 221g decision!! It seems the key factor here is ASKING TO CALL THE SUPERVISOR, specifically, the USC citizen requesting this. I hope it will be useful to others in the future. Because they are requesting really ridiculous things that are totally unnecessary! Maybe the fear of applicants complaining to their supervisor for no good reason, will result in less 221gs!

I am worried about kshatriya, he must be devastated and scrambling to collect whatever unnecessary "proof" they requested. I hope we hear details from him soon.

[catknit 144]

What a roller coaster ride! You know some days I feel like we have everything we need [129 should be going in the mail Monday] and then somedays I freak out thinking something like the whole engagement party request will come up. Looks like I'm heading back to India for the interview - I'd be mortified if that happened to my guy and I wasn't there to remedy the situation [or try really really hard to remedy the situation]!!!

I'd love to hear any other K1 interview information from New Dehli.

[yeye 0]

CarolynRitesh, thanks for putting the link for K-1 rejection case in Chennai. I think in that particular case he had a wedding done and it is really sad that they didn't get the approval after waiting for so many months and I hope the case gets resolved in their favor soon.

But reading that thread people are saying not to send pictures of any ceremony as proof of relationship because it may look like a wedding to consulate.

I thought it was a good thing to have engagement ceremony done. And I thought it was a good idea to send pictures to prove the relationship. There are so many posts here for K-1 where people were concerned because they don't have a engagement ceremony done.

Even if you don't submit the pictures with the initial documentation, you get asked during the interview if you got the engagement ceremony done. As proof they will definitely ask for pictures.

Hope fellow VJers advise on what to do.

[CarolynRitesh 0]

I know yeye, it is very confusing - some places slam you if you had a ceremony, some slam if you don't! AARGH! Perhaps if the engagement party ALSO has invitations that are printed along with date stamped pics and affidavits from family, etc. they would be satisfied for the K1...

[trinket 30]

I am just wondering about this whole engagement/wedding party pics, have more and more heard of Delhi embassy asking for it compared to Mumbai or Chennai, but then may be we have more K-1 filers from Delhi.

What happens with wedding ceremonies? we had only 15 people at our wedding, including 4 or 5 arya samaj people, and a few relatives and 2 cops for protection (yey!! feels so important ) and we never had any reception, just a small family gathering and I did lose that CD when tsunami hit our house back in 2004 (got married on sept 2004). What I wanted to ask is, does the longivity of marriage proves any point rather than the photographs of the ceremony, especially at Chennai consulate?

Just its funny that consulates want you to spend lakhs or they won't validate a marriage or an engagement.

[CarolynRitesh 0]

Hi silent,

I think for your situation, they will be looking to see more about how you have maintained your marriage than engagement things at this point. The legal proof of marriage is of course important, but also phone/written records if separate, trips to see each other, joint property/bank accounts/insurance, etc., etc. will be critical. We were not married as long as you, so the honeymoon pics and a joint bank account were all we were able to provide!

I am very to sorry to hear of your losses in the tsunami, I hope that all your loved ones were safe!