Mumbai/Delhi consulate interview tracking

[Sooraj 0]

Hi Sooraj,

MandyBear did update her visa process in another forum for Mumbai consulate discussions and my wild guess was right, they picked up their visa from the Pune VFS pick up center on Friday. So 5 days it is if you have it registered to pick up passport from your state or 3 days for pick up directly from VFS Mumbai. Confirmed!!!

Yes you are right about not having long lists of relationship evidences. But I didnot have an option for my call logs as the website just didnot allow me to edit its list, so I have like 18pages of call log and the funny part is it only covers past 3 months, with a min of 3 calls per day to my hubby.

With emails, I was able to make a new folder in my account into which I chose 2 mails per month from 2002(when we started as friends) to current and printed those pages with: to address, subject and date info. My hubby did the same from his email account too.

We are still fixing the album as it holds only 40pics and we are struggling with which 40 to choose... ha ha...

We are also taking both of our insurance statements declaring better half to be be beneficiary, joint bank account proof, my travel itineries to India last 3 yrs since marriage, our college certificate showing proof that we met in college, and copy of maysia visa page from both our passports showing honeymoon travel.

I cannot imagine the feeling when the officer will not ask for any of these... Well it is better than not to have a document and that cause further issues....

Thanks for the heads up Sooraj....

Capri_scorp: thanks for the update! ya, that's plenty of evidence, your hubby should be fine! better to be safe than sorry.

I had ordered tax transcripts for AOS. And I have submitted the original transcripts to NVC along with my AOS. However I have made xerox of the entire AOS packet and sent to to my wife in India so that she can take it to the interview and show if needed.

I also submitted original IRS transcripts to NVC. After reading several interview experiences in this forum, I've noticed they ask for ACTUAL copy of tax return (usually during pre-screen). People have recommended it, so I would send copy of actual tax return as well, in case they ask for it. I just don't want to take any chance or give them a reason to delay the process.

[Sooraj 0]

Is it wise to buy a ticket for US for 20th November? Here are some details:

7th Nov -- Interview at mumbai

8th Nov -- Working day

9th Nov -- Working day

10th Nov - Weekend

11th Nov - Weekend

12th Nov - Veterans day holiday

13th Nov - Diwali holiday

14th Nov - New year holiday

15th Nov - Working day

16th Nov - Working day

17th Nov - Weekend

18th Nov - Weekend

19th Nov - Working day

20th Nov - Working day

These are consulate holidays...considering some people got their passports with visa in 4-5 working days I should be getting it on 19th Nov. It will be delivered to Ahmedabad VFS by DHL, does DHL also has a holiday for Veterans day?

Can someone help me to understand which date I should be expecting my passport from Mumbai consulate to Ahmedabad VFS? Accordingly I can make my travel plans. Thanks everyone.

Hi kpatel- Perhaps you can wait till 15th to book ticket for 20th. Check if the airline allows any hold window (1-3 days?) for booking ticket and if needed, cancelling or rescheduling w/out charge. For Air India, my wife told me they can hold reservation for 24 hrs.

Passport delivery- seems like there is a way to track it via DHL, so you will have a pretty good idea of receiving date, can someone clarify/confirm this?

[kpatel 3]

Thanks guys, I think I will book a ticket on 7th after the interview result for 20th or 23rd Nov. Thanks.

[pgupta 19]

Thanks guys, I think I will book a ticket on 7th after the interview result for 20th or 23rd Nov. Thanks.

That is good.

What documents are you planning to take for interview?

[kpatel 3]

That is good.

What documents are you planning to take for interview?

