MY CP SAGA.......
Folks, I got GC in my second interview. Here is my CP experience.
My interview date: 29th. (Friday), -> asked to provide more docs
2nd interview date: 2nd sept -> visa approved
3rd Sept:- got packet from Blue Dart
7th Sept :- POE in LAX
Reached Chennai on 26th noon and checked into Hotel Crystal Residency around 1:30 PM. I already had reservation for 2-bed A/C. Call them and make sure your reservation before you leave for Madras. Another impo thing: if you buy domestic airline tickets 1 month ahead of travel: you may be required to pay only 25-35% of regular price. But some restrictions apply in cancellation. Talk to an Indian travel agent.
About Crystal residency: Not the best hotel in Chennai. But a enough place for 3-4 days living in Madras. Directly opposite to US consulate. Very convenient too. Food: they have room services. Food quality is OK, both veg and non-veg. For Muslims: they have halal food too. A mosque is nearby too. If you want to try Veg food outside: Hotel Leela bhavan (?) walkable distance, at the end of next street to Crystal. Good food in very cheap price. Non-veg food: “Cascade”. Take an auto. We are paying for the quality of food here. STAFF at CRYSTAL is really helpful. That’s the best thing I feel about Crystal.
27th Wednesday:
Asked Crystal guys for an auto. I wanted an auto to go to Lister labs first, then to Camera citi and come back to hotel room after some shopping. They arranged auto and set the price. We don’t have to negotiate. RS 60/- including waiting charge. I tipped the auto some extra, because Camera Citi made wait for more than 30 minutes.
Started to Lister around 8:10 AM and reached there in 10 minutes. Ask the auto driver for 2nd building of Crystal.
We need, passport, medical form, & appointment letter here. I already filled the medical form. Pasted a photograph too. They give usanother form to be filled. Finished everything @ Lister in 15-20 minutes (blood + x-ray) . Paid 1200/- for two.
Started to Camera citi. Reached in Camera around 8:40AM. Security there told me, Camera Citi will open by 9:00AM. Waited for them to open, cleaning the office and photo taken around by 9:15. They told, it will take 10 minutes to develop and I got it around 10:00 AM. Very busy studio, hence slow.
Evening 4:30 PM.: went to Lister again to pick up the report. They gave us all report sealed in an envelop and x-ray. Then went to Dr. Mathai ( Best Hospital) . it took some 15-20 minutes in auto. I had an appointment for 5:30. I was there around 5:25. It’s a hospital and crowded. I asked the reception to meet Dr. Mathai and they directed us to Dr.’s room. Dr’s secretary was waiting outside for me. She came and called me by name. She was nice and gave us form to be filled. Met Dr. Mathai after forms filled. He is really professional. Asked both of us about medical history. Major hospital visits, smoking/drinking habits.. etc. Lady staff of Dr. did the physical check up for my wife. My wife told that she feel very comfort with the staff. Dr. Mathai finished physical check for me in seconds. He gave us shot for MMR. Filled the docs and put reports for me and my wife in the SAME envelop and wrote our name and case number. He told that we have to submit this report to Consulate. X-ray not required. We paid 1400/- for two including shots. We need report from Lister, Passport, appt letter and photograph for Dr. appoint.
28th Aug Thursday :- Made all docs arranged and verified again and again. Then shopping and sleeping .. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
29th Aug Friday : Appoint time 10:00 AM. I have everything ready in transparent bag. Security let us in without any issues. Don’t carry any electronics like Mobile phone ..etc. we reached inside the consulate around 9:55 AM. Desi gentlemen from counter 7 called our name by 10:20 AM. Submitted docs + copy. Important docs are
1. Apt letter
2. DS230 I & II
3. Marriage, birth certificates
4. Employment letter
5. 3 years W2, tax transcripts, pay stubs, bank statement
6. PCC
7. Medical report
8. Affidavit of support for wife.
Tag the Org and copy separately. That might help them.
Please note: tax/current financial related docs are very important in these days.
