yeah... no name check
....
ok... here goes my experience:
Medical:
Lilavati rocks! Friendly people, least expensive, very good canteen. (Dont know how other hospitals are, but I have no regerts about Lilavati).
Got there at 7:30 for 7:30 appointment. The lady (I think her name is Reena) came at around 8:00. We filled a form, and gave blood. Went for xrays. Came back for basic medical - height weight and eyes). Paid fees by credit card and cash for shots. Went to eat something, came back for shots and meet the doctor (women get exemption from MMR if they are or planning to be pregnant). Were done by 11:30. Went back to collect report at 3:40. Out by 3:45. Reena was friendly all throughout.
Photo:
My own studio. We were living very close to the consulate therefore did not use the rush service. Their rush service (same day service) costs Rs. 250 and next day costs Rs 100. Why would you want to use the rush service if you can get the photos done inside the consulate for the same price?
Interview:
Reached a few mins early for 8:15 appointment. Did not have to wait. I was expecting guards to be rude. I was pleasently surprised. Went to window 10. Nobody appeared for 15 mins. Asked at window 11 about what to do. The lady at 11 accepted our papers saying 10 and 11 do the same thing. Gave our appointment letter and passport there. Were called at window 4 after about 30 mins. The lady was wearing a bright smile and was very friendly during the whole interaction. Signed the affidavit about joining same job on return to the US. Asked for all the basic papers - birth, marriage, police certs and copies, DS 230 I and II and I134. Asked us to wait to be called at window 9. After about an hour and half, win 9 called. Combination of an American lady officer and an Indian gentleman manned the window. took oath. Submitted employment letter. My wife and I both work. The lady was confused about how can she issue dependent visa for someone who is not dependent (but holds an H1). The Indian gentleman told her that she can and so she did (I was surprised by her reliance on the Indian gentleman). She signed the papers and the Indian gentleman told us that they are issuing IV to us and that we should pay the fees at counter 1. We did that and were asked to come back at 3:30. Got there at 3:15, stood in a line for IV applicants. Got the papers. Address was wrong on my wife's visa. The lady at the counter said that it doesn't matter. Took her word for it and went back home.
I have heard all kinds of stories about people in the consulate being rude. Fortunately did not experience it at all. Everybody we interacted with was very nice.
POE:
Memphis. No other fligt landed around our time therefore lines were small. The officer collected our passport, visa paper envelopes and custom form and asked us to collect baggage and wait in a room. There were about 20 other people in the room (and I thought not many people came from Memphis!). Waited for about 30 mins. Were called for fingerprinting. The officer showed us the GC stamp in passport and said if we dont receive the card within a year, we should call INS. The process took about 30 mins of wait and less 3 mins of conversation and we were on our way.
Summary: The process was very smooth. I ama glad we chose CP over AOS.
Thank you all for all your help! I'll be glad to answer any questions.