Interview Tips for Chennai/ Mumbai/ Delhi/ Calcutta

[sachinky 464]

Hi,

My wife went to VFS and they did not accept photos. Howver, my question they accepted phone calls and skype history, yet they did not accept the itenary when I visited to India in summer. VFS did not even take the hotel reciept nor the join financial statements. Any ideas?

Also our situation is that we had registered marriage and a big ring ceremony. What if the CO asks for vidhi photos? What should we tell them? Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

If VFS did not accept some items, feel free to carry it to the consulate. Not a big deal.

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

I took two albums. They weren't terribly big or heavy. One was the wedding album and had the professional pictures. I chose mostly the ones that had us posing with other people or family members. The other one was casual snap-shots from college with friends.

Frankly, I'd err on the side of caution. I took every damn thing I could think of and probably went over-board but even though nothing was asked for, the big bag of evidence gave me the confidence I needed not to collapse to my knees that morning. Also, I sat in the consulate for three hours and watched a TON of people getting grilled. That was NOT fun.

A lot of cases are complex I bet. Student visa/visitor visa and someone gets married etc. Divorce, different religious backgrounds, cultures and age differences can make your case really complex.

An arranged marriage like mine in which I knew my wife a little less than a month before marriage and less than 1 month after I came back to the USA, I really have no idea how in depth they can go. We are and will prepare for all angles for the interview, but I really wonder how in depth they will go as we both have a clean slate with no previous marriages or any red flags.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari

[sachinky 464]

Yes, of course, what you say is true. It all depends on a case-to-case basis.

[sachinky 464]

Addressing the topic, as a four-time interviewer, I'd say, the three most important things are:

1) Treat the interview as a conversation, keep it light, casual and maintain eye contact at all times.

2) Don't be nervous. Easier said than done, I know, my knees were shaking.

3) Frankly, this is my opinion, based on my experience -- they are not interested in answers, they are gauging body language and tone-inflection. In almost all cases, a decision has already been made prior to the beneficiary even making an appearance.

Edited August 22, 2011 by sachinky

[Navyk 78]

I took two albums. They weren't terribly big or heavy. One was the wedding album and had the professional pictures. I chose mostly the ones that had us posing with other people or family members. The other one was casual snap-shots from college with friends.

Frankly, I'd err on the side of caution. I took every damn thing I could think of and probably went over-board but even though nothing was asked for, the big bag of evidence gave me the confidence I needed not to collapse to my knees that morning. Also, I sat in the consulate for three hours and watched a TON of people getting grilled. That was NOT fun.

Thanks bhai.

[sachinky 464]

I'm a behen.

And you're welcome.

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

I'm a behen.

And you're welcome.

Hahaha...I was about to correct him too.

[Navyk 78]

I'm a behen.

And you're welcome.

LOL. Sorry and Thanks Behen.

For Mumbai guys here are the details of VFS - need to pay IRS 387. I guess we can pay at Hyderabad.

The Courier system for Immigrant Visas

With effect from December 1, 2005, applicants who have been scheduled for interviews on and after December 1, 2005, will not need to return to the Consulate to collect their passports and visas. The passports and visas will be returned, promptly, by courier, to the address specified by the applicant.

The fee for this service is Rs.387 per applicant and should be paid in cash at the VFS offices situated in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Kolkata. The courier fee must be paid prior to the applicant coming to our office for the visa interview.

It is very important to contact the VFS office as soon as you receive the Consulate’s appointment letter. The VFS offices are open from 08:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 02:00 to 03:00 p.m. on all U.S. Consulate work days. If there is more than one applicant in a family, one of them can go to the VFS office to pay the total courier fees. The VFS customer service representatives are trained and know the documents required by our office. All applicants’ passports must be presented at VFS, and we suggest that you take your other documents with you as well since the customer service representatives are trained to help you organize your papers for the interview.

For further information, please see the

VFS website or visit the following VFS offices:

[I_love_my_hubby 0]

Ok so my wife and I were kinda having a tussle over the actual medical appointment date.

She states that NVC will setup an appointment time for her (Specfic date and time). She is basing this on others that have done it in the past...

I read and am pretty sure once you get your official interview letter from DOS that you can request the medical on your own anytime before the visa interview

Which one is correct?

