May 2010 Interviews

[TatyanaR 6]

Thanks, Tat!

Here's the VFS website:

https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/ivmumbai.html

I also purchased a VFS Stars and Stripes Lounge ticket. I figure it's best to get into the consulate as soon as I can instead of waiting outside in a queue in this frightful weather.

Thanks for the site! Where did you purchase the ticket & when does the lounge open? Buses take you to the Embassy from that lounge, right? Or its in the same bldg?

Hubby received the interview letter from the Embassy & along with that, they mailed him a blank DS230. Is that normal or? Did you get one mailed to you?

How are you doing? Excited, Streseed, Nervous?

[sachinky 464]

nerves are killing me!!!!! I can't focus on work. I was planning on calling out but I can't afford to give up vacation days. My flight plans are also making me nervous but it was the cheapest way out. Fly from NJ to MIA then from Miami to Aruba(with 3 hours to spare), meet up with wife at airport in Aruba and fly out to Caracas. whew!! Please pray for me for no delays.

Jaxson. My best wishes to you both! Safe and smooth travels! Keep us posted.

Good Luck Sach ! !

Aw, thanks Chintu. I'm getting really nervous now!

Goodluck to Sachinky and everyone else in Week 2 Interviews

I am sure all of you will pass with no problem

Many thanks. I can't believe we're almost there!

[sachinky 464]

Thanks for the site! Where did you purchase the ticket & when does the lounge open? Buses take you to the Embassy from that lounge, right? Or its in the same bldg?

Hubby received the interview letter from the Embassy & along with that, they mailed him a blank DS230. Is that normal or? Did you get one mailed to you?

How are you doing? Excited, Stressed, Nervous?

1) From VFS itself. The lounge opens at 7AM and they take you to the consulate at 7:15 by a bus. The only advantage to this is that you get to enter the consulate right then and there instead of waiting in the queue. They will also ferry you back to the lounge for your belongings and tell you where to pick up your visa in the evening. Figured it was worth the 250/-

2) Yes, I did.

3) All of the above.

[TatyanaR 6]

immigrant visa approved interview may 7, 2010 7:30 am - mumbai consulate. received the visa thru blue dart couriers may 8, 2010.

well! i am in the family based F category and i had googled for the u s visa interviews and i landed on this site. but then i realised i was amidst a bunch of very nervous people.

for those interviewing at mumbai -

vfs lounge : opens at 7:00 am sharp. no point in arriving at the lounge early and standing in the mumbai heat there. and please have a nice hearty breakfast, if you wait for the vfs sandwich and coffee you might miss your early shuttle. also you can leave your bags and restricted items at their lockers. well they are not actually lockers but they issue coupons against your bags. the vfs lets you in at 7:00 am sharp. and then taken in the shuttle at 7:15 (those being interviewed at 7:30). takes you to the consulate. made to stand in a separate Q and let in first. as you enter there is a security check and they also go thru your plastic documents bags. no cellfones, electronics, flash drives, cds, water bottles, baby food, etc and they also dont allow ladies handbags. once that done they hand you wooden tags which you retain till end of interview.

next are the finger scans at a counter handled by an young american woman. four fingers right hand, left hand and thumbs. then you are seated in a waiting area at one end of the big hall where all the iv interviewees wait for their name to be called out and the corresponding window number for your pre screening. the presecreening processes start at 8.00. i was called at 9.15. here i was called by a middle ages indian gentleman, very efficient and jovial and very helpful. he asked a couple of questions about the sponsor and returned all my original documents back and even the photos that i had submitted at the nvc. all was very neatly arranged. the only documents they retained were the original i864, the latest ds 230 1&2, the original police certificates, medical reports and the photos submitted at the vfs. he also took my passports the currect and previous ones since i had valid u.s.visas on them and they needed to cancel them. i had forgotten my xrays, but no one asked and no one cared.

next the main interview. 10.00 am : i was called to a window managed by a young indian woman. very efficient but very cooperative too. i was administered the oath and i signed the ds 230 part 2. she asked me a couple of questions about my sponsor. she did not even look my way but was busy inputting data in her computer and next she told me that your visa is approved and i would receive it thru the courier or alternatively try to collect from the vfs at 5:00 pm if its ready. i wasnt asked for updated financial or relationship evidences, no latest tax returns or transcripts (the one submitted at the nvc were final and approved within the last 6 months they are not here to check whether you have paid taxes or not but only to ascertain the creditworthiness of your sponsor).

i opted to leave mumbai immediately as i was out by 10.10 and i hate driving back to ahmedabad after dark and decided to wait for the courier instead. i thought i would receive the passports early next week. but i received it on the next afternoon very promptly thru the blue dart couriers and it was delivered to me against id.

also forget about the visa alert regarding the delays in visa printing. their system is up and running and at least i got mine promptly.

my advise here is to relax before you go in for the interview and please, please do not volunteer information. this will only lengthen your interview and your ordeal and irritate the VO. the mantra is keep cool, communicate well and answer honestly and to the point. i think at mumbai, the average interviews per day for May is 32. the visa officers at mumbai are very efficient and helpful and their system is very well organised. i was a family sponsored beneficiary so it was a easy but you guys might be asked a couple of questions extra but i am sure all of you will sail smoothly through. and keep your relationship evidence ready and the older the evidence, the better. the mumbai post has had a high number of marriage frauds so i think they are extra careful. but all those into genuine relationships/marriages do not worry and each one of you will get the visa. the consular officers are there to approve visas but at the same time not to let the wrong people through. so take it easy and my best wishes to you all for a very good life with your loved ones in america and all your dreams and aspirations come true.

