Mumbai Consulate - Any recent "IR" interviews/interview scheduled?

[rockvil 72]

My daughter-in-law had her interview yesterday and was approved.   

Some comments from her:
1) A lot of the non-English speaking people seemed to have been called first.   My DIL was one of the last people to be interviewed.

2) Most interviews were short from what she observed.   Some were as long as 25-30 minutes.   A few were rejected as the CO wasn't satisfied.
3) Some questions asked to my DIL were:
        a) Who's calling?
        b) Was yours a love or arranged marriage?  If arranged, how?
        c) Where will you go once you reach US?
        d) Do you plan to work?  What will you do? What is your educational background.

 

She was then told her visa was approved.

 

Thanks to everyone in VJ for the great support & feedback thru this arduous process.   Good luck to everyone waiting for the visa interview.
 

Edited September 27, 2019 by rockvil

[Potomac 28]

On 9/14/2019 at 4:32 AM, Prof RR said:

Many thanks to Potomac for the responses. Just one more question: Can we do the biometrics at any of the centres in India? - say, in Bangalore (where we live) or in Chennai (where there is definitely a biometrics center? Thanks.

Sorry for late response.

You can get your Biometrics done at any VAC. I am sorry but there is not VAC in Bangalore. The list for VAC's are the below

 

Visa Application Center Locations

City	Branch	Address
Mumbai	Bandra East, Mumbai - 400051	Parinee Crescenzo, 101, 1st Floor, A Wing, G Block, Bandrakurla Complex
Chennai	Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034	Good shepherd, No 82, Kodambakkam High Road
Hyderabad	Begumpet, Secunderabad – 500003	1-8-384/385, Gowra Grand, S.P.Road
Kolkata	Kolkata – 700017	Jasmine Tower, 31, Shakespeare Sarani (1st Floor)
New Delhi	Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001	Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg

[VParekh 1]

Hello Friends,

 

Do we need to get another police clearance certificate even if we submitted one on ceac at the time of document submission? 

On 9/27/2019 at 5:17 PM, Potomac said:

Sorry for late response.

You can get your Biometrics done at any VAC. I am sorry but there is not VAC in Bangalore. The list for VAC's are the below

 

Visa Application Center Locations

City	Branch	Address
Mumbai	Bandra East, Mumbai - 400051	Parinee Crescenzo, 101, 1st Floor, A Wing, G Block, Bandrakurla Complex
Chennai	Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034	Good shepherd, No 82, Kodambakkam High Road
Hyderabad	Begumpet, Secunderabad – 500003	1-8-384/385, Gowra Grand, S.P.Road
Kolkata	Kolkata – 700017	Jasmine Tower, 31, Shakespeare Sarani (1st Floor)
New Delhi	Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001	Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Concourse Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg

 

[IndiaAnnie 163]

5 minutes ago, VParekh said:

Hello Friends,

 

Do we need to get another police clearance certificate even if we submitted one on ceac at the time of document submission? 

 

Only of it's expired at the time of interview (good for one year). It's expires in November 2019 and we're expecting November interview so we're getting an updated PCC...for example.

[VParekh 1]

2 minutes ago, IndiaAnnie said:

Only of it's expired at the time of interview (good for one year). It's expires in November 2019 and we're expecting November interview so we're getting an updated PCC...for example.

Thank you 😊

[wisedog 58]

My parents had their interview in Mumbai on Friday and were approved. I happened to have to make a last minute (previously unplanned) trip to India and hence I joined them at the interview. In hindsight, it was perhaps unnecessary, but glad i witnessed the experience regardless.

 

Pre-interview Experience: 

1. Line forms outside ~45 mins before your scheduled interview  time. You can try going 60 mins earlier but no point going much earlier as there are only 2 lines allowed outside- one for each time slot. Interview slots are in 15 minute increments and there are lots of people in each time slot. Our interview was at 8:30a; at around 7:55a, the 8:30a line started to form and at ~8:05a, they allowed us to move from stage 1 to stage 2 (also outside the consulate)

2. Stage 2 involves another round of document verification by a staff member, but this time under the canopy covering immediately outside the consulate. Then you're allowed to enter (stage 3)

3. Stage 3 involves going through airport like security. Be sure to remember that no opaque bags are allowed through security. Take all your supporting paperwork in a transparent lite plastic bag or large file.

4. Once you go past stage 3, you are ushered into stage 4, which is a large (covered with a canopy, but otherwise open from all sides) hall on the other side of security. Immigrant visa holders will sit in a different queue than NIV visa holders here. We happened to be the only people in our queue when we arrived and were ushered inside the building (to what i call stage 5) soon after.