Ryan H is right you have to schedule your own medical appointment once you get the interview letter. Based on what my husband told me that you have to be there by 8 a.m. otherwise there is a chance that you won't get your medical exam done on the same day. He also told me that if you don't have your immunization record its ok based upon your health history they will just give you vaccine which the doctor think is required.

[I_love_my_hubby 0]

A lot of cases are complex I bet. Student visa/visitor visa and someone gets married etc. Divorce, different religious backgrounds, cultures and age differences can make your case really complex.

An arranged marriage like mine in which I knew my wife a little less than a month before marriage and less than 1 month after I came back to the USA, I really have no idea how in depth they can go. We are and will prepare for all angles for the interview, but I really wonder how in depth they will go as we both have a clean slate with no previous marriages or any red flags.

Dave I'm in the same boat as you are. I also had arrange marriage and I only knew my husband 2 weeks before we got married & got to stay with him for 2 weeks after marriage. I went back to see him after 2 months for 2 weeks. So in 7 & 1/2 months that we have been married we have only spent 1 month together

I am so scared for our interview day because I really don't know how much of a depth they are going to go into this whole process. But we are preparing for anything and everything that they might ask. I got my finger crossed that we don't run into huge issue on the day of the interview.

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

Dave I'm in the same boat as you are. I also had arrange marriage and I only knew my husband 2 weeks before we got married & got to stay with him for 2 weeks after marriage. I went back to see him after 2 months for 2 weeks. So in 7 & 1/2 months that we have been married we have only spent 1 month together

I am so scared for our interview day because I really don't know how much of a depth they are going to go into this whole process. But we are preparing for anything and everything that they might ask. I got my finger crossed that we don't run into huge issue on the day of the interview.

It's reassuring to know that someone else has the same situation as me.

I really don't think it will be that bad. All we can do is prepare the best we can and pray to God for no issues.

I wish you all the best in the rest of your immigration journey.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari

[I_love_my_hubby 0]

It's reassuring to know that someone else has the same situation as me.

I really don't think it will be that bad. All we can do is prepare the best we can and pray to God for no issues.

I wish you all the best in the rest of your immigration journey.

I don't think that it will be bad but then you never know. Yes, at this point all we can do is prepare for the interview, pray and wait for September 9th to see what it has in store for us. Thanks & good luck to you as well for the smooth journey. Hope your case gets completed by the end of this month so your wife can have her interview in October.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Nilu&Bhakti

[Navyk 78]

I don't think that it will be bad but then you never know. Yes, at this point all we can do is prepare for the interview, pray and wait for September 9th to see what it has in store for us. Thanks & good luck to you as well for the smooth journey. Hope your case gets completed by the end of this month so your wife can have her interview in October.

We wish you the very best. As Sachinky mentioned, a decision generally is already made based on the documents submitted (I always advised others to front load where possible at I-130 and agian at DS-230).

Ours too is an arranged marraige and all US Consulates in India know about Indian arranged marraiges, so there is nothing to worry. As long as our marraiges are genuine, the good Lord is on side. Go in full assurance and give us the good news.

[Navyk 78]

I email VFS, Chennai regarding the courier fee and other details. They didn't answer all the questions - like can I pay the courier fee at Hyderabad.... But sent the following response and thought of sharing with you all.

Dear Mr. xxxx,

Thank you for writing to us,

Kindly note that you can visit the visa application centre on any working day between 8am to 1pm & 2pm-3pm (Monday through Friday excluding holidays observed by the U.S. Consulate, Chennai). Documents will be accepted at VFS centers (Located in Southern region) until 10 working days prior to the date of interview. Applicant must submit all the documents to VFS as specified in the “Appointment package” or “Packet 4” (those which pertain to your case).

Further, you need to submit the courier fee payment (Rs.387/-) with the below mentioned documents:

1) Passport (original & photocopy)

2) Interview Letter(original & photocopy)

3) 2 Photographs (as per visa specification)

4) other relevant documents mentioned in your packet 4 (If required)

Regards,

Shazia

U.S VFS Helpdesk Team

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

So most/if not all of the documents we already submitted with the DS-230 packet they are requiring in Packet 4.

Are we to submit these again? Seems redundant. Makes no sense to me at all...

Edited August 22, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari