CR-1 Interview Experience DCF Mumbai India

[Just Paul 4,595]

3 minutes ago, radusipa said:

Hi Paul&Mary, Kuneesa, the Interview was done on Nov-25 i checked Yesterday on the Visa Tracker it shows Administrative processing and update date was Nov-25 and after some time the Date is updated to Nov-27 but the status is still Administrative Processing. I hope there is no issue.the IO give the approval paper too. We are kind of nervous now. Please share your thoughts. Kunessa was your aloe was in Administrative processing before got the Issued status.If so how long was it like that. Appreciate all your help.

Yes, it will go into AP right after the interview,  then into approved, then back to AP, then to issued.   

 

The IO doesn't approve your visa.   They recommend it for approval.   Everything get checked over again  You shouldn't worry too much as India doesn't have some of the issue its neighbors do.

[radusipa 2]

3 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

Yes, it will go into AP right after the interview,  then into approved, then back to AP, then to issued.   

 

The IO doesn't approve your visa.   They recommend it for approval.   Everything get checked over again  You shouldn't worry too much as India doesn't have some of the issue its neighbors do.

Thank you Very Much Paul & Mary. The Visa is for 3 year old. I hope they will issue soon.Appreciate your help.

[Kuneesa 92]

On 11/25/2019 at 1:46 PM, radusipa said:

 

Hi Kuneesa, Paul&Mary, I Wanted to thank you guys exclusively and others in this forum in general for all the help. This Forum really helped us to gather the documents , get the sense of potential questions that can be asked by IO. Our IR2 Visa has been approved and we're told the passport will be delivered within a weeks time. As we are about to enter the next phase (Port of Entry), I really appreciate if you guys can share your experiences. 

1) How much time it may take approx to complete the process at POE

2) will it be done at the Counters or we have to go to a separate room.

3) Any potential questions we need to be prepared

4) other thoughts

 

Again, i really appreciate all your help.

 

21 hours ago, radusipa said:

Hi Paul&Mary, Kuneesa, the Interview was done on Nov-25 i checked Yesterday on the Visa Tracker it shows Administrative processing and update date was Nov-25 and after some time the Date is updated to Nov-27 but the status is still Administrative Processing. I hope there is no issue.the IO give the approval paper too. We are kind of nervous now. Please share your thoughts. Kunessa was your aloe was in Administrative processing before got the Issued status.If so how long was it like that. Appreciate all your help.

First of all, congratulations!

Yes as Paul&Mary replied, the visa will be in AP for a couple of days and then go back to approved and then Issued. It took us 3 days to see the issued updated on the tracking status and 2 days after that to pick up the visa in Delhi. There shouldn't be any issues with that. Your visa might be a bit delayed because of thanksgiving holidays but that's just my speculation. Usually embassy people are really on top of things.

Now to answer your other questions:
 We landed in Orlando and it took us maybe 30-45 mins to complete the POE process. It was very easy and they will basically take you to a separate room after you produce your visa and other papers at the counter, and that should be it. You shouldn't worry about any other questions really. They might just want to confirm all of your details as given in your visa and that's it. Just be calm and relaxed. Hard part is now over. Congratulations once again and welcome to the USA

[radusipa 2]

22 minutes ago, Kuneesa said:

 

First of all, congratulations!

Yes as Paul&Mary replied, the visa will be in AP for a couple of days and then go back to approved and then Issued. It took us 3 days to see the issued updated on the tracking status and 2 days after that to pick up the visa in Delhi. There shouldn't be any issues with that. Your visa might be a bit delayed because of thanksgiving holidays but that's just my speculation. Usually embassy people are really on top of things.