5. Stage 5 involved sitting in a waiting area immediately in front of visa officer windows. This will be where you'd be sitting most of the time for the next few hours. An associate directed us to go to a certain window and get a token number.

6. Once our number was called, a clerk went through all important paperwork (parents' birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, police clearing certificate etc.) and collected them. His job was to prepare the application for the interviewing officer. He also directed us to anther window to update our DS-260 since we had a new passport & therefore had to update the DS-260. Then we were asked to sit again.

7. Fast fwd 45 mins or so, our number was called again. Then my parents & I went for our interview at another window with the American consular officer and the (Indian) clerk who had verified the documents previously. I was asked to sit back in the waiting area.

 

Parents interview experience:

- Fairly straight fwd (we were over-prepared with all kinds of supporting paperwork, which eventually were not needed)

- Parents were asked very few questions. Here are a few that they remember being asked:

1.  Who is sponsoring you

2. What does he do

3. Where does he live

-  Interview took less than 15 mins, of which most of the time the consular officer was just doing his own processing on the computer.  We were out by 9:45a; parents were handed a paper suggesting that their visa was approved and that they could collect their passports from visa center in 3-5 biz days (we rec'd my parents passports today - within 2 biz days of them being approved). 

 

Advice:

1. Does not hurt to be over-prepared for the interview. Carry all supporting paperwork, esp financial paperwork

2. Carry an umbrella in case it rains with the unpredictable mumbai weather (we ended up purchasing a few from outside because it was drizzling)

3. Carry all supporting paperwork in a transparent plastic bag.

4. Be prepared to spend 4-5 hours there; then again, we were lucky to be out within 1.5.

5. Be organized - prepare the paperwork ahead of time in the same order that Mumbai consulate lists them. It will save you time in front of the clerk when he asks you for paperwork

 

 

Hope this helps! Good luck to all members on VJ!

 

 

[Swadesfan 125]

15 hours ago, wisedog said:

My parents had their interview in Mumbai on Friday and were approved. I happened to have to make a last minute (previously unplanned) trip to India and hence I joined them at the interview. In hindsight, it was perhaps unnecessary, but glad i witnessed the experience regardless.

 

Pre-interview Experience: 

1. Line forms outside ~45 mins before your scheduled interview  time. You can try going 60 mins earlier but no point going much earlier as there are only 2 lines allowed outside- one for each time slot. Interview slots are in 15 minute increments and there are lots of people in each time slot. Our interview was at 8:30a; at around 7:55a, the 8:30a line started to form and at ~8:05a, they allowed us to move from stage 1 to stage 2 (also outside the consulate)

2. Stage 2 involves another round of document verification by a staff member, but this time under the canopy covering immediately outside the consulate. Then you're allowed to enter (stage 3)

3. Stage 3 involves going through airport like security. Be sure to remember that no opaque bags are allowed through security. Take all your supporting paperwork in a transparent lite plastic bag or large file.

4. Once you go past stage 3, you are ushered into stage 4, which is a large (covered with a canopy, but otherwise open from all sides) hall on the other side of security. Immigrant visa holders will sit in a different queue than NIV visa holders here. We happened to be the only people in our queue when we arrived and were ushered inside the building (to what i call stage 5) soon after.

5. Stage 5 involved sitting in a waiting area immediately in front of visa officer windows. This will be where you'd be sitting most of the time for the next few hours. An associate directed us to go to a certain window and get a token number.

6. Once our number was called, a clerk went through all important paperwork (parents' birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, police clearing certificate etc.) and collected them. His job was to prepare the application for the interviewing officer. He also directed us to anther window to update our DS-260 since we had a new passport & therefore had to update the DS-260. Then we were asked to sit again.

7. Fast fwd 45 mins or so, our number was called again. Then my parents & I went for our interview at another window with the American consular officer and the (Indian) clerk who had verified the documents previously. I was asked to sit back in the waiting area.

 

Parents interview experience:

- Fairly straight fwd (we were over-prepared with all kinds of supporting paperwork, which eventually were not needed)

- Parents were asked very few questions. Here are a few that they remember being asked:

1.  Who is sponsoring you

2. What does he do

3. Where does he live

-  Interview took less than 15 mins, of which most of the time the consular officer was just doing his own processing on the computer.  We were out by 9:45a; parents were handed a paper suggesting that their visa was approved and that they could collect their passports from visa center in 3-5 biz days (we rec'd my parents passports today - within 2 biz days of them being approved). 

