Detailed Mumbai CR1 Interview Experience date 19 June 2012

[mysticlady 1]

Just let him/her do the work in asking you the questions like you said speaking voluntarily could result in more questions being asked than intended. And yes, they

mostly look at the computer and/or at the forms while talking. But they do look up at you a couple of times. I looked at what she was doing with the paperwork when she was checking boxes and when she was staring at the computer and I wasn't answering, I just looked around or at the back of the computer.

one more thing, the guy next to me was a F1 immigrant and his passport was returned to him. We left the consulate together and he said he was to submit two things - his dad's latest tax returns (very very important, he had 2010's) and some photos of them together. So, make sure to take photos with you. Just a few in a cover should do.

[DeW_DrOpS 21]

Just let him/her do the work in asking you the questions like you said speaking voluntarily could result in more questions being asked than intended. And yes, they

mostly look at the computer and/or at the forms while talking. But they do look up at you a couple of times. I looked at what she was doing with the paperwork when she was checking boxes and when she was staring at the computer and I wasn't answering, I just looked around or at the back of the computer.

one more thing, the guy next to me was a F1 immigrant and his passport was returned to him. We left the consulate together and he said he was to submit two things - his dad's latest tax returns (very very important, he had 2010's) and some photos of them together. So, make sure to take photos with you. Just a few in a cover should do.

That was very kind of u @Mysticlady...I really thank u very much for sharing the info abt ur Interview xperience and F1 Guy's talk with u.

I already hav my Dad's latest Tax Return Transcripts for Year 2011 & 2010 along with W2's for both years and 1040 also. My dad submitted tax returns for 2007, 2008 & 2009 2 yrs b'fore at NVC.

So now definitely they will ask for my Dad's latest Tax Returns during my Interview.

And also i hav compiled Old & New some 20 pics of My Dad with me and my Family together....I hope 20 pics will be enough during Interview.

Do u have any more info from that F1 guy regarding his Interview Questions i.e. what questions the CO asked him and how was his Interview????

I want to know what kind of questions do F1 guy's receive in Mumbai Consulate coz no F1 guy is registered here in this forum so i can't get any F1 guy's Interview xperience.

[sunshine_84 11]

Ok...So only point to point answers r good rather than brief description which may further invoke the CO to ask more questions. The only important thing during Interview is that Eye to Eye contact with CO with confident speech and short and sweet answers.....

One thing i have heard from many people is that CO's r always busy during Interview with their computers.... they don't even care to look at the applicants...They just start questioning and even w/o looking at the applicants, they type sumthg in their PC....Applicants just answer them....CO's dont even monitor the applicant's body language...I think it is the other officer (maybe Indian) accompanying the American CO that monitors the body language and facial xpressions.

I think you are over-stressing yourself with lot of skepticism that you may get into some issues.

My mantra for immigration interview is this:

1. Be precise, crystal-clear with your answers.

2. Be yourself at the time of interview, don't try to be over-smart or nervous. Remain in neutral zone with your conversation with CO.

PS: CO is not there to make a friendship with you nor to judge your interpersonal communication skills.

As long as you answer to their questions with all clarity and provide all documents they need, then you should be in a good shape.

[DeW_DrOpS 21]

I think you are over-stressing yourself with lot of skepticism that you may get into some issues.

My mantra for immigration interview is this:

1. Be precise, crystal-clear with your answers.

2. Be yourself at the time of interview, don't try to be over-smart or nervous. Remain in neutral zone with your conversation with CO.

PS: CO is not there to make a friendship with you nor to judge your interpersonal communication skills.

As long as you answer to their questions with all clarity and provide all documents they need, then you should be in a good shape.

U r Correct but Getting a US Visa is a Dream for everyone and now a days there r lot of issues even for Immigrant Visa...So its better to be more cautious rather than Nervous....

But i will keep ur advice in my mind for sure...Thanks Very Much.

I think you are over-stressing yourself with lot of skepticism that you may get into some issues.

My mantra for immigration interview is this:

1. Be precise, crystal-clear with your answers.

2. Be yourself at the time of interview, don't try to be over-smart or nervous. Remain in neutral zone with your conversation with CO.

PS: CO is not there to make a friendship with you nor to judge your interpersonal communication skills.

As long as you answer to their questions with all clarity and provide all documents they need, then you should be in a good shape.

U r Correct but Getting a US Visa is a Dream for everyone and now a days there r lot of issues even for Immigrant Visa...So its better to be more cautious rather than Nervous....

But i will keep ur advice in my mind for sure...Thanks Very Much.

[jubinrr 3]

Thanks for the detailed review of the process. Can you let us know whether you were collecting your stamped passport from VFS after the interview or were they mailing it to you?

[mysticlady 1]

Thanks for the detailed review of the process. Can you let us know whether you were collecting your stamped passport from VFS after the interview or were they mailing it to you?

I got mine yesterday, by courier, two days after my interview. A big grey package and my passport with the visa.

[sunshine_84 11]

I got mine yesterday, by courier, two days after my interview. A big grey package and my passport with the visa.

Did you choose to get your visa mailed in to your home instead of picking up from Mumbai VFS office in the evening? I recall my sister-in-law had picked up her visa on the same day evening from VFS few years ago, not sure if they have changed the rules after that time.

FYI my wife is not local to Mumbai so we prefer to pick-up the visa on the same day possible to avoid any mail delays.

Edited June 24, 2012 by smart84

[mysticlady 1]

Did you choose to get your visa mailed in to your home instead of picking up from Mumbai VFS office in the evening? I recall my sister-in-law had picked up her visa on the same day evening from VFS few years ago, not sure if they have changed the rules after that time.

