CR1 Visa Approved @ Mumbai

[Rvc 0]

Congratuation CJ.. one quick question - my wife is planning to submit documents at Ahmedabad VFS office. After her interview at Mumbai consulate, will she be able to pick up visa from Mumbai VFS ?

[mindmaster 0]

Congratulations CJ Vasani !! Many thanks for sharing your experience.

[dekagunda 0]

Congrats CJ...

but what is this VFS that you are talking about. I thought that after interview the Visa is automatically attached to the passport and sent back to the beneficiary...

i'm still at the beginning of the NVC process but would like to know more about this VFS...what does it stand for also

[Aman 0]

Congrats...

Seems I need to meet the VFS guys too..My brother submitted the documents for me ....

I will go and show them my face...Just in case:)

[CJ Vasani 0]

Congrats CJ Vasani. i was just curious why u didn't attend the interview. Does embassy allow the US citizen spouse to enter embassy for interview or not.

Mumbai consulate is really cramped for space, so they absolutely do not allow anyone other than the applicant. I tried, but it's not worth arguing with the gate-keepers.

Congrats CJ...

but what is this VFS that you are talking about. I thought that after interview the Visa is automatically attached to the passport and sent back to the beneficiary...

i'm still at the beginning of the NVC process but would like to know more about this VFS...what does it stand for also

VFS is the visa facilitation service agency which handles the document collection and data entry for the American Consulate. All applicants are required to submit a 'courier fee' and related documentation at the nearest VFS office. Your spouse will receive further instructions in the packet 3/4 about this. You may also google VFS and find their homepage.

Congrats...

Seems I need to meet the VFS guys too..My brother submitted the documents for me ....

I will go and show them my face...Just in case:)

Please do that to be safe.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes. I can finally put this matter to rest.

[Zee Bee 61]

Congratulations!!!

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations! Wishing you the best in life together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[malaikabab 0]

so it turns out that the VFS screwed up by telling us that a third party can submit (on behalf of us) the courier fees and a copy of the passport with proof of submission of documents to NVC. We paid the courier fees on Feb 10, which was precisely within the guidelines that they gave us. They gave us a sticker to put on the passport and stamped the copy of the passport and NVC letter.

On Feb 25, we went for our interview as originally scheduled and found out that VFS had not forwarded any information to the Mumbai Consulate, so they officer behind the counter told us to come back the next day for the interview. We were scared at first, because we didn't know why this happened. Later on, we learned that if you do not visit the VFS office personally it will cause a problem. The consulate expects the applicant to be the person submitting the fees and documents to the VFS. It doesn't make sense for CR1 applicants whose documents have been already submitted, but this is what they want in order for the wheels to be set in motion. Otherwise, the cycle breaks and information does not flow through from VFS to the consulate.

On Feb 26, my wife reported again to the consulate with the new interview letter that they had given her the day before. They immediately took her in and took the fingerprints. An Indian Officer went through our documents and asked a bunch of irrelevant questions. She was asked to take a seat at 7:30 am after completing this and was asked to wait for the final interview call. My wife was finally called in at 10:00 am to a booth manned by an American officer and an Indian translator (they assume that all Gujaratis will need one...). They asked a bunch of questions, but the interview was finished in five minutes and they didn't ask for a single document or photograph for the proof of relationship. Please bear in mind that we both were previously married.

Questions included:

1. How did you meet your husband?

2. Who proposed and when?

3. What does your husband do for living?

4. What is your husband's ex-spouse's name?

5. Did he help her get resident status in the USA?

6. Did he have children with his first wife?

7. When did he immigrate to the USA?

8. After marriage, how often have you guys met?

The last question sealed the deal, when my wife informed them that I had visited her in July 2008 and that I am standing outside the consulate as they spoke. No further questions were asked and my wife was informed that she has been approved for the CR1 visa and she will receive it via the courier in the next few days. Since we had planned to fly out soon, we requested if we can pick up the passport the same day. They affirmed that we can pick it up at VFS between 5 - 6 pm.

On Feb 28, we arrived in New York via Air India's non-stop flight. Long lines in the immigration, but as smooth as it can be. No hassles. Absolutely no questions.

CJ

Congratulations and best wishes.

[LondonLad 0]

Congrats CJ. Finally all that wait paid off.

[cmnb 0]

so it turns out that the VFS screwed up by telling us that a third party can submit (on behalf of us) the courier fees and a copy of the passport with proof of submission of documents to NVC. We paid the courier fees on Feb 10, which was precisely within the guidelines that they gave us. They gave us a sticker to put on the passport and stamped the copy of the passport and NVC letter.