Now to answer your other questions:
 We landed in Orlando and it took us maybe 30-45 mins to complete the POE process. It was very easy and they will basically take you to a separate room after you produce your visa and other papers at the counter, and that should be it. You shouldn't worry about any other questions really. They might just want to confirm all of your details as given in your visa and that's it. Just be calm and relaxed. Hard part is now over. Congratulations once again and welcome to the USA

Hi Kuneesa,

 

Thank you for your response. Good News, The visa tracker updated to " Issued" on Nov27(India time around 11:00 Am). I think i have to wait till Monday to get the Passport delivered by courier as today is holiday. The passport tracker still says it is with US EMbassy/Consulate. I really appreciate your and Paul&Mary help. Again Thank you Very much. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Vivaan 1]

On 11/28/2019 at 6:56 AM, radusipa said:

Hi Kuneesa,

 

Thank you for your response. Good News, The visa tracker updated to " Issued" on Nov27(India time around 11:00 Am). I think i have to wait till Monday to get the Passport delivered by courier as today is holiday. The passport tracker still says it is with US EMbassy/Consulate. I really appreciate your and Paul&Mary help. Again Thank you Very much. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hi Kuneesa and other members of this thread:

Thank you for all the information that has been posted here.  

I am wondering if anyone could provide any insights for my current situation...

I am a US citizen living in India for the last 9 months.  I established my Indian residency by living here for over 182 days (also got an Aadhar card, local driving license, local rental agreement, etc). I am planning to rejoin my employer in the US around June this year.  

I got married 2 months ago in India, and was in the process of applying for I-130 for my wife who is an Indian citizen living with me in India. I called the Indian Embassy office today, and was told that they are not doing I-130s and asked me to contact the Mumbai Consulate (since I live in Mumbai) office to see if they will make an exception in my case .

I have all the paperwork ready for the I-130 application along with all the required evidence and was planning to visit Delhi to apply in person as recommended by many on this site; however, now i am not sure if that is still the best option.  I read a Policy Alert on the uscis.gov website that they are no longer doing regular DCFs at the international embassies.

Not sure what's the best approach now.  Would appreciate any help!  Thank you!

Best,

Vivaan

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

5 minutes ago, Vivaan said:

I read a Policy Alert on the uscis.gov website that they are no longer doing regular DCFs at the international embassies.

Not sure what's the best approach now.

You are going to have to file for normal consular processing via the lockbox in the US.

[Vivaan 1]

1 hour ago, Paul & Mary said:

You are going to have to file for normal consular processing via the lockbox in the US.

Thank you for your response. 

I understand that applying via lockbox in Dallas is the fall back option but, as I'm sure you know, it takes a very long time through that process (I-130 and I-485 takes around 15 to 18 months these days).  Besides, I have to go back to the US for my job in a few months.  If I don't then I will lose my job. 

I wonder if I would qualify for the following exception in the policy:

"Short notice of position relocation – A U.S. citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, has received a job offer in or reassignment to the United States with little notice for the required start date."

Or, the other option is to apply for a tourist visa for my wife, although I worry that her tourist visa application may get rejected because she is married to a US citizen.

Would appreciate any suggestions/advise...

Thanks.

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

54 minutes ago, Vivaan said:

"Short notice of position relocation – A U.S. citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, has received a job offer in or reassignment to the United States with little notice for the required start date."

You can certainly request that from the consulate.  Are you working abroad?  It's free to ask.  If you are just going back to your old job that won't be considered.

 

55 minutes ago, Vivaan said:

(I-130 and I-485 takes around 15 to 18 months these days).

I-485 isn't needed for consular processing.   If you are thinking she can move there with the intent to adjust then she will be committing visa fraud.

[Vivaan 1]

On 2/10/2020 at 4:58 PM, Paul & Mary said:

You can certainly request that from the consulate.  Are you working abroad?  It's free to ask.  If you are just going back to your old job that won't be considered.

 

I-485 isn't needed for consular processing.   If you are thinking she can move there with the intent to adjust then she will be committing visa fraud.

I called the USCIS Delhi office and was told to write to support-india@ustraveldocs; so i wrote a letter to them.  I got a response from them suggesting that I write to USCIS at cis.ndi@dhs.gov.  So, now I have written to them and am waiting for their response.

I am thinking of traveling to the USCIS field office in New Delhi and just meet the officer in person.  Not sure what the fastest way is to get an answer but i am just losing time.

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, Vivaan said:

I called the USCIS Delhi office and was told to write to support-india@ustraveldocs; so i wrote a letter to them.  I got a response from them suggesting that I write to USCIS at cis.ndi@dhs.gov.  So, now I have written to them and am waiting for their response.

I am thinking of traveling to the USCIS field office in New Delhi and just meet the officer in person.  Not sure what the fastest way is to get an answer but i am just losing time.