Evidencies that I am planning to take are:

Our wedding pictures

Honeymoon Pictures

His last trip to India pictures (we had done puja at our home)

Some of the family pictures when his family visited me in India

Our wedding Invitation card (Kankotri)

Some chat logs of last 3 months

Some phone logs

My new Pan card (govt ID) with my married name

My investments where his name is added as beneficiary about a month ago

Copy of Account Summary of new Bank Account with his name as beneficiary (joint with mother as she will take care of the account)

An Affidavit of a friend who attended our marraige and who knows us since last 2 years (submitted a copy of the same affidavit while filing I-130)

I am just able to recall these many things as of now. Except evidences I will take:

Medical reports

Beneficiary's certified Birth certificate (as I have 15-20 certified copies)

Beneficiary's certified Birth certificate (as I have 15-20 certified copies)

Copy of local PCC from police station

Petitioner's last year's (2011) tax return and bank statement (self-employed and he has less income shown on tax return but has more in bank;)

Original PCC from passport office

Copies of all the above documents

Please let me know if I am missing on anything regardless of its importance.

Edited October 9, 2012 by kpatel

[pgupta 19]

Hi kpatel- Perhaps you can wait till 15th to book ticket for 20th. Check if the airline allows any hold window (1-3 days?) for booking ticket and if needed, cancelling or rescheduling w/out charge. For Air India, my wife told me they can hold reservation for 24 hrs.

Passport delivery- seems like there is a way to track it via DHL, so you will have a pretty good idea of receiving date, can someone clarify/confirm this?

you should get your passport by 10th or 12th, US holidays does not matter as your passport leaves same day with DHL.

[pgupta 19]

Evidencies that I am planning to take are:

Our wedding pictures

Honeymoon Pictures

His last trip to India pictures (we had done puja at our home)

Some of the family pictures when his family visited me in India

Our wedding Invitation card (Kankotri)

Some chat logs of last 3 months

Some phone logs

My new Pan card (govt ID) with my married name

My investments where his name is added as beneficiary about a month ago

Copy of Account Summary of new Bank Account with his name as beneficiary (joint with mother as she will take care of the account)

An Affidavit of a friend who attended our marraige and who knows us since last 2 years (submitted a copy of the same affidavit while filing I-130)

I am just able to recall these many things as of now. Except evidences I will take:

Medical reports

Beneficiary's certified Birth certificate (as I have 15-20 certified copies)

Beneficiary's certified Birth certificate (as I have 15-20 certified copies)

Copy of local PCC from police station

Petitioner's last year's (2011) tax return and bank statement (self-employed and he has less income shown on tax return but has more in bank;)

Original PCC from passport office

Copies of all the above documents

Please let me know if I am missing on anything regardless of its importance.

My lawyer told me to take big wedding album as well besides specific photos in small album. i know big album can not be passed from consulate window but it can be put beside window for them to see and it proves that marriage is legitimate.

also now consulate says not to bring X-rays.

Edited October 9, 2012 by pgupta

[kpatel 3]

My lawyer told me to take big wedding album as well besides specific photos in small album. i know big album can not be passed from consulate window but it can be put beside window for them to see and it proves that marriage is legitimate.

also now consulate says not to bring X-rays.

Our wedding was a small family wedding type in Arya Samaj, so do not have a big wedding album. Till now i was planning to take the same small album as we took pictures from digital camera (nothing professional). Would that be fine?

Anything else that you can suggest would help.

you should get your passport by 10th or 12th, US holidays does not matter as your passport leaves same day with DHL.

So do you suggest taking a ticket (after the interview result) of 19th early morning?

[pgupta 19]

Our wedding was a small family wedding type in Arya Samaj, so do not have a big wedding album. Till now i was planning to take the same small album as we took pictures from digital camera (nothing professional). Would that be fine?

Anything else that you can suggest would help.

So do you suggest taking a ticket (after the interview result) of 19th early morning?

put all pictures in proper album, showing you two with family members.

[pgupta 19]

So do you suggest taking a ticket (after the interview result) of 19th early morning?

On interview day they will tell you if you are approved, you can start planning. if you book thru travel agents they can hold ticket for a week or so, but if you book online you will not have option to hold.

[kpatel 3]

On interview day they will tell you if you are approved, you can start planning. if you book thru travel agents they can hold ticket for a week or so, but if you book online you will not have option to hold.

