Detailed Process adopted by Chennai consulate

[journeyman 0]

I'm going crazy all over on these packets. Based upon the posts that I'm reading from various members, I presume that all US embassies in India have a different detailed process although the overall process might look the same. Can you folks answer the following questions from the Chennai consulate perspective.

a. How do folks get detailed information like File left NVC, File reached consulate etc...

b. How do I know if the Chennai consulate received it ?

c. Does Chennai consulate mail the packet-3 or not ? (Since packet-3 is not on their website and Mumbai consulate website has it)

d. Do we have the option of choosing an interview date or we just accept whatever the consulate provides,

e. When will they provide the interview date, after sending packet-3 or along with packet-3 ?

f. When will my fiancee receive packet-4 ?

g. What about the VFS office, Do we submit the documents to VFS office or just take them to the interview ?

Thanks for your time guys.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

1. NVC will send a notice to petitioner that it's received it from USCIS and forwarded to Consulate
   
2. Take it on faith--it will be electronically transmitted
   
3. Yes
   
4. Generally, accept the Consulate's given date; you can always postpone it to a worse one
   
5. Along with Packet-3
   
6. Is Packet-4 even needed?
   
7. Courier to VFS
   

[ELW 5]

Hi Journeyman and welcome to the JOURNEY! CherryXS gave good answers, if I may add to them...

<<a. How do you get such detailed information like File left NVC, File reached consulate etc...>>

I called up the NVC (603-334-0700) to get the info about when they received the file, when a file number was assigned and the day they sent it to the Consulate. In the past we could track packages and we would know when they reached the Consulate, but that is no longer possible.

<<b. How do I know if the Chennai consulate received it ?>>

Please send an email to ChennaiIVU@state.gov and ChennaiIV@state.gov. Ask if they received your file and assigned an interview date. Put your file number (beginning with MDR) in the subject line. In your email also include case number, your name (petitioner), beneficiary name, date of birth, and that you are applying for K1 visa. Chennai answered my email within 24 hours giving our interview date!

<<c. Does Chennai consulate mail the packet-3 or not ? (Since packet-3 is not on their website and Mumbai consulate website has it)>>

Chennai is NOT sending out Packet 3 lately. Maybe they did it in the past but not now. As soon as they received our case from the NVC, they assigned an interview date and sent out Packet 4 to us. (My understanding is that Packet 3 & 4 are nearly identical. Packet 3 gives instructions to mail back a couple of applications and a checklist; Packet 4 gives an interview date and detailed instructions of how to get the medical, etc., done.)

<<d. Do we have the option of choosing an interview date or we just accept whatever the consulate provides,>>

The Consulate provides a date but as CherryXS said, if it is on an inconvenient date you can write an email requesting a change. It might be changed to something far in the future, though!

<<e. When will they provide the interview date, after sending packet-3 or along with packet-3 ?>>

Chennai Consulate assigned us an interview date before any packet was sent to us. They sent the interview letter in Packet 4.

<<f. When will my fiancee receive packet-4 ?>>

Your fiancee should receive packet 4 soon after they receive the case from the NVC. Packet 4 has all the info for the interview, like lists of required documents, how and where to get the medical done, etc.

<<g. What about the VFS office, Do we submit the documents to VFS office or just take them to the interview ?>>

Generally they are handed in person 10-15 working days before the interview, to the VFS office. Any documents not ready can be given at the interview.

Chennai sent me Packet 4 via email when I wrote requesting it (because it was late in getting to us by post). If you PM me your email address, I will forward it on over to you.

The above details apply ONLY to Chennai Consulate. Delhi and Mumbai both have lengthy procudures of sending out Packet 3 and not assigning an interview date until the applications in Packet 3 are sent back to them.

Also keep in mind that THINGS CHANGE in the visa journey, any info given here might be old and procedures might be different now! Good luck with your journey!!

[pkewl 0]

Hi Journeyman and welcome to the JOURNEY! CherryXS gave good answers, if I may add to them...

<<a. How do you get such detailed information like File left NVC, File reached consulate etc...>>

I called up the NVC (603-334-0700) to get the info about when they received the file, when a file number was assigned and the day they sent it to the Consulate. In the past we could track packages and we would know when they reached the Consulate, but that is no longer possible.

