Originally posted by gccp1202
Folks, Here I am starting new thread for confirmed December Chennai Consulate Appointments.
Category: EB3
PD: 10/22/2001
I140: 2/12/2002
P3 Recd from NVC: 4/1/2002
P3 Mailed to STL: 7/15/2002
NVC Recd P3 from STL: 8/2/2002
NVC Reviews P3: 9/16/2002
NVC Sent Case to Consulate: 9/25/2002
P4 Received from Consulate: ??
Interview Date: 12/17/2002
Port of Entery: 1/1/2003 (Detroit)
Here is my experience, Thank you very much to the forum and for all you folks, helped my CP process smooth and successful.
Nov 25: Sent my passport to German Consulate, Chicago for Transit VISA (My US visa expired on 11/1/02, One of my colleagues traveling with her year old baby to Hyderabad, She has already booked her tickets on Lufthansa, on request I've changed my carrier as Lufthansa, else I would have selected routes other than Germany, France, Swiss)
Dec 2: USPS delivery person left "we missed you" note at my apartment.
Dec 3: Collected the USPS package, passport with Transit visa.
Dec 6: Departed from McNamara Terminal, Detroit. I felt, clerk at the boarding pass counter was a bit tough on me, I was told, carry on baggage should not exceed 8kgs. I had to remove some stuff out of it at the counter.
Dec 8: Reached Hyderabad. 8:30am.
Dec 10: Started from Hyd to Chennai for medical checkup . (Charminar Exp, 8:10pm, AC3T, Rs847, current booking)
Dec 11: Reached Chennai right time at 10:30am, approximate auto fare from central to palmgrove hotel was Rs50 (No meter), Took a non A/C room, for Rs 850 + Tax. Quality of the beds and toilets were substandard. Beds covered with white sheets has oil marks, no tissue paper readily installed near WC, need to call room service to get a roll. Make sure to close the toilet door while you are going out during nights or while sleeping else, you may have to share your room with mosquitoes.
12:30: Went to nearby Konica Photo Lab for Immigration style photos. Rs140 for photos with floppy for digital image, Rs105 for photos only. Initially I paid Rs140, soon after, I realized these photos for one time use and there would be no future use with the digital image. So I changed my order to Rs 105. Comb and Mirror were installed in the studio, so we can make sure every thing is okay before the photo session, and also I requested the photographer to show my digital picture on camera before printing it.
1:00pm took auto for Rs20 (No meter) to Lister Labs (corporate services), had lunch in a nearby restaurant. Around 2:30pm entered their administrative office to fill the forms and to pay the fees. After the administrative work, went to blood test lab to give blood sample, then after to X-ray lab. In X-Ray lab, Lab technician asked me to remove shirt and underwear, I was reluctant to remove the underwear and asked him, whether it is possible to take x-ray with out removing underwear, Lab technician insisted to remove it for clear picture. and was told to stand towards the plank, touching it with front part of the body, both hands on the lower waist having inhale breath. After few seconds, he said, it was done, soon after that when I reached and wear my clothes, he allowed another guy into the lab for x-ray. They might be busy with lot of customers but it would be nice to wait till I was done.
After that I was told to come on next day after 4:30pm to collect the test results. When I asked the admin guy why should I come on next day after 4:30pm, why shouldn't I get the results on the same day, reply was: medical test batch cutoff time was 12:00 noon for every day, I was in after noon session so I should come next day to pick up the results. I had nothing to say, headed back to my hotel.
Near Plamgrove hotel, there are two hotels. Komala's and Artz. Komala's serves lunch between 11am till 3pm after that only snacks (Idly, Dosa, etc.) no rice items served. Artz has the same timings for lunch, opens after 8pm for dinner, quality food served. Couple of times I had meals in it. once, I've asked a attendant to know how much tip usually paid in that hotel(here in US, I know it was about 10-15%) it seems there was no such percentage, tips depends on the guest.
Around, 7pm called Dr. Raj Kumar's for next day appointment, Lady who attended the phone inquired details about me, gave directions and land marks to reach the place and was told to come around 7pm, next day.
Dec12: Wandered around Madras, went to Satyam Theaters (auto, Rs20 from Palmgrove, no meter) to watch 'Leela' (movie), came out of the theater, after partially watching the movie, called for an auto paid Rs 30 for Lister Labs. Collected the sealed test results, came out from the labs, hailed for a nearby standing auto, paid Rs 50 for Dr. Raj Kumar's house/hospital, reached around 5:30pm. There was no token system, first come first serve. After he going through a group of family members and a handicapped man, I was let in to see him. Height, weight measurements were taken, sight was tested in adjacent veranda then went inside his office, opened the lab tests sealed cover, gone through the test results, he told every thing was good. While seeing the X-ray, he asked me whether I smoke cigarettes, I told him occasionally. after that he asked to me to lay flat on a table for physical checkup. I was little surprised for this, I never heard of this on this forum, after a quick glance, he told, it was done, you can sit. every thing was good, you are in good health. After I dressed up, and I settled in a chair, after that he asked me for vaccination history, Two weeks before the journey, I took chicken pox vaccine (while in US). I told him the same, he replied, I need to take 2nd dose to complete the vaccination and in addition he gave me MMR and other vaccines, total fee paid Rs2100 for vaccinations, doctors consulting fees including in it. He had filled up all the necessary forms and handed them over to me to double check before I leave his office, After I gone through all of them, after I said okay, he folded the forms placed them in cover and handed over to me with a nice smile and said good luck and good bye.
Came back to the hotel, checked out around 6:30pm, headed to chennai central (Railway station), went to current booking counter, took AC3T in Tamilnadu express (Departure time around 10pm) for Vijayawada for Rs 650. Reached Vijayawada at 4pm, Took a seat in AC Car for Rs 450 in Sathavahana express for Secunderabad (departure time 5:30am). reached Secunderabad at 11am.
Dec15: Went to Begumpet Airport bought one way ticket to Madras Rs 4265, flight departure time was around 5pm. Came out from Madras air port around 6:30pm, went to Palmgrove hotel (Auto, Paid, Rs 100, no meter).
Dec 16: Called room service to give me wakeup call for the next day (17th) at 6am.
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