New Delhi Embassy - Interview Visit by Petitioner

[bobby_kvisa 7]

I have heard others mention that the New Delhi Embassy is somewhat tricky.

Some have mentioned that if the US Petitioner himself visits during the interview it can hold a lot of weight.

In this situation I wanted to ask what proof or evidence the Embassy needs to know that the Petitioner is present at the interview. Can the petitioner walk up with the fiance to the interview window? If not, how will the Fiance convince them on the interview date that the Petitioner is indeed present in the building on the interview date?

[catknit 144]

At New Delhi you are more than welcome to go to the consulate with the beneficiary. It will be up to the CO if you may stay for the complete interveiw but generally they will want to speak to you too if you are there. I highly, highly, highly recommend going to the interview if you can.

Just some FYI info:

Make sure you have your US passport with you. I have yet to hear of anyone getting grief trying to get into the consulate with the beneficiary. You'll stand in line with her even though the guards may want to wave you thru quicker given your passport [just tell them you're with her/him]. If the appointment states 9:45am and you show up at 8am, they will probably tell you to go hang out under the trees across the street [trust me, you'll know what I'm talking about when you go there - family, etc plus an ice cream cart/drink guy is set up there most days too]. The guards will call when they are ready for certain timings: "Everyone with 9:30 and 9:45 appts please line up!".

First stop is the table outside security where they will check your passport and his/her interview letter.

You'll walk down a sidewalk to security - there is an xray machine for items and a frisk.

They'll point you thru a door where you'll queue up for your token. The token looks like a paper deli ticket - it will have a letter/number. For family based it should read J##. Example would be J23.

The courtyard you are in is covered by an awning with ceiling fans and a seating area [plus restrooms - if you need to go while inside, you have to go back out to the courtyard - no, they don't hassle you about it]. At the front of the area is a large digital read out that lists window numbers and ticket numbers. When your ticket number is called, you head down a long sidewalk to the entry door into the building. From there, you go to the window number that was posted. Don't worry, there are staff to help you find your way and additional digital screens all around. Currently, the consulate has it set up that the family-based visas are handled at the very far end [windows 22-32].

There is plenty of seating inside - I've been to the consulate maybe 5-6 times in the last few months [long story] and have only seen it standing room only once [which was yesterday - they seemed short staffed - not as many windows open as usual].

You'll be called to a window for fingerprints/handing in of medical/PCC/local police cert. You'll be asked to sit again. Watch the boards and when called you'll go to the window with the CO. As the petitioner - go up to both with him/her...they will let you know if you can stay or not, there shouldn't be an issue at the first window at all and with the CO they may ask some question together or literally say hi to you and ask you to sit back down. It's very CO specific.

All in all, try not to freak out. I know, I know, easier said than done.

Also, there is a little snack bar set up in the courtyard, so if you're a nervous eater or it's super early or there is a long wait that day, etc you can buy a cup of tea, a bag of chips, whatever - strangely thoughtful of them.

[Moksha 1]

Just to add to catknit's post (hi catknit...how all is well!) I did go to the interview with my husband and went all the way through just like she said. I went to the window both times and the second time (the actual interviewer) swore us both in and then told me to go sit as far away from the interview window as possible. I did and they interviewed my husband (then fiance)...while I was sitting there I realized that they sent me to the other side of the waiting room because their intention was to interview both of us seperately. I was correct! Once they were done with him they called me over and had him sit all the way over so that they could interview me without him hearing. I was a little freaked out at first because I totally just expected to go with him to the interview, wave at them so they would know I was there, and all would be good! HAHAHA...nope, but honestly it wasn't that bad. The CO was fairly nice and told us after that because Delhi is such a high fraud consulate they really scrutinize everything!

I said it in another post, but I'll say it again I absolutely recommend that if you are dealing with the Delhi Consulate and can go to the interview do it! Best decisions I think I've ever made!