<<b. How do I know if the Chennai consulate received it ?>>

Please send an email to ChennaiIVU@state.gov and ChennaiIV@state.gov. Ask if they received your file and assigned an interview date. Put your file number (beginning with MDR) in the subject line. In your email also include case number, your name (petitioner), beneficiary name, date of birth, and that you are applying for K1 visa. Chennai answered my email within 24 hours giving our interview date!

<<c. Does Chennai consulate mail the packet-3 or not ? (Since packet-3 is not on their website and Mumbai consulate website has it)>>

Chennai is NOT sending out Packet 3 lately. Maybe they did it in the past but not now. As soon as they received our case from the NVC, they assigned an interview date and sent out Packet 4 to us. (My understanding is that Packet 3 & 4 are nearly identical. Packet 3 gives instructions to mail back a couple of applications and a checklist; Packet 4 gives an interview date and detailed instructions of how to get the medical, etc., done.)

<<d. Do we have the option of choosing an interview date or we just accept whatever the consulate provides,>>

The Consulate provides a date but as CherryXS said, if it is on an inconvenient date you can write an email requesting a change. It might be changed to something far in the future, though!

<<e. When will they provide the interview date, after sending packet-3 or along with packet-3 ?>>

Chennai Consulate assigned us an interview date before any packet was sent to us. They sent the interview letter in Packet 4.

<<f. When will my fiancee receive packet-4 ?>>

Your fiancee should receive packet 4 soon after they receive the case from the NVC. Packet 4 has all the info for the interview, like lists of required documents, how and where to get the medical done, etc.

<<g. What about the VFS office, Do we submit the documents to VFS office or just take them to the interview ?>>

Generally they are handed in person 10-15 working days before the interview, to the VFS office. Any documents not ready can be given at the interview.

Chennai sent me Packet 4 via email when I wrote requesting it (because it was late in getting to us by post). If you PM me your email address, I will forward it on over to you.

The above details apply ONLY to Chennai Consulate. Delhi and Mumbai both have lengthy procudures of sending out Packet 3 and not assigning an interview date until the applications in Packet 3 are sent back to them.

Also keep in mind that THINGS CHANGE in the visa journey, any info given here might be old and procedures might be different now! Good luck with your journey!!

Hi All,

I have a few similar questions as the OP asked in this thread EXCEPT that I am looking for similar INFO from someone who recently dealt with MUMBAI CONSULATE (ofcourse as it stands TODAY with Mumbai). I do understand that these answers can change anytime. Anyhow, looking at my timeline, I know I 've still got a few months to go before I have to worry about this but its never too early to better educate and prepare myself for whats coming.

a. How do folks get detailed information like File left NVC, File reached consulate etc...

This is probably common, so considered answered by ELW. Thanks much for the number.

b. How do I know if the Chennai MUMBAI consulate received it ?

If one exist, then can someone provide a similar status inquiry/tracking email for MUMBAI consulate. I hope its just not as simple as replacing Chennai with Mumbai but anything is possible where DHS, USCIS and likes are involved. Altho, if true, it would be real funny and helpful I guess.

c. Does Chennai MUMBAI consulate mail the packet-3 or not ? (Since packet-3 is not on their website and Mumbai consulate website has it)

I m almost sure that Mumbai probably does send out packet 3 AND packet 4. <-- This is more of a guess since it is MUMBAI after all and we dont like to keeps things simpler here But my main concern is whats after that. Do we wait for packet 4 and send it back and then hopefully get an interview date or et al... if someone can please share/elaborate from their recent Mumbai experience.

d. Do we have the option of choosing an interview date or we just accept whatever the consulate provides.

As far as I can say, this is N/A for me since I WILL NOT try to change an interview date thats been given to me by me lord(unless its a really extenuating circumstance - almost like a question of someone's life). As I said before, if it aint broken, dont fix it.

e . When will they provide the interview date, after sending packet-3 or along with packet-3 or in my case with or after they receive back packet 4 (if applicable in Mumbai cases)?

f. When will my fiancee Spouse receive packet-4 ?

In my opinion, (e) and ( f ) can be a combined answered.

g. What about the VFS office, Do we submit the documents to VFS office or just take them to the interview ?