On Feb 25, we went for our interview as originally scheduled and found out that VFS had not forwarded any information to the Mumbai Consulate, so they officer behind the counter told us to come back the next day for the interview. We were scared at first, because we didn't know why this happened. Later on, we learned that if you do not visit the VFS office personally it will cause a problem. The consulate expects the applicant to be the person submitting the fees and documents to the VFS. It doesn't make sense for CR1 applicants whose documents have been already submitted, but this is what they want in order for the wheels to be set in motion. Otherwise, the cycle breaks and information does not flow through from VFS to the consulate.

On Feb 26, my wife reported again to the consulate with the new interview letter that they had given her the day before. They immediately took her in and took the fingerprints. An Indian Officer went through our documents and asked a bunch of irrelevant questions. She was asked to take a seat at 7:30 am after completing this and was asked to wait for the final interview call. My wife was finally called in at 10:00 am to a booth manned by an American officer and an Indian translator (they assume that all Gujaratis will need one...). They asked a bunch of questions, but the interview was finished in five minutes and they didn't ask for a single document or photograph for the proof of relationship. Please bear in mind that we both were previously married.

Questions included:

1. How did you meet your husband?

2. Who proposed and when?

3. What does your husband do for living?

4. What is your husband's ex-spouse's name?

5. Did he help her get resident status in the USA?

6. Did he have children with his first wife?

7. When did he immigrate to the USA?

8. After marriage, how often have you guys met?

The last question sealed the deal, when my wife informed them that I had visited her in July 2008 and that I am standing outside the consulate as they spoke. No further questions were asked and my wife was informed that she has been approved for the CR1 visa and she will receive it via the courier in the next few days. Since we had planned to fly out soon, we requested if we can pick up the passport the same day. They affirmed that we can pick it up at VFS between 5 - 6 pm.

On Feb 28, we arrived in New York via Air India's non-stop flight. Long lines in the immigration, but as smooth as it can be. No hassles. Absolutely no questions.

congrats dude! very happy for you :-)

i have an interview date of march 17th. what should i be doing now? VFS, medical? i am confused.

[Bani 0]

Many many congrulations.... ... Best wishes for you both... I was worried about you since i didn't see any posting about your wife's visa approved... But now everything is good...

Welcome to USA...

Best Wishes,

Bani

[BePatience 0]

so it turns out that the VFS screwed up by telling us that a third party can submit (on behalf of us) the courier fees and a copy of the passport with proof of submission of documents to NVC. We paid the courier fees on Feb 10, which was precisely within the guidelines that they gave us. They gave us a sticker to put on the passport and stamped the copy of the passport and NVC letter.

On Feb 25, we went for our interview as originally scheduled and found out that VFS had not forwarded any information to the Mumbai Consulate, so they officer behind the counter told us to come back the next day for the interview. We were scared at first, because we didn't know why this happened. Later on, we learned that if you do not visit the VFS office personally it will cause a problem. The consulate expects the applicant to be the person submitting the fees and documents to the VFS. It doesn't make sense for CR1 applicants whose documents have been already submitted, but this is what they want in order for the wheels to be set in motion. Otherwise, the cycle breaks and information does not flow through from VFS to the consulate.

On Feb 26, my wife reported again to the consulate with the new interview letter that they had given her the day before. They immediately took her in and took the fingerprints. An Indian Officer went through our documents and asked a bunch of irrelevant questions. She was asked to take a seat at 7:30 am after completing this and was asked to wait for the final interview call. My wife was finally called in at 10:00 am to a booth manned by an American officer and an Indian translator (they assume that all Gujaratis will need one...). They asked a bunch of questions, but the interview was finished in five minutes and they didn't ask for a single document or photograph for the proof of relationship. Please bear in mind that we both were previously married.

Questions included:

1. How did you meet your husband?

2. Who proposed and when?

3. What does your husband do for living?

4. What is your husband's ex-spouse's name?

5. Did he help her get resident status in the USA?

6. Did he have children with his first wife?

7. When did he immigrate to the USA?

8. After marriage, how often have you guys met?

The last question sealed the deal, when my wife informed them that I had visited her in July 2008 and that I am standing outside the consulate as they spoke. No further questions were asked and my wife was informed that she has been approved for the CR1 visa and she will receive it via the courier in the next few days. Since we had planned to fly out soon, we requested if we can pick up the passport the same day. They affirmed that we can pick it up at VFS between 5 - 6 pm.

