CR-1 Interview Review

[TatyanaR 6]

Thank for the interview review!!!!!

But also reading all that, I got nervous for hubby!!!!

I have 10 siblings. Will they ask what each of them does?

[sachinky 465]

Haha. At one point, I'd drawn up Mr. Sachinky's entire family tree on both sides.

[TatyanaR 6]

Haha. At one point, I'd drawn up Mr. Sachinky's entire family tree on both sides.

[sachinky 465]

No kiddin'.

[Raj456 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Very Detailed.....hats off to you for a detailed message...

Good Luck! Thanks, Raj

Okay, here's my very detailed interview review at the Mumbai Consulate on Wednesday May 12, 2010.

I stayed the night at the Kemp's Corner Hotel which is about 10 minutes away from the VFS office. I dressed in well-fitting jeans and a white dress shirt. I wore both my wedding and engagement rings. I got to the VFS at 7AM and was in the bus by 7:10AM. Reached the Consulate at 7:20AM. Stood in line for a bit while they checked our passports and interview letters.

Entered the Consulate for security. The security guard was a b!tch. She grabbed my a$$ several times (like, seriously cupped my boot-ay) and worst of all, took out ALL my papers from their properly color coded folders messed it all up and then gave it back to me in a heaping pile.

Had to stand and organize everything again and then I entered the waiting room. Waited in line for about 15 minutes for biometric fingerprinting. They give you pink tokens for NIVs and wooden tokens for IVs.

After that, I sat in the waiting area till my name was called for the pre-screener at 8:15AM. She was a middle-aged Indian lady.

Questions asked by her:

--Who is calling you to the States?

--What is his name?

--What is your father's name? (She was confused if his middle name was actually his first name)

--Mother's maiden name?

--You studied in the U.S.?

--Where did you meet your husband?

--In India or the U.S.? So you had a F-1?

--What is your husband's name?

--Who did you visit on your previous B-2 visa?

--Where all did you visit?

--What are your qualifications?

--Where did you get married?

--When did you get married?

--Did you have a Hindu wedding?

--Why not?

--You got married under the Special Marriage Act? Was it a court wedding?

--Did you convert?

--Did he convert?

--Where are you currently working?

--How long has he been in the U.S.? (Born and brought up there).

--Is he an American? (DUH!)

--I mean, is he of Indian-American origin? (No, he's white, of Irish descent).

--Are you a Canadian immigrant? (She was confused by my Canadian once-in-a-lifetime-at-the-border tourist visa).

--Have you resided for more than 6 months in any other country other than the U.S.?

--Who is *joint sponsor's name?*

--What does he do?

--Is he married?

--His wife works? What does she do?

--He files taxes jointly?

--Do you have his 2009 tax returns?

--Where is his W-2?

This is when I shoved in another joint sponsorship as my original joint sponsor was being very uncooperative recently and had refused to send his '09 W2s. I wasn't going to deal with a blue slip for missing documents so I insisted she used whichever one had the better/complete information. She kept both of their documents and said that the final decision would be the CO's.

--Who is *new joint sponsor's name?*

--Your husband recently got a new job?

--What kind of wedding did you have?

I offered to show her some pictures but she pulled out the ones I sent in with the I-130 petition and said she already saw them--she just wanted me to tell her.

I also had to turn in a new DS230, as VFS had turned in a photocopied one. She needed the original signature on it. Thankfully, I was carrying an extra one, all filled out. Helps to be prepared!

She then returned a bunch of documents to me (including my originals and everything that had been submitted to NVC) and told me everything looked good and that the CO might want to ask me a few questions. She asked me to go back and wait.

So I waited. For three freakin' hours while all the B-2, F-1 and H-1Bs kept getting called. There is a food counter with sandwiches, chips, and drinks available but I wasn't carrying any cash so I listened to my stomach growl in hunger. Pointer: EAT BREAKFAST before you go no matter how nauseated you feel in the morning!

Finally, I got called at 11:15 AM. The Consular Officer was an Indian-American lady, very casually dressed. I didn't even realize she was the CO. I just assumed she was there to assign the oath. Which she did and then asked me to sign the new DS230. I did. And then there was a less than 5 minute conversation that consisted of the following questions.

--You have 2 previous visas to the US?

--Yes. B-2 in 1999 and a F-1 in 2005.

--Where did you meet?

--Ithaca College, NY. We were both pursuing our undergraduate degree there.

--Is he an American citizen?

--Yes, he is. (*WHY THESE STUPID REDUNDANT QUESTIONS?*)

--How long have you known him?

--We met in Jan '08, started dating end Feb '08 so about two and a half years now.

--How did you meet him?

--His roommate was a friend of mine.

--When did you get married?

--August 17, 2009. (Asked this twice, to ascertain the date, I assume)

--Do you have any relatives in the U.S.?

-- A couple of distant relatives in my extended family but no one in my immediate family.

--When did you graduate?

--May 2009. May 17, I think. (She seemed surprised that my F-1 is valid till July 2010 and that I had left the U.S. much prior to it's expiry).

--How long have you been married?

--9 months. Will be 9 months this 17th.

--Has he visited you since then?

--"No, unfortunately, he's not been able to." She turned to look at me -- the only time she did so, the rest of the time time she was busy typing on her computer.

--Why not?

--"I guess we were naive and thought we would be done in 3-4 months so we didn't really make any plans to meet up -- we didn't think the process would take so long as long as it did, and besides with both of his jobs being recent, it was hard to get time off." She nodded, and said, "yes, I understand that."