I already know the answer to this, which is 10-15 days before your appointment with Mumbai consualte but just wanted some affirmation from someone who has recently gone thru VJ @ Mumbai.

I guess to summarize, I am looking for a similar/detailed experience, hopefully step by step, from someone who went thru Mumbai recently for their VJ.

Lastly, I apologize for a long post but I think it was necessary (maybe) to get accurate answers to my questions.

Regards,

Pkewl

[lain78 0]

Hi Journeyman and welcome to the JOURNEY! CherryXS gave good answers, if I may add to them...

<<a. How do you get such detailed information like File left NVC, File reached consulate etc...>>

I called up the NVC (603-334-0700) to get the info about when they received the file, when a file number was assigned and the day they sent it to the Consulate. In the past we could track packages and we would know when they reached the Consulate, but that is no longer possible.

<<b. How do I know if the Chennai consulate received it ?>>

Please send an email to ChennaiIVU@state.gov and ChennaiIV@state.gov. Ask if they received your file and assigned an interview date. Put your file number (beginning with MDR) in the subject line. In your email also include case number, your name (petitioner), beneficiary name, date of birth, and that you are applying for K1 visa. Chennai answered my email within 24 hours giving our interview date!

<<c. Does Chennai consulate mail the packet-3 or not ? (Since packet-3 is not on their website and Mumbai consulate website has it)>>

Chennai is NOT sending out Packet 3 lately. Maybe they did it in the past but not now. As soon as they received our case from the NVC, they assigned an interview date and sent out Packet 4 to us. (My understanding is that Packet 3 & 4 are nearly identical. Packet 3 gives instructions to mail back a couple of applications and a checklist; Packet 4 gives an interview date and detailed instructions of how to get the medical, etc., done.)

<<d. Do we have the option of choosing an interview date or we just accept whatever the consulate provides,>>

The Consulate provides a date but as CherryXS said, if it is on an inconvenient date you can write an email requesting a change. It might be changed to something far in the future, though!

<<e. When will they provide the interview date, after sending packet-3 or along with packet-3 ?>>

Chennai Consulate assigned us an interview date before any packet was sent to us. They sent the interview letter in Packet 4.

<<f. When will my fiancee receive packet-4 ?>>

Your fiancee should receive packet 4 soon after they receive the case from the NVC. Packet 4 has all the info for the interview, like lists of required documents, how and where to get the medical done, etc.

<<g. What about the VFS office, Do we submit the documents to VFS office or just take them to the interview ?>>

Generally they are handed in person 10-15 working days before the interview, to the VFS office. Any documents not ready can be given at the interview.

Chennai sent me Packet 4 via email when I wrote requesting it (because it was late in getting to us by post). If you PM me your email address, I will forward it on over to you.

The above details apply ONLY to Chennai Consulate. Delhi and Mumbai both have lengthy procudures of sending out Packet 3 and not assigning an interview date until the applications in Packet 3 are sent back to them.

Also keep in mind that THINGS CHANGE in the visa journey, any info given here might be old and procedures might be different now! Good luck with your journey!!

ELW Thank you, VERY INFORMATIVE

I have a question for one and all about Chennai Consulate process: My fiance is from Hyderabad, his interview is set in Chennai. So that means he'll have to get his pcc from hyderabad but what about his medical? Will it have ot be taken in Chennai or Hyderabad. And how much inadvance he'll have to send all his paperwork? Should he just mail everything from Hyderabad or give it in person, the day of the interview?

[ELW 5]

Glad my research and experience was helpful.

My husband was living in Hyderabad when he did the K1 visa. He tried for a PCC in Hyd but couldn't prove residency, so they didn't give it to him. Though he was living there for two years by that time, he only got a PCC from the passport office in Visakhapatnam (he never lived there, just got passport) and a PCC from his local mandal police station (EG Dist). No problem, no questions during the entire process; no one asked about a Hyd PCC. However, try for a PCC from Hyd if possible, since your finace is a resident there.

He went to Chennai to do the medical about three weeks before the interview (night train going & returning back next day). Then he handed over all paperwork at the Hyderabad VFS office two weeks before the interview, as specified. He brought extra photos and paperwork to the interview in person, but they didn't ask to see any of it.