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| Mumbai, India |  Review on January 30, 2013: |
Bali - Ranae
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Approved! IR-1 Interview on 29th Jan 2013.
Before I start to share my experience, I would like to thank each and every VJ Member for their valuable advice and information. I have followed the path of many here and succeeded.
6:30 am
Reached the gates of consulate. There were 2 lines; one for Immigrant Visa applicants and another for non-immigrant visa applicants. There were about 25 people in front of me. We were constantly being reminded by VFS guys to keep our Interview Appointment letter in hand and not to carry any electronic equipment.
Around 6:50 am
They started to let us (immigrant queue) through the main gates into the front yard of the consulate. The first 20 got to sit on the waiting chairs until they let us in for Security Checks.
7:10 am
They opened the doors to the consulate. Few of us were asked to go to the right counter, few to the left. As advised by many, I did not carry any electronic or metal objects except for my watch and pen.
Once they cleared me, I walked out the other end of the room, into the courtyard, and then into another building. We again stood in a line. There was only one counter open at this point.
7:20 am
Second window opened and the person called me (was next in line) to the counter. I was asked which language I would prefer, I said English.
I was given a token (stuck to the interview letter) and the VFS official guided me to sit in the waiting area.
7:30 am
The Counters started opening slowly. Few of them were called by their names, most by their token numbers. The VFS lady was constantly asking everybody to keep their Interview letter, Medical report (original), marriage certificate (copy), birth certificate (copy) and PCC (original) ready.
I had submitted all the above already, so I just held the Interview letter and Medical report in my hand.
7:45 am
My number flashed in a green background on the screen. I walked up straight to the counter as mentioned in the screen. An Indian gentleman asked me for my Interview letter, medical report and passport. I was asked to put my fingers on the fingerprint scanner. Then he stuck half of the token on my passport and kept it. Looked into the computer for a while, then returned all the documents we had sent in. He then explained the “Legal rights available to Immigrant victims of domestic violence in US” and handed me a sheet which explained the same, this sheet has the National Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault hotline phone numbers too. I was then asked to wait in the same waiting area until I was called upon.
8:15 am
My number flashed again on green background. The VFS lady yelled out the number. I walked to the counter. I was greeted by a very sweet American lady. She smiled and asked how I was and if I would need a translator. I greeted with a big smile too and said no and that I was comfortable speaking in English. She then asked me to raise my hand and read the oath; I replied “I do”. She asked me to sign the second part of the DS-230 form.
She then asked me how I met my wife. Mine is a 10 year old relationship, so I spoke for about 10 minutes and she kept looking at me and smiled when there was something funny.
She then asked where my wife lives and what I know about her town and family.
She then asked if I had any wedding pictures. I had placed about 160 pictures of us together in one album. In the middle were 3 sheets which I tagged using post its, these had our wedding pictures. I showed her the wedding pictures, since mine was a registered marriage, there were no traiditional ceremonies or family. Just our 2 friends who were witnesses, our lawyer and the registrar. I explained the same to the lady, she smiled again and asked for the album. I was able to squeeze it through the small slide under the glass counter. She then said she would be back in a few minutes and took the album to the area behind her, there were rows and rows of office desks behind her. She then walked back to the counter and asked if my wife had ever met my parents. I said yes. She then politely said “I know you have told this to me just a while ago, but can you please again tell me how you met your wife and how you got married?”
I repeated the whole story again, this time in a slower pace. She started typing while I was talking. She then paused for a minute once I was done. She looked at me and said the phrase I was waiting to hear for a long time, “I am issuing your visa; you will receive your passport in 3 to 5 working days”.
I gave a huge (probably looked stupid) smile and she wished me luck. I asked her if it would be mailed to me or if I had to collect it in person. She guided me to the VFS lady standing behind me.
I thanked thrice again before leaving the counter holding my thumbs up.
I asked the VFS lady and she asked me to check at the VFS counter near the exit door.
8:40 am
I walked out of the interview area building and saw many people now sitting waiting in the courtyard. Then went near the exit and saw 2 VFS officials with forms. I asked them how I would get my passport. They said, “You have two choices, you can pay 300 and we will courier it to you or you can collect it from the pickup point mentioned in your VFS registration letter”. I opted to pick it up in person and left.
Walked out of the embassy ecstatic, went back to the hotel, opened a chilled beer and called my wife
Now, I wait to collect my passport from the VFS pick up point.
My advice:
DO go through the documents at the least 5 times before leaving for the interview, better be absolutely sure than having to reschedule.
DO reach the gates by 6:15 am, it’s worth waiting outside the gates than having to wait in a crowded waiting area.
DO organize in a folder with partitions in it. Tag each partition.
DO dress in a presentable manner.
DO NOT carry your X- Ray. I did not either, the ones who did were not asked for it.
DO NOT carry any metal or electronic objects. The ones, who did in front me, were asked to step out of the line and leave it outside. There is NO cloak or holding room.
DO NOT listen to others conversation when waiting. Everybody has their own stories and worries. I carried the day’s newspaper and just read.
Overall, be yourself, stay calm.
I hope your interviewer is as calm and pleasant as mine was.
ALL THE VERY BEST!!!
Do leave a personal message here in VJ and I will respond with the best answer I know. I owe it to this website and will help in any which way I can.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #11383