Change all NOT APPLICABLE / NA to NONE or NEVER. Document submission took nearly 10 minutes.
The interviews of other visa ( H1, F1, L1, H4,.. etc) are going on other counters.
One American IO came at counter 6 around 11:00 and started calling case by case. We are called around 12:00 for the interview. He asked simple qns.
1. employer, salary, place ..etc
2. There was another employee from my company in same day. I didn’t know him. He asked me about him. I told him he might be working in different office. He was saying “ you don’t know your colleagues”.. etc. and similar teasing questions.
He asked us to sign DS230 II . we both did that. Then he asked me.. when did you get married. Told the date. I took nearly 4 months vacation during that time. He was doubtful.. whether I got such a long vacation. I told him.. I got vacation only because of marriage. He said OK. then he found that my wife never traveled to US in h4. ( we recently got married and she was student) . then he looked at marriage certificate and told that its not a marriage certificate which meets US immigration requirements. Ohh… I got scared. What he said was true.. and I didn’t knew that until then. We got married as per religious custom and we register our marriage according govt requirements before a govt registrar. We asked a 3rd party agency to get the marriage certificate and agreements prepared and register as per special marriage act. I thought the marriage certificate I am having was sufficient enough. But the agency who prepared did not added special marriage act clause (something like that).. and also they added that this marriage has been Solemnized as per religious custom. I was using this marriage certificate for all other purpose and it was sufficient enough to prove our marriage. After verifying this.. consular officer explained that I need to produce a document from religious authority too along with this document. And he forwarded our documents to a desi staff in consulate to explain things in detail. Desi staff was helpful and explained me that.. I have to produce a marriage certificate from “Chief Kazi” . and gave me a blue form stating that. I was told to come back again with this doc. I returned to Hotel.. hmm I was really sad…
Called my home and asked for this doc. It was difficult to get such doc in short period of time. But my family was managed to get the doc in the weekend. Meantime I had to extend stay in hotel.. and reschedule the flight ticket. I seek some professional legal help also during that time.
Next Tuesday ( 2nd Sept) I submitted the new doc. For that I have to go to the consulate before 8:00 AM. Don’t have to wait in the queue. Got inside. Submitted the doc. Now a long waiting. Many others in the room are appearing interview for 2nd, 3rd, 4th.. time for immigrant visa purpose. They told me that.. they will call only in the afternoon .. so we have to wait till then. No food available inside. Coffee + snacks.. That’s it. Around 3:00 pm a desi staff opened a window and called my name. Returned me originals (I submitted in the morning) and told me that my case has been approved and free to leave consulate. Returned to hotel.. and Crystal guys allowed me check out without paying extra fee , even though I overstayed few hours.
After my first interview, I thought to seek some legal help in Chennai who is familiar with similar cases. Crystal staff referred one nice gentleman, who is providing services in US/UK visa processing from India. I met him twice. He explained me similar cases. Here is his contact info: Mr Andrews , Jay M Jay Travel services Nugambakkam , Phone 28281573,28228770. if any of guys come across any immigration problems in Chennai.. You may contact him. He will not charge until he provides you valuable service.
Then there many good high speed Internet café close Crystal for low price. But the Internet café next to building of crystal is slowest in this world J Spenser is good shopping mall and you can spend some time there, if you wish to.
I cancelled my return flight from Madras to Cochin, instead I took bus service. to reach home early (Crystal staff will get you good bus service) I reached home early in the morning Wednesday. I got visa in afternoon, same day. I return from India Saturday night. POE 7th Sept on LAX. So I got only 3 days to spend with my family during this vacation.
In the POE, there is a separate counter for new immigrants. ( gate 17?) . After finger printing, waited for 25 minutes to get the visa stamped in passport. I gave new address to ship the Plastic card at the POE.
Now waiting for welcome letter and PC. Thanks for all guys who shared their experience here. Thanks to Rajiv S. Khanna to maintain such a wonderful site. Good luck to all future Cp’ers. It is the best way.. as long a you have your docs ready.