 

Advice:

1. Does not hurt to be over-prepared for the interview. Carry all supporting paperwork, esp financial paperwork

2. Carry an umbrella in case it rains with the unpredictable mumbai weather (we ended up purchasing a few from outside because it was drizzling)

3. Carry all supporting paperwork in a transparent plastic bag.

4. Be prepared to spend 4-5 hours there; then again, we were lucky to be out within 1.5.

5. Be organized - prepare the paperwork ahead of time in the same order that Mumbai consulate lists them. It will save you time in front of the clerk when he asks you for paperwork

 

 

Hope this helps! Good luck to all members on VJ!

 

 

Congratulations...

Thank you for the detailed review. I am glad that the interview went like a breeze. It seems like you were able to go inside the consulate with your parents. I am wondering if they will also allow me (petitioner) to go with my wife (beneficiary) inside the consulate. I do understand that I will not be allowed in for the interview (at the window) but as long as I can go inside to support my wife, it would be great. What I have read on the Mumbai consulate website is that, nobody can go with the beneficiary unless it is petitioner, older people who needs assistant or minor child. At other place, it said no one is allowed. Little confused...I want to go there may be few days before the interview and want to see the smile on my wife face when she says we are approved....

Hopefully, Mumbai start doing CR1/IR1 again instead of putting them on the back burner...

 

Again, congratulations...and thank you for the detailed response.

[wisedog 58]

1 hour ago, Swadesfan said:

Congratulations...

Thank you for the detailed review. I am glad that the interview went like a breeze. It seems like you were able to go inside the consulate with your parents. I am wondering if they will also allow me (petitioner) to go with my wife (beneficiary) inside the consulate. I do understand that I will not be allowed in for the interview (at the window) but as long as I can go inside to support my wife, it would be great. What I have read on the Mumbai consulate website is that, nobody can go with the beneficiary unless it is petitioner, older people who needs assistant or minor child. At other place, it said no one is allowed. Little confused...I want to go there may be few days before the interview and want to see the smile on my wife face when she says we are approved....

Hopefully, Mumbai start doing CR1/IR1 again instead of putting them on the back burner...

 

Again, congratulations...and thank you for the detailed response.

Yes, US citizens or green card holders can go along with the applicant inside the consulate. I saw many US citizen spouses accompany their spouses and sit in the waiting room (Stage 5) with them.  Be sure to carry your US passport though.

Edited October 2, 2019 by wisedog

[Bipin_us 20]

Category cr1 
CC -30th April 2019
Interview Date -27th September 2019
 My  CR1 Interview experience 

    

 

My visa interview was on 27th sepetmber 2019 at 7:15AM (MUMBAI CONSULATE).I Reached the embassy at 6.15AM.Security guard asked all of them wait on the opposite side of consulate and at 7.00AM security guard asked immigrant visa applicants to form a line and keep the interview letter and passport after the security check  we entered inside. Then we all enter through a security check (watch ,coins, bags..).After that we enter the main interview room. Inside the room, another line was formed. After that they asked to arrange the documents and staff at the embassy helped us to arrange the papers in order (PASSPORT,DS 260(with photo),BIRTH CERTIFICATE,MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE,PCC,MEDICAL REPORT and all the copies of these things)after that from counter 1 they gave a token number(for South Indians Token start with “S” eg.S404) After collecting the token they asked to wait.After 15mints my token number flashed on the monitor . I was interviewed by Indian officer, he asked me to give all documents +copy. Then he asked me some questions

1.who is calling you?

2.where is your husband now?

3.How long have you been  married ?

4.Husband's  current US address?

5.Have you ever been outside the country?

After that he gave me a pamphlet about domestic violence and he said to me wait for the final  interview. I waited again after 15mints and my token number came.This time interviewed by an American immigration officer with translator.

First take an oath and say everything truthfully

1.who is in  US?

2.What is your wedding date?

3.what type of your marriage? (Hindu or Christian)

4.How many people attended on your Marriage ?

5.Did his mother and father attended on your marriage?

6.Where is he now ? Which state?

6..when did you meet you husband last?

7.After marriage he didn’t come? Why?

8.what does he do? How long has been he  working this job?

10.where is he living? apartment or house? Living alone?

11.what will you do ?

12.Where  did  you go after marriage?

13.what does he do in free time?

14.He asked for wedding album

Finally!! He said your visa is approved .I thanked him and she asked to pay GC fee  after getting the visa (before travelling to USA).Visa will be sent to your local consulate within 3-5days .

