visa approved

wisdom · February 13, 2009

I am a little late in writing this. I had my k3 interview at mumbai on 10th feb 2009. my husband had flown down for my interview. We reached the consulate at 6:45 am. They took me in at 7:30 am. My husband (US citizen )was not allowed in. I had my fingerprints taken and then we were called to the counters where the Indian officer gave me back my original marriage and birth certificate. They retained the copies and the original pcc. Then I had to wait till 10 am for my interview with the American officer. She was polite and asked me few questions

How did you meet?

What does he do?

How long has he been staying there?

Where did he study?

Who all are there in his family?

What does his brother do?

Then she said the long awaited golden words VISA APPROVED and it will be couriered to you. I wanted to collect it at vfs. So she said that I could try but they do not guarantee same day delivery of visa

Now this is a different journey. I went to vfs in the evening but my visa was not there. They said to come and see the next day. I went the next day too but still no passport. I was all sad and doubted whether there was some problem. We rung up DOS and they said interview under review. That was it. I was very upset. We decided to go the consulate the next day. At the inquiry counter we explained our problem to the officer. She asked me to wait for 7 business days but the I said that its two days since the interview and that I had already booked my tickets for the 18th feb. then she punched some numbers and talked to someone. This wait was even worst than the interview. She then told me that there was some system error and so my visa could not get printed. She took my phone number and asked me to come on Tuesday to collect the visa. She asked to go confirm my plans to fly on the 18th feb. some relief.

Same day at 11:30 am I get a call to come back to the consulate for repeat fingerprints. We rushed there. They took me in and retook my fingerprints. I have very faint fingerprints and so they couldn’t process it that was the reason why my visa was delayed. They then asked me to wait for sometime in the consulate. After abt 20 minutes the officer told me that my visa was ready and I should collect it from vfs today itself.

All in all it was a good experience. The mumbai consulate really works well. except for the delay in getting the passport there was no other problem. But even fro the passport delay there promptly cleared it when informed.

Thanks to all the VJ members who helped me through this. All the best to all of you