 

 

Your getting the runaround.   USCIS New Delhi doesn't process DCF anymore and the Mumbai consulate sends you to USA Traveldocs.

 

I guess contact the USCIS office and see if they have a more direct contact at Mumbai Immigrant Visa Section.

 

You didn't answer the question if you have residency in India.   If you don't you can't use the "job relocation"

 

 

[Vivaan 1]

7 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Your getting the runaround.   USCIS New Delhi doesn't process DCF anymore and the Mumbai consulate sends you to USA Traveldocs.

 

I guess contact the USCIS office and see if they have a more direct contact at Mumbai Immigrant Visa Section.

 

You didn't answer the question if you have residency in India.   If you don't you can't use the "job relocation"

 

 

Yes, I do have residency in India but I am planning to move to the US after my wife gets her green card.  I can't leave her alone in India.

 

[Kuneesa 92]

4 hours ago, Vivaan said:

Yes, I do have residency in India but I am planning to move to the US after my wife gets her green card.  I can't leave her alone in India.

 

As @Paul & Mary said; you're getting a runaround from the embassy. Effective Feb 1, USCIS Delhi has stopped adjudicating I-130 applications. You will have to file through the lockbox now. As a US citizen, you can always try and go to USCIS Delhi office and see if they can entertain your case based on job relocation, but if not then you will have to go the normal route. Sorry.

[Vivaan 1]

On 2/20/2020 at 2:19 AM, Kuneesa said:

As @Paul & Mary said; you're getting a runaround from the embassy. Effective Feb 1, USCIS Delhi has stopped adjudicating I-130 applications. You will have to file through the lockbox now. As a US citizen, you can always try and go to USCIS Delhi office and see if they can entertain your case based on job relocation, but if not then you will have to go the normal route. Sorry.

Yes, seems that both of you are absolutely right.  I am getting the run around.  I wrote a detailed email to explain my situation but got a "generic" response from the USCIS New Delhi office.  The consulate is asking me to contact the USCIS office in New Delhi, and the USCIS office is asking me to contact the consulate.  I am not sure whom to present my case requesting an exception. 

Perhaps a trip to Delhi to plead my case is my last option.

If it comes down to lockbox vs. online filing (I believe they started this a few months ago), do you have any suggestions of which might be better/faster?

Greatly appreciate your thoughts!  Thank you.

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

5 hours ago, Vivaan said:

Yes, seems that both of you are absolutely right.  I am getting the run around.  I wrote a detailed email to explain my situation but got a "generic" response from the USCIS New Delhi office.  The consulate is asking me to contact the USCIS office in New Delhi, and the USCIS office is asking me to contact the consulate.  I am not sure whom to present my case requesting an exception. 

Perhaps a trip to Delhi to plead my case is my last option.

If it comes down to lockbox vs. online filing (I believe they started this a few months ago), do you have any suggestions of which might be better/faster?

Greatly appreciate your thoughts!  Thank you.

 

 

For USCIS you don't need an appointment.   

 

You might want to email the American Citizen unit mumbaiacs@state.gov - and explain the issue.

 

Online is going to be a few days, maybe 2 weeks, faster than filing on paper.   Paper is easier for some especially if you have a bunch of attachments.

[Vivaan 1]

On 2/21/2020 at 5:29 PM, Paul & Mary said:

For USCIS you don't need an appointment.   

 

You might want to email the American Citizen unit mumbaiacs@state.gov - and explain the issue.

 

Online is going to be a few days, maybe 2 weeks, faster than filing on paper.   Paper is easier for some especially if you have a bunch of attachments.

Thanks again @Paul & Mary.  

I got a response from USCIS New Delhi to contact the "Consular Section Department of State."  They did not provide any contact information for this department but I assume it is the consulate office in Mumbai.

As you suggested, I wrote to mumbaiacs@state.gov.  Got a response today saying that they do not address any immigration related questions, and directed me to the US Visa Center at support-india@ustraveldocs.  So I am back to square 1.  I went online to schedule an appointment at the Consulate but, after creating my profile and entering all the requisite information, at the last step the website indicated that there are no appointments available at this time.

So, I called the Visa Service Desk again, and they have asked me to resend the email along with the USCIS response, which I just did.  Let's see...

Do you know if there is any way to escalate this matter?