FYI my wife is not local to Mumbai so we prefer to pick-up the visa on the same day possible to avoid any mail delays.

Yes I did. You can call VFS and can still pick up your passport from their offices. I don't know if it'll be available the same day though. In my case, I tracked my passport on the VFS website the night of my interview and the status said it was still being processed in the U.S consulate. It reached VFS the next day I believe.

[njohn 0]

hi just wanted to ask you few things.

1. we have already submitted our affidavit of support i 864 and its supporting documents to NVC and its accepted. do we have to submit a copy of i 864 again to VFS? DO we have to submit again copies of US citizen spouse's (petitioner) Employment letter, pay stub, naturalization certificate, w2 and tax returns?

2. the visa fess of 230 dollars were also made to NVC? do we have to pay in consulate again?

3. if possible can you provide a list of documents that needed to submit in VFS apart from ds 230 , 2x2 photos, marriage certificate, birth certificate, medical report, pcc.

thank you

[mysticlady 1]

hi just wanted to ask you few things.

1. we have already submitted our affidavit of support i 864 and its supporting documents to NVC and its accepted. do we have to submit a copy of i 864 again to VFS? DO we have to submit again copies of US citizen spouse's (petitioner) Employment letter, pay stub, naturalization certificate, w2 and tax returns?

2. the visa fess of 230 dollars were also made to NVC? do we have to pay in consulate again?

3. if possible can you provide a list of documents that needed to submit in VFS apart from ds 230 , 2x2 photos, marriage certificate, birth certificate, medical report, pcc.

thank you

Hey,

1. If I864 was already submitted to NVC, you don't need to submit it again to VFS. However, if you have a photocopy of the I864 packet including the things you mention, pl carry it. VFS mumbai did not accept my I864 papers and I took it to the consulate where they accepted it. We had not submitted it before.

2. No, you are not required to make another payment

3. Here is the list of docs http://photos.state.gov/libraries/mumbai/395145/pereirals/Packet4-Infosheet-IV.pdf. You also need to pay Rs. 399 to VFS as courier charges even if you opt to pick up your passport yourself. Apart from the forms you mention you will also need to submit affidavits, if applicable to the VFS office. E.g of affidavits include a birth affidavit if your birth certificate doesn't have your name on it or is incomplete in some other respect.

All the best for your interview

[sunshine_84 11]

Hey,

1. If I864 was already submitted to NVC, you don't need to submit it again to VFS. However, if you have a photocopy of the I864 packet including the things you mention, pl carry it. VFS mumbai did not accept my I864 papers and I took it to the consulate where they accepted it. We had not submitted it before.

2. No, you are not required to make another payment

3. Here is the list of docs http://photos.state.gov/libraries/mumbai/395145/pereirals/Packet4-Infosheet-IV.pdf. You also need to pay Rs. 399 to VFS as courier charges even if you opt to pick up your passport yourself. Apart from the forms you mention you will also need to submit affidavits, if applicable to the VFS office. E.g of affidavits include a birth affidavit if your birth certificate doesn't have your name on it or is incomplete in some other respect.

All the best for your interview

hey..... regarding I864 Affidavit of Support (AOS) package, which AOS package documents did you bring with you for an interview? Did Mumbai consulate bother to review them again while they were interviewing you?

[mysticlady 1]

hey..... regarding I864 Affidavit of Support (AOS) package, which AOS package documents did you bring with you for an interview? Did Mumbai consulate bother to review them again while they were interviewing you?

Hi,

We did DCF,so hadn't submitted our I864 to the NVC. I took the entire AOS packet to the interview. When I submitted the docs at VFS prior to my interview, they accepted all other docs except the AOS - weird! No, the CO didn't review the AOS when she was speaking to me. I expect they did so before I got to the window. My interview only lasted about 3-5 mins.

[wildestkabs 0]

the guy next to me was a F1 immigrant and his passport was returned to him. We left the consulate together and he said he was to submit two things - his dad's latest tax returns (very very important, he had 2010's).

Congratulations, mystic. Just a quick clarification. I (US citizen), submitted returns for tax years 2008/09/10 to the NVC. I haven't filed my 2011 taxes yet. Figured I wanted to wait till the wife shows up and then file joint. I did get an extension letter from the IRS, which basically allows me to file my taxes up until October of 2012. I have already mailed this letter to the wife, along with the last 4 pay stubs, updated letter from my employer and the 2011 W2, to take with her to the interview.

I am hoping this should okay, or do you think the Consulate may ask for a 2011 tax return even if we have an extension from the IRS? Personally, I don't think it would be issue but kind of wanted to get a second opinion.

[mysticlady 1]

Congratulations, mystic. Just a quick clarification. I (US citizen), submitted returns for tax years 2008/09/10 to the NVC. I haven't filed my 2011 taxes yet. Figured I wanted to wait till the wife shows up and then file joint. I did get an extension letter from the IRS, which basically allows me to file my taxes up until October of 2012. I have already mailed this letter to the wife, along with the last 4 pay stubs, updated letter from my employer and the 2011 W2, to take with her to the interview.

I am hoping this should okay, or do you think the Consulate may ask for a 2011 tax return even if we have an extension from the IRS? Personally, I don't think it would be issue but kind of wanted to get a second opinion.

Nope, shouldn't be a problem at all. Mine did exactly the same thing. I had no issues.

[wildestkabs 0]

Nope, shouldn't be a problem at all. Mine did exactly the same thing. I had no issues.

Thanks, mystic. My wife's interview is today at 7:45 AM. I was freaking out since its been almost 2 hours and I haven't gotten a text from her but then I re-read your first post from this thread and it seems it took you around 4 hours before you finally had your interview. So I feel a little better now, lol.