 

Thankyou VJ members! 

Best of luck!!! 

[dleen 33]

1 hour ago, Bipin_us said:

Category cr1 
CC -30th April 2019
Interview Date -27th September 2019
 My  CR1 Interview experience 

    

 

My visa interview was on 27th sepetmber 2019 at 7:15AM (MUMBAI CONSULATE).I Reached the embassy at 6.15AM.Security guard asked all of them wait on the opposite side of consulate and at 7.00AM security guard asked immigrant visa applicants to form a line and keep the interview letter and passport after the security check  we entered inside. Then we all enter through a security check (watch ,coins, bags..).After that we enter the main interview room. Inside the room, another line was formed. After that they asked to arrange the documents and staff at the embassy helped us to arrange the papers in order (PASSPORT,DS 260(with photo),BIRTH CERTIFICATE,MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE,PCC,MEDICAL REPORT and all the copies of these things)after that from counter 1 they gave a token number(for South Indians Token start with “S” eg.S404) After collecting the token they asked to wait.After 15mints my token number flashed on the monitor . I was interviewed by Indian officer, he asked me to give all documents +copy. Then he asked me some questions

1.who is calling you?

2.where is your husband now?

3.How long have you been  married ?

4.Husband's  current US address?

5.Have you ever been outside the country?

After that he gave me a pamphlet about domestic violence and he said to me wait for the final  interview. I waited again after 15mints and my token number came.This time interviewed by an American immigration officer with translator.

First take an oath and say everything truthfully

1.who is in  US?

2.What is your wedding date?

3.what type of your marriage? (Hindu or Christian)

4.How many people attended on your Marriage ?

5.Did his mother and father attended on your marriage?

6.Where is he now ? Which state?

6..when did you meet you husband last?

7.After marriage he didn’t come? Why?

8.what does he do? How long has been he  working this job?

10.where is he living? apartment or house? Living alone?

11.what will you do ?

12.Where  did  you go after marriage?

13.what does he do in free time?

14.He asked for wedding album

Finally!! He said your visa is approved .I thanked him and she asked to pay GC fee  after getting the visa (before travelling to USA).Visa will be sent to your local consulate within 3-5days .

 

Thankyou VJ members! 

Best of luck!!! 

Thanks! This is very helpful. You mentioned about Counter 1. What about the AOS docs? What all did you carry? I've just uploaded my Employment letter and Tax Transcripts to NVC. Do you think this sufficient? Should I carry more proof such as Bank Account Savings and Checkings balance? Mutual funds/401k etc? Thanks

 

[Bipin_us 20]

30 minutes ago, dleen said:

Thanks! This is very helpful. You mentioned about Counter 1. What about the AOS docs? What all did you carry? I've just uploaded my Employment letter and Tax Transcripts to NVC. Do you think this sufficient? Should I carry more proof such as Bank Account Savings and Checkings balance? Mutual funds/401k etc? Thanks

 

Actually they didn't ask. But you should carry form I-864,Naturalization certificate, passport copy(spouse) , pay slip(recent), w2 form, Tax return(recent ) 

[dleen 33]

19 minutes ago, Bipin_us said:

Actually they didn't ask. But you should carry form I-864,Naturalization certificate, passport copy(spouse) , pay slip(recent), w2 form, Tax return(recent ) 

Oh Ok... Thanks for confirming. My income is well above the 125% required... So hopefully it would be the same case.

[VParekh 1]

6 hours ago, wisedog said:

Yes, US citizens or green card holders can go along with the applicant inside the consulate. I saw many US citizen spouses accompany their spouses and sit in the waiting room (Stage 5) with them.  Be sure to carry your US passport though.

Did anyone receive interview cancellation email today? My mom's interview was supposed to be on October 24. My father did not receive the interview date so I had expidited his request so that both my parents can appear for the interview together. So instead for doing that,they cancelled my mother's appointment.  

[ram_shan 46]

On 9/24/2019 at 7:12 PM, VParekh said:

Thanks for the response. Does NVC nowadays send physical copy of interview letter or just email is suffice ?

 

 

Yes.

[IndiaAnnie 163]

6 hours ago, Gayas Sayed said:

Hello NZKHAN, Usually it takes 60 Days after completion of your case. 

@NZKhan Mumbai it's running 4mths backlog on cases and last half of May was "missed" for October interviews. Many have escalated with complaints and are expecting May & July to be covered with IL announcements next week or two. Hang in there...it's coming soon and should be a November interview date.