Those who recently did CR1 Chennai interview; medical, entry to consulate, returning of PP

[KaashParinda 7]

Hi Folks, this is addressed to those CR1 interviewees who took their interview recently in Chennai, some general questions:

My wife has her interview on Nov 30 in Chennai, she'll be doing her medical in the next couple of weeks.

1. If the medical goes well, she'll have a sealed form. This needs to be given to VFS. In our case, this is the only form remaining, NVC has everything else in original. Have people turned in ANYTHING ELSE like photographs at this stage? (They specifically won't take wedding albums, according to their info here: (https://www.vfs-usa..../ivchennai.html)

2. There is this option of picking up the passport and visa on the same day (https://www.vfs-usa....ia/typ_faq.html). Have people routinely done this? Definitely this is what we would choose.

3. I understand that, unless requested, the petitioner won't be allowed to be interviewed with his or her spouse. What about accompanying the interview into the consulate? According to the website "keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as our office has very limited seating and space." here: http://chennai.uscon...ointments.html. Does this mean that you as the petitioner CAN accompany your spouse (the applicant and beneficiary)? Or is this geared towards older folks who might need an escort?

Thanks in advance for your answers, KP.

[hobokenworkingman 4]

Hi Folks, this is addressed to those CR1 interviewees who took their interview recently in Chennai, some general questions:

My wife has her interview on Nov 30 in Chennai, she'll be doing her medical in the next couple of weeks.

1. If the medical goes well, she'll have a sealed form. This needs to be given to VFS. In our case, this is the only form remaining, NVC has everything else in original. Have people turned in ANYTHING ELSE like photographs at this stage? (They specifically won't take wedding albums, according to their info here: (https://www.vfs-usa..../ivchennai.html)

2. There is this option of picking up the passport and visa on the same day (https://www.vfs-usa....ia/typ_faq.html). Have people routinely done this? Definitely this is what we would choose.

3. I understand that, unless requested, the petitioner won't be allowed to be interviewed with his or her spouse. What about accompanying the interview into the consulate? According to the website "keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as our office has very limited seating and space." here: http://chennai.uscon...ointments.html. Does this mean that you as the petitioner CAN accompany your spouse (the applicant and beneficiary)? Or is this geared towards older folks who might need an escort?

Thanks in advance for your answers, KP.

#1 - you DONT need to give anything to the VFS. you can have your wife bring the medical report to the interview. My wife didnt give anything to VFS. VFS will happily take your money to mail out the visa which unfortunately is a requirement (the 387 rs or so). they will give you a receipt which is required to take to the interview. other than that, i dont think they are not interested in taking anything else from you. i should mention that my wife dealt with the VFS in bangalore, not chennai (she had the interview in chennai, but since there's a VFS in bangalore, that's who she dealt with since that's where she lived). my wife did take the medical report to the interview and gave it to the consulate officer. you can do that.

#2 - i dont know what the outlined procedure in the link is, but i'd recommend you check out one of my recent posts on this topic (too long to type out again). basically you can go to the VFS office THE NEXT DAY in CHENNAI after 4 and collect it at their counter. make sure your wife asks when the visa can be collected after the interview officer says she's approved. he should say "tomorrow after 3 or so". then u can go and collect it the next day, unless something has changed from June 10th (when my wife had her interview) to now.

#3 - you cannot go even inside the consulate. you have to wait outside. if you're a USC, you can go to the consulate library (right around the corner) and wait there, but you have to check your cell phone in at the door and so you wont know when your wife is done. so you'll have to just wait outside. there's usually a big crowd of people waiting past the check point by the bus stop outside. you'll know what i mean when yu see it. tell ur wife that's where you'll be waiting. bring a foldable chair, a book and just wait. it'll take 3-4 hrs from when she goes in.

i have full details of the interview in my timeline. check it out for interview questions. good luck

[KaashParinda 7]

HobokenWorkingMan,

Thanks so very much for you extended response. It was in fact your review that prompted me to ask about VFS picking up the medical form, because somewhere else too I read that you can simply bring the form with you to the interview. Thanks again...I have some even more specific questions which I will send you in a message.

KP

[JinyAndJony 0]

1. If the medical goes well, she'll have a sealed form. This needs to be given to VFS. In our case, this is the only form remaining, NVC has everything else in original. Have people turned in ANYTHING ELSE like photographs at this stage? (They specifically won't take wedding albums, according to their info here: (https://www.vfs-usa..../ivchennai.html)

Just pay the courier fee in any VFS office.. either in chennai or in bangalore whichever is convenient. I paid mine in chennai cos i had lot of free time when i went for medicals. make sure they give you the receipt and put the sticker on the passport.

2. There is this option of picking up the passport and visa on the same day (https://www.vfs-usa....ia/typ_faq.html). Have people routinely done this? Definitely this is what we would choose.

Next day after 4 o clock. Make sure you book your return tickets for later in the day accordingly..

3. I understand that, unless requested, the petitioner won't be allowed to be interviewed with his or her spouse. What about accompanying the interview into the consulate? According to the website "keep to a minimum the number of persons escorting them, as our office has very limited seating and space." here: http://chennai.uscon...ointments.html. Does this mean that you as the petitioner CAN accompany your spouse (the applicant and beneficiary)? Or is this geared towards older folks who might need an escort?

No you cannot really.. you will have to wait outside (quite hot and humid).. better if you are going, you go back to your hotel if its nearby .. Come back by 10.30-10.45 and wait for your wife to come out.. else, let her go to some local telephone booth and give you a call when she is done.

good luck, man.. its no big deal..it will all be fine.

[KaashParinda 7]

Thanks JinyandJony. I sent you a gchat request/e-mail as well.