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| Mumbai, India |  Review on July 20, 2018: |
stiggy771
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Took an appointment for 7.15 at the Mumbai consulate. Got inside by around 7.20. Initial checking of documents by the Indian officer was quite systematic . She clearly made my file ( a red file that they allot to you) have everything nice and handy for the American CO
I waited for a good 90 minutes before being called by the CO. One thing that I've noted while sitting in front of the CO windows is that they already look through your file and point out red flags/ issues with it to other CO's and discuss it with them. I could see that one of the CO going through a K1 file and discussing it with his colleague before calling the beneficiary. The poor beneficiary was grilled for a good 20 minutes before being given the reject or 221g (Not sure but he didnt look happy) . My observation here would be that if the CO is asking you more details, it only means that they have seen a problem or critical data that is missing in your file and are grilling you for that reason.
CO interview:
Friendly lady : So how did you guys meet?
Me : Met through an online dating app , OKcupid in Nov 2016 while I was in the US ( she nodded so I guess she had heard of it)
Friendly lady : So why did you guys decide on getting married in the US and not in India.
Me: Well, the fact that we both met each other in the US, and spent about 4 months there together was a big driving factor in deciding to take up the K1 visa. Also, I thought moving to India in order for us to be together would be quite the cultural change for my fiancee.
Friendly lady: So what about the difference in culture? How are your parents view about this since Hindu culture is quite different?
Me : (I nodded and smiled since the question was quite obvious) My folks did try to find someone for me in the traditional Indian manner( arranged marriage) but I told them that I needed to find someone that I really liked and loved. And in that way my fiancee was perfect. I also made sure that my fiancee meet my folks at least once before getting engaged just to see how both the sides got along. Thankfully my fiancee visited me twice and my folks and her got along and chat over whatsapp regularly
(One thing that I did for the interview was to take out my proof of relationship out from the folder and place it on the counter during the interview. I put the photos right on top and I noticed that the CO saw them) Its a lot better than pulling them out from the file when they ask for it.
Friendly lady: So what have you got for me there? Photos?
Me : These are from my fiancee's latest visit to India. She met my friends, my family and we made sure we spent some time together with them at my hometown.
Friendly lady: Great. So what are your wedding plans? (this was the question that had always kinda stumped me for some reason. But always, honesty is the best way to answer it)
Me: Since this whole K1 visa uncertainty, we have decided to do a court wedding within the first month of entering the US. My fiancee's mom and sister would be out witnesses. Later, in a month, we plan to have a wedding at my fiancee's hometown for which my parents will also fly down to the US since they already have tourist visas.
Friendly lady: Oh so your folks have already visited the US?
Me : Yes, on tourist visa during my Masters degree back in 2016
Friendly lady: So what did you do after graduating in 2016?
Me: Worked at the university and also was searching for a job, which was quite tough during that time.
Friendly lady: Ah, the H1B trouble.
Me: Yes.
Friendly lady: Ok so you're visa is approved !! You'll have to go through the adjustment of status and other steps for becoming a permanent resident in the US.
Me: Thank youuuuuu so much !!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #24266