Thank you for that!!!!! & Congrads on your Visa!!!!

[TatyanaR 6]

i think its a good idea to submit your medical reports at the vfs. so all your documents will be organised by the time of the interview. i had submitted the following documents at vfs ahmedabad for my interview at mumbai.

phoptocopies of biopages of the passport, photocopy of previous us visa, photocopies of b.c. and m.c., photocopy of local police certificate, original passport clearance certificate (as i had not submitted the original to nvc since the ahmedabad passport office is fussy about issuing the pcc without the interview letter or nvc checklist) 2 visa photographs, medical report sealed covers and ds 230 1& 2 dated then with original signature on part 1, page 2. (since this is the one which is accepted and retained by the consulate officer at mumbai and you sign on these) the earlier ds 230 (submitted at nvc) will be returned back to you.

they will issue a receipt for all papers submitted by you. which you take along with your interview letter to the consulate on the day of the interview. after reviewing the pre screener will return most of these papers back.

ok. here the mandatory documents for the vfs are only biopages of your passports and photographs. but i suggest you to submit the documents as above as it will reduce time considerably on the day of the interview. and i think the consulate appreciates if all the documents are arranged and organised by the vfs thereby reducing their time.

** on account of a fear of identity thefts : my sponsor had certain reservations on submitting personal info (especially ss nos and other financial details) to an outside agency (i.e. vfs). the sponsor would only trust the nvc or us consulate office. my sponsor would send me any document scans thru encrypted emails only. and i too wanted to respect that. but the vfs or the consulate did not ask for any i864 or related financial evidence. and the original i864 submitted at nvc is good to go provided it was dated within the past one year.

Thank you so much for all of that!!!! I emailed all this info to hubby!

[TatyanaR 6]

After a loooong weekend of just doing yardwork (we have a big yard) I now feel so much calmer. Leaving tomorrow around noon heading for Stockholm.

All the papers are organized,outfit picked out and I feel like I'm ready!

Just got a question. The doc gave me back my x-rays,saying something that I should keep 'em blah blah blah. (Don't remember what the Blah's was,haha) Should I bring them along to the interview aswell? My completed medical is already there with them,the x-ray result is also in there. What do you think? Bring 'em just in case?

Just a day and a half left of this crazyness now.

Another Q..

When finally travelling in on my visa,what papers do you fill out on the plane? I normally fill out the blue declaration-paper and a green I-94 (VWP). What do I fill out this time? Just the blue form? I'v seen a white I-94form too,will I get one of those?

Good Luck to all of us 2nd weekers! We WILL do GREAT! Can't wait for all the happiness that'll be in this thread this week!!

Good luck girl!!!!!! I would bring the xray with you just in case unless you want to hang it up on the wall as art what brings your back dreadful memories

[TatyanaR 6]

Hey guys!!!

Thanks for the good wishes!!

Hubby is feeling a little sick today

He has sore throat and cough. I really hope he feels better by tomorrow. It will suck to travel to Rio if he is sick.

Good luck girl!!!!! & hope your hubby will feel better so you can actually enjoy the beach!

[MSPtoYYZ 0]

Can somebody tell me how to reply to more than 1 post at a time? I can't figure it out!

Good luck to Week 2 Interviewees!!!!

[TatyanaR 6]

Good luck y'all!!!! Let's rock this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week Two:

(05/11/2010) Dawn654

(05/11/2010) Yohino

(05/11/2010) Jessicarien

(05/11/2010) HongKong2LA

(05/12/2010) Sachinky

(05/12/2010) Merkie

(05/12/2010) Comembot0120

(05/12/2010) Jaxson

(05/12/2010) M2A

(05/13/2010) MrsWife!

(05/13/2010) Emma_31

(05/13/2010) Grooveman

(05/13/2010) Treyu

(05/14/2010) MattandRian

(05/14/2010) Gpmaan2

(05/14/2010) Joevilla

Best of luck week 2!!!!!

Lets rock this week! so excited!

Good luck hon!!!!

[Jaxson 0]

thanks Sachinky and everyone else for your best wishes. Have anyone ever accessed this site from their blackberry? I don't know if i'll have internet connection at the hotel but I will have my blackberry with me. I hope posting from it will be a breeze.

[TatyanaR 6]

the time is fast approaching and i cannot sleep. i'll be flying to Caracas on tuesday and interview is on wednesday. We are both nervous yet optimistic. My prayers are with all of the week 2 folks, GOOD LUCK!!!

Good luck!!!!

[MSPtoYYZ 0]

thanks Sachinky and everyone else for your best wishes. Have anyone ever accessed this site from their blackberry? I don't know if i'll have internet connection at the hotel but I will have my blackberry with me. I hope posting from it will be a breeze.

I have, it takes a lot of zooming, but it is doable. Is doable a word?

[TatyanaR 6]

1) From VFS itself. The lounge opens at 7AM and they take you to the consulate at 7:15 by a bus. The only advantage to this is that you get to enter the consulate right then and there instead of waiting in the queue. They will also ferry you back to the lounge for your belongings and tell you where to pick up your visa in the evening. Figured it was worth the 250/-

Where does hubby buy a ticket for that?

[aneudyn 2]

Can somebody tell me how to reply to more than 1 post at a time? I can't figure it out!

Good luck to Week 2 Interviewees!!!!

Just select them clicking the multiquote button next to the reply one

[mrs. wife! 3]

We are in Rio!!!!!!!!!!

Just got to the hotel! Had to pay $6 for 24hs of wireless

But, its worth it! I need to keep in touch with you guys! lol

Hubby is still sick

Sachi, did you leave to Mumbai yet?

Edited May 10, 2010 by mrs. wife!