Consulate Review: Mumbai, India
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
December 24, 2012 |
| Embassy Review : |
Ok this was kinda weird.
I took a taxi from my hotel in Andheri East to Consulate at 6:30am, it was 7am when i reached
there. there was a huge line outside, but they were all non-immigrants so i was let in . there
were already 20 people inside. so i got a number and sat down , after waiting 30 mins my number
and name was called.
i went to first window with a Indian guy who asked me for my passport and birth certificate?
i handed him my passport and birth cert. (my birthcert didnt have my name as is very common in
India) So he asked me where my affidavit is.
I asked him "what affidavit ?" to which he replied "affidavit to support your incomplete birth
certificate"
I told him "i submitted my school certificate to NVC as a secondary evidence as told by US
Consulate Mumbai website"
The Indian guy told me that i still need to get a affidavit from a person who was present
during my birth and he started preparing a Form 221g. He told me the Consular officer will
probably issue a visa only after i submitted the affidavit.
Then the Indian guy told me my passport has a peeling on the edge, i will have to get that
replaced too.
I figured there is no point in arguing with the Dummy.
He returned the rest of the documents submitted to NVC.
Then he told me to wait to be called again.
I sat down and waited for about an hour.
I saw one lady get rejected by American Consular officer in window 10. She argued with the
officer for a min. I was kinda scared and hoping i didn't get that guy. Guess what ?
I got that very window.
Well i walked up.
There was a male American Officer in his mid 50's.
He asked me to raise my right hand and take oath.
then he asked me :
1. Who is (my name) ?
A: I thought this was strange question , but i replied and said "thats me" with a surprised
look.
2. Then he looked at the birth certificate and told me that i'll have to get a secondary
evidence as my name is not mentioned on it.
A: I pointed out to him that as per instructions on US Consulate website i can submit my school
certificate as secondary evidence and handed it over to him.
He looked at it and the Indian guy brought the form 221g and handed it over to him.
He told the Indian guy this school cert is good enough.
I was happy.
Then the officer continued to asked me :
3. How did you meet your wife ?
4. How do you feel about the 13 years age difference.
5. Who made the arrangements ?
A: What arrangements ? for marriage ? i did. I paid for the reception.
6. So your parents weren't involved ?
A: No ! We wanted to do our wedding our way, we didn't wanna get bogged down by unnecessary Indian traditions.
7. Has your wife ever met your parents ?
A: Yes , she stayed with us.
Then the officer got up and walked away for 2 mins.
He came back and asked :
8: So what does your wife do?
9: What would you do in US ?
10. Do you have any pictures of you and your wife together.
I showed him a album from our reception and our wedding at the registrar office.
he then walked away for few mins then came back ,
before he could say anything i informed him I had another album of our recent trip and i stuck it in the slot. To this he said replied "I don't need to see any more pictures" but he picked up and looked at the album anyway and commented "Very nice"
He then asked me to hand over my passport , I did and i tried to tell him i have last 2.5 years of our proof of relationship in form of emails,phone bills and skype statements.
But he then just showed me a thumbs up and tore up the form 221g. Then he took my passport and walked away.
I was a bit confused so i stood there.
he came back a few mins later and i asked him if i should leave ?
He then told me "You wanna sit there and look at me ?"
Both he and i laughed and then i told him I dont know how it works.
He told me ill get my visa and passport in 3 days.
I wished him good day and left.
I was out by 10 am.
I reached my hotel by 10:30 am and had sparkling whine with my wife over skype the whole day.
Overall exp : The Indian officers are kinda silly. American ones are good. Everything else good. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0