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| Chennai, India |  Review on October 26, 2010: |
JinyAndJony
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
The staff especially the american ones.. are very good professionals (so long as you are genuine, i suppose); they know their job well, they also know the indian ways, and they dont underdo or overdo. Also, they put u so much at ease thru their courteous ways..and whole thing proceeded like a casual chat. (Maybe thats when things if any, come out they feel) So overall a good experience.
Now if you want a detailed story , you could read on.. the first part is about the medicals which was pathetic compared to the interview experience, which is mentioned further down..
It was going to be my first time in Chennai. So I decided to do the medicals two weeks before the interview, so that I get a feel of Chennai before my interview.
Medicals are done only in Apollo Heart Center, Chennai.. and they need 2 days - first day for all the tests and second day afternoon- for the collection of the test reports (Apparently, if you have an abnormal test report, they send it direct to the consulate)
So I took medical appointment for 10 AM and reached there by 9.40 thinking I was a lil too early. But to my surprise, I was the last one for the day. People start coming by 8.30-9 and its first come, first serve so long as you have your appointment in the day.
So I had to wait till afternoon 3.30 to finish my medicals - The meeting with the physician was very awkward because he fancied himself as a CO and asked questions abt marriage, spouse... as if to take revenge on me for showing impatience at having to wait till 3.30.. Anyway, so I got report at 3.45 pm next day. They will not give me a bag/plastic cover to carry the medical report packet. I had to travel in a train back and I kept insisting because I saw they were giving the plastic bag to some people. It was raining and such an over-size packet could not be kept in my bag without damaging the x-ray film. Anyway, finally they gave me one, like they were doing me a personal favor.. and off I went.
So after two weeks I arrived again in chennai on a sunday afternoon for monday 9am interview. I booked the same hotel - sea shell residency on greams road..its location is like it forms one corner of a triangle with the apollo heart center and US consulate. Mind you, this hotel is a very decent one for its rates at this location..(but they have some rooms that are stinky..!!) on both the occassions, they first ushered me to the room that was stinking..and on both the occassions- i told them there was no way I was going to stay there..and on both the occassions they gave me another room.
So I spent the afternoon watching a movie in the hotel room. Evening, i decided to take a stroll around..had coffee n small-time snacks on the way-side shops..to get a feel of chennai and its people. (Also, I walked to the fly over where US consulate is as well..just to make sure the consulate did not move..
:P )
So next day morning after breakfast, I walked to the consulate from my hotel room..I walked almost on tip-toe so that I sweat as little as possible (mind you, it was so humid there) and reached there at 8.30..(10-15min from hotel since I tip-toed..:P )i told the security that my interview was at 9 o clock. (Apparently some people reach by 7am / 8am even though their time is later)
The security showed me the line.. and it moved quickly..I was inside by 8.50 and gave(rather she grabbed) the appointment letter to a lady who was acting like a busy floor-manager..
the floor is like a small hall.. and it has drinking water available out of a water purifier..and there are restrooms as well.
After giving apptmnt letter..I was called to pre-screening in say 30min..where i was asked who is applying for me, what does she do..where she is.. what do i do..where was i working.. when i said xyz place, she turned over the DS230 form to check if i had mentioned the place under residence history.. then asked if i had a travel of MORE THAN one year outside india..
Next to open n give my medical report and to keep the x-ray film with myself.. (How i wanted to get rid of that over-sized thing! but she wudnt take it :P )
She made me sign part-2 of DS230 and took my finger prints(rather matched it with her records?) on that lil device kept at the same counter itself..
Then she gave me back my district PCC (x 2).. I asked her if she was sure.. she said, yea, yea..its not required from 2007 ..Then she gave me back my passport copy which we had sent to NVC.. I asked again..you dont need this, ma\'m?.. again she said..\'No.. we have your passport and you are standing in person before us.. why wud we need a photocopy of your passport now?\'
Then she asked if i have any wedding photos.. i struggled to sneak the small album, in thru the slot..she told to open it in half and slide it.. it went in and i was relieved. She went thru the photos..most of it.. asked me abt my wife\'s wedding gown..(female curiosity or to watch my answer?)... then she gave me a token (a pink-coupon) and asked me to wait..
By say, another 30-45min..these pre-screening ppl left the counters gradually..
American COs came in their place.. After say an hour, my token number was called by the CO..after oath, he asked basic questions like how we met, when was wedding..he was going thru my passport pages..to see my travel history..
then he asked what do i do..which company..what kind of work.. remarked i shud have good prospects there.. then he opened the album.. Started from first page and kept seeing the photos.. asked how many ppl were there.. then i peeked to see which page he reached, i said..thats when we went to xyz place..he asked if it was our honeymoon..i said..yes.. He said alright and gave me back the album.
I told him i have brought the email/chat/call history but he said.. its fine that he will not like to invade our privacy...that hes seen all the album..and that \\\\\\\'there was no doubt that the relationship was genuine\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'.
then he asked, whats my plan on travel date.. Then he returned all my originals.. and said, he is approving my visa.. and that unless i had any questions, i was free to go home.. i said nothing, thanks very much.. he wished a good day and thanked for coming as well. I arranged my papers in my folder ,and walked out..
(updated on October 26, 2010)
(updated on October 26, 2010)
(updated on October 26, 2010)
(updated on October 31, 2010)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6772