On Feb 28, we arrived in New York via Air India's non-stop flight. Long lines in the immigration, but as smooth as it can be. No hassles. Absolutely no questions.

congrats dude! very happy for you :-)

i have an interview date of march 17th. what should i be doing now? VFS, medical? i am confused.

Hey Cmnb,

Welcome back dude! Hope you had blast back home. The next thing for your wife to do is make sure she gets medical done ASAP since her interview date is on march 17th and to get medical report could take 2 days. Then next thing tell your wife to go to VFS office with her original passport, courier fee of 394 rupess, 2 2x2 passport size photos, copy of interview letter, DS230 part 1 and part 2(just incase if they ask), copy of biographic page of her passport, and medical report. Submit all this documents at VFS i think 7 to 10 days prior to interview date.

Good luck!

[sara..... 371]

congratulations :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[CJ Vasani 0]

so it turns out that the VFS screwed up by telling us that a third party can submit (on behalf of us) the courier fees and a copy of the passport with proof of submission of documents to NVC. We paid the courier fees on Feb 10, which was precisely within the guidelines that they gave us. They gave us a sticker to put on the passport and stamped the copy of the passport and NVC letter.

On Feb 25, we went for our interview as originally scheduled and found out that VFS had not forwarded any information to the Mumbai Consulate, so they officer behind the counter told us to come back the next day for the interview. We were scared at first, because we didn't know why this happened. Later on, we learned that if you do not visit the VFS office personally it will cause a problem. The consulate expects the applicant to be the person submitting the fees and documents to the VFS. It doesn't make sense for CR1 applicants whose documents have been already submitted, but this is what they want in order for the wheels to be set in motion. Otherwise, the cycle breaks and information does not flow through from VFS to the consulate.

On Feb 26, my wife reported again to the consulate with the new interview letter that they had given her the day before. They immediately took her in and took the fingerprints. An Indian Officer went through our documents and asked a bunch of irrelevant questions. She was asked to take a seat at 7:30 am after completing this and was asked to wait for the final interview call. My wife was finally called in at 10:00 am to a booth manned by an American officer and an Indian translator (they assume that all Gujaratis will need one...). They asked a bunch of questions, but the interview was finished in five minutes and they didn't ask for a single document or photograph for the proof of relationship. Please bear in mind that we both were previously married.

Questions included:

1. How did you meet your husband?

2. Who proposed and when?

3. What does your husband do for living?

4. What is your husband's ex-spouse's name?

5. Did he help her get resident status in the USA?

6. Did he have children with his first wife?

7. When did he immigrate to the USA?

8. After marriage, how often have you guys met?

The last question sealed the deal, when my wife informed them that I had visited her in July 2008 and that I am standing outside the consulate as they spoke. No further questions were asked and my wife was informed that she has been approved for the CR1 visa and she will receive it via the courier in the next few days. Since we had planned to fly out soon, we requested if we can pick up the passport the same day. They affirmed that we can pick it up at VFS between 5 - 6 pm.

On Feb 28, we arrived in New York via Air India's non-stop flight. Long lines in the immigration, but as smooth as it can be. No hassles. Absolutely no questions.

congrats dude! very happy for you :-)

i have an interview date of march 17th. what should i be doing now? VFS, medical? i am confused.

Hey Cmnb,

Welcome back dude! Hope you had blast back home. The next thing for your wife to do is make sure she gets medical done ASAP since her interview date is on march 17th and to get medical report could take 2 days. Then next thing tell your wife to go to VFS office with her original passport, courier fee of 394 rupess, 2 2x2 passport size photos, copy of interview letter, DS230 part 1 and part 2(just incase if they ask), copy of biographic page of her passport, and medical report. Submit all this documents at VFS i think 7 to 10 days prior to interview date.

Good luck!

Yes. Please make sure that your wife goes to VFS in person exactly between 7-10 'business' days. Do not count holidays and weekends.

Congratuation CJ.. one quick question - my wife is planning to submit documents at Ahmedabad VFS office. After her interview at Mumbai consulate, will she be able to pick up visa from Mumbai VFS ?

Good Question. I do not know. You will need to call up VFS to find out. You can find the phone number on their website and they are pretty good at answering! (Although, their responses might not be quite reliable...that's a separate story altogether). ;-)

[It's me 1]

Congratulations!!!!!