Oh ok, Thanks.

[DeW_DrOpS 21]

Hey guys, I just got the mdeical done at Apollo Ahmedabad at parimal garden, reached there by 7.30am and was done by 10.30am. Fasting was not required.

Total medical cost was - 3221 (1600 for check up and rest for 3 vaccinations which were to given to everyone that came for medical). They have asked me to collect the report on the same day at 5pm.

Please let me know incase of any further questions.

Hey...kpatel..can u pls describe in detail ur Medical Experience starting from entering to collection of ur Medical report at Apollo, Parimal Garden...Please..

This info will be helpful to our members who r from Guj...

[kpatel 3]

Here you go.. I got interview date assigned on 3rd oct and called apollo on same day to book an appointment for 5th october..documents asked to bring were- original passport, 2 copies of passport, 2 copies of interview letter and 3 passport size photos with WHITE background..also do not forget to take a BLACK PEN

They asked me to reach there at 8am but I reached by 7.30am, I was still 3rd in queue. After I entered people started flooding for US immigration medical.

I was asked to fill 2 forms and give it back on reception, receptionist made my profile and gave me print of that. At 8am they started with xray (5 mins per person), then directly went for blood test (again 5 mins per person), then went on first floor and was guided to fill one more form (helper to guide was available), then eye test (not computerised testing, just asked to read few words), then meet the lady doctor and she asked few basic questions like any operations till now, do u have BP, diabetes or any dental job done? Then she asked to lay down and checked BP, checked the feet, stomach to make sure there are no stich marks (basically she was confirming my answers)..she highlighted the vaccinations to be taken (80% of the people were given same vaccinations, if they didn't have, bp, diabetes or no operation)

Then again go on ground floor to billing room, then again go back on first floor to vaccination room, take vaccinations, handover the file to the helper/guide and she asked me to collect the report on the same day between 5 to 7pm.

I went to collect the report around 6pm same day, asked for reports on reception and he said read ur name on the bags lying on reception and take ur reports. I asked if all reports were normal so receptionist replied that we only give reports if they are normal otherwise you will have to go for further check up.

Walked out happily I hope this will help!!

[DeW_DrOpS 21]

Here you go.. I got interview date assigned on 3rd oct and called apollo on same day to book an appointment for 5th october..documents asked to bring were- original passport, 2 copies of passport, 2 copies of interview letter and 3 passport size photos with WHITE background..also do not forget to take a BLACK PEN

They asked me to reach there at 8am but I reached by 7.30am, I was still 3rd in queue. After I entered people started flooding for US immigration medical.

I was asked to fill 2 forms and give it back on reception, receptionist made my profile and gave me print of that. At 8am they started with xray (5 mins per person), then directly went for blood test (again 5 mins per person), then went on first floor and was guided to fill one more form (helper to guide was available), then eye test (not computerised testing, just asked to read few words), then meet the lady doctor and she asked few basic questions like any operations till now, do u have BP, diabetes or any dental job done? Then she asked to lay down and checked BP, checked the feet, stomach to make sure there are no stich marks (basically she was confirming my answers)..she highlighted the vaccinations to be taken (80% of the people were given same vaccinations, if they didn't have, bp, diabetes or no operation)

Then again go on ground floor to billing room, then again go back on first floor to vaccination room, take vaccinations, handover the file to the helper/guide and she asked me to collect the report on the same day between 5 to 7pm.

I went to collect the report around 6pm same day, asked for reports on reception and he said read ur name on the bags lying on reception and take ur reports. I asked if all reports were normal so receptionist replied that we only give reports if they are normal otherwise you will have to go for further check up.

Walked out happily I hope this will help!!

Thanks very much @Kpatel....Just one question...Which size photos to take at Hospital...Our regular Indian Passport size or US Photo type i.e 2*2 size...???

Wish u very Best Luck for ur Interview....Do post ur Interview Experience here

[kpatel 3]

They accepted our regular Indian passport size photos but were specific about white background photos.