--Speaking of which, where does he work?

--Where do his parents live?

--What do they do?

--What are your qualifications?

--Does he have any brothers or sisters?

--Where does she live?

--What does she do?

I responded quickly to each question with short, precise answers. Then, another guy walked in who cancelled my previous visa. The CO said, "Well, your visa is approved!" She didn't look at one thing. Seriously. I dropped 10 lbs of evidence in front of her and she didn't ask to see ONE damn thing.

I was like, "Seriously? That's it? You don't wanna see some pictures? How about some phone bills?"

She said, "Nope, your passport will be sent to you via courier in a couple of days!" So I said, "oh okay, thankyou." And walked out of the booth in a daze.

I was out by 11:20AM, caught the return bus to VFS and was there by 11:30AM.

Thanks again to VJ and the wonderful VJers for all their help, support and good wishes!

[OBX 51]

Just getting a chance to read this now...excellent review! I'm sure it will be a big help to those waiting for their interviews. Congrats on your approval... a week late

[SMARTSUD 1]

Hello Guys,

Need assistance URGENTLY,my LPR wife in NY is going to be sending the I864 (Affidavit of Support form) to NVC,as she is required to attach the W2 forms for last 3 years along with I864.....here is the issue now.....while filing for tax in the past,by error she wrote her Status as SINGLE instead of being MARRIED in the form,NOW my Question is WILL THAT BE A PROBLEM WHEN SHE SENDS THE ATTCHED LAST 3 YEARS W2s with the I864???? i am really confused and scared,Suggestions are needed about this issue then how can it be rectified......my case is already approved and i have already paid the $70 & $400 fee.

Thanx

[sachinky 465]

Just getting a chance to read this now...excellent review! I'm sure it will be a big help to those waiting for their interviews. Congrats on your approval... a week late

Thankyou very much!

[estrellademiel 7]

Sachi I just realized that your wedding date is my hubby 's bday

[sachinky 465]

Well, it's a great day!

[estrellademiel 7]

Yup

Edited May 29, 2010 by estrellademiel

[Darnell 8,478]

Hello Guys,

Need assistance URGENTLY,my LPR wife in NY is going to be sending the I864 (Affidavit of Support form) to NVC,as she is required to attach the W2 forms for last 3 years along with I864.....here is the issue now.....while filing for tax in the past,by error she wrote her Status as SINGLE instead of being MARRIED in the form,NOW my Question is WILL THAT BE A PROBLEM WHEN SHE SENDS THE ATTCHED LAST 3 YEARS W2s with the I864???? i am really confused and scared,Suggestions are needed about this issue then how can it be rectified......my case is already approved and i have already paid the $70 & $400 fee.

Thanx

1. if she wants to, she can file 1040X, amended returns, listing herself as 'married filing jointly' - but must submit IRS W-7 form when she paper files the amended returns, to a special W-7 address in Austin, TX. She'll need a certified copy of your passport, though - which may be a problem for you to obtain in India.

2. If she gets the 1040x process 'done', she can make new I-864 set, send it in to YOU, and YOU present it to both VFS (prior to interview) and to any VO (during the interview).

[sachinky 465]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Very Detailed.....hats off to you for a detailed message...

Good Luck! Thanks, Raj

Thankyou, Raj!

1. if she wants to, she can file 1040X, amended returns, listing herself as 'married filing jointly' - but must submit IRS W-7 form when she paper files the amended returns, to a special W-7 address in Austin, TX. She'll need a certified copy of your passport, though - which may be a problem for you to obtain in India.

2. If she gets the 1040x process 'done', she can make new I-864 set, send it in to YOU, and YOU present it to both VFS (prior to interview) and to any VO (during the interview).

What Darnell said!

[sachinky 465]

As a follow-up, anyone have any idea if I could somehow find out who my joint sponsor actually is? Because the CO never mentioned anything, I can't tell if they accepted my original joint sponsor's documents (the one who went through NVC and makes more than enough) despite his missing 2009 tax info/W2 or did they accept the other joint sponsor documents (which were complete and accurate) that I handed over to the pre-screener before the interview? She kept both and said the decision would be the CO's.

Who should I contact in order to retrieve that information -- the Consulate, USCIS, local center?

I'd just like to inform all concerned parties whether they are still the joint sponsor or not.

[Amit-N-Melody 11]

As a follow-up, anyone have any idea if I could somehow find out who my joint sponsor actually is? Because the CO never mentioned anything, I can't tell if they accepted my original joint sponsor's documents (the one who went through NVC and makes more than enough) despite his missing 2009 tax info/W2 or did they accept the other joint sponsor documents (which were complete and accurate) that I handed over to the pre-screener before the interview? She kept both and said the decision would be the CO's.

Who should I contact in order to retrieve that information -- the Consulate, USCIS, local center?

I'd just like to inform all concerned parties whether they are still the joint sponsor or not.

Hey, just wanted to comment... after my hubby got his finger prints taken, we waited to be called... this indian lady was reviewing everything... bla bla bla... and after she was finished she handed me back all the information that I sent in with the I-864... except all my co-sponsor's information.. I didnt realize this until you were talking about it... They kept my dads paycheck stubs, W-2's etc... but I have all my info returned to me..... This.. makes me believe that they used my co-sponsor's information...

so... with them keeping both... that makes me confused.. I would of thought that they would of given you back the information on the one that they were not going to use

Edited June 2, 2010 by Amit-N-Melody