CP Interview Experience in ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN.Had successfull CP interview in Islamabad 06/24/2003. No surprises aside from finding
the consulate staff have also started taking 2 hr Lunches. Looks like they are adopting
Pakistani habits
.MEDICAL :
Reached Karachi on 06/17/2003. Same After noon we went for our medical after calling
few places. For the medical they need Packet 3.5 cover letter or Interview letter. So make
make sure you have them with you. Secondly give yourself 4 buissness days. As most
of the doctors are out on Sundays. I selected Aga Khan Hospital, as other dostors also send
you to Aga Khan hospital. We had our X-ray and lab work done the same day. The labs and X-ray
reports we delivered the next day, but we could not get Doc. appointment. So we ended up
seeing the doc. on 06/19/2003 in the evening. Medical is your regular Physical. Which is same
as those done for army/air forces. You asked to cough etc.
. We did some vaccinations from herein US. Aga Khan doctor looked at our vaccination reports and said we will need 2 more. As
Aga Khan follow some standards, and of that we needed second doses of 2. As we both of us had done
vaccination less then 30 days, the doctors marked as not enough time as 30 minimum is required.
Other than that all was okay. Aga Khan gave the report the next day 06/20/2003.
INTERVIEW :
We went to Islamabad on 06/23/2003. The day of the interview we took the taxi to Embassy Enclave
in Islamabad. These days no private cars or taxis are allowed in front of the embassy, in case all
embassies. So the taxi took us to a parking lot close to the embassy Enclave. There you have to buy
tickets for coaster bus that are running from the parking lot to the embassy. Each way is Rupees 10.00
per person. There is a long line for buying the ticket. Once tickets are bought there is another line
to board the bus, that is also a long line. Make sure you are boarding the correct bus which will take
you to American Embassy. If your interview is at 8:00 am, make sure you are at the parking lot
around 7:00 am. I made a mistake and reached the parking lot around 7:30 am. When you are boarding
the buses are you searched along with your bags.
The bus then drops you in front on the embassy, but on the other side of the street. We reached
the embassy around 8:10 am. There you a security guard looks at your interview letter. And then
sends you towards the embassy. There you are searched again, your interview letter is noted.
and then are asked to follow the yellow chains. US embassy is separate lines for interviews.
One is for foreign nationals. One for immigration/K Visa and other. Rest are in a different line
( H1/B1/L1 ). There you stand and stand. Then the embassy staff comes and takes some people inside
the embassy. There they ask for the purpose of visit. And for interviews takes the interview letter.
You are searched again. And are finally in the embassy at 9:30 am. Now you wait for your name to be
called. Once your name is called, we were asked to go to window #5. The gentleman asked which language we prefer for the interview. He then asked us to wait.
Around 11:30 am our names were called again. This time a lady ( desi ) was at the window and
asked us to give the following documents.
For Me she asked for :
DS-230 Part I.
DS-230 Part II.
Birth Certificate and copy.
Marriage Certificate ( Urdu and English ) and copies.
Police Certificate and copy.
Medical reports.
Pictures.
For Wife she asked :
DS-230 Part I.
DS-230 Part II.
Birth Certificate and copy.
Marriage Certificate copies only.
Police Certificate and copy.
Medical reports.
Pictures.
She then asked us to show some marriage photos( Don't take the whole album ),
few lose photos will work. We should them some photos. One of the photo was current,
with my 2 kids. She asked aren't they going with you. I told her they are US citizens,
and due to hot summer I decided not to bring them to the embassy. They did asked to see
the birth certificates. I had the passport of the kids with me. She did not see them.
The photos and kids birth certificate we returned. She then asked us to wait. I thought
I will be done in another hr. Boy I was wrong.
Around 12:30 pm the interviewers and other staff left for lunch. The then came back around
2:30 pm. After waiting for 1 more hr, we were finally called for the interview at 3:30 pm.
An American lady and the same lady who collected our documents conducted the interview.
The interview lasted 5 minutes. With the interviewer spending most of the time looking at the
computer monitor. She asked 2 questions.
What company you work for?
What is your position and what do you do?
I gave her the information. My lawyer in States told me to describe my day to day
duties with what are written on Labor Certification. So I told her the same used on my labor
and then added a little. She then told me that I have a very common name. And let’s see what happens
I believe at this time she ran a name check. She found 25 people. She then printed out the list
and compared my name spelling and birthdate with list. Thank GOD she did not find any match.
She then congratulated me, and asked me to wait another hr, and you will be called to collect your immigrant packets.
I then asked her if they need Affidavit of support for the wife, and also my employment letter.
She was a little surprised and said sure, she took the employment letter, read it and returned me.
She kept the affidavit of support.
My wife and me felt very lucky, that she did not find a match, other wise we were doomed.
At 4:30 we were called again, and we collected our immigration packets. We verified the name, address,
DOB, passport # were correct. Finally we had the immigration packets in out hands. A happy ending
to a long journey.
After this experience, I will encourage everyone to pursue Consular Processing. Aside from the name check
there is really nothing. Make sure you have all the paper with you and you will be okay. I really
appreciate this forum. This forum has been a lot of help for me. And without it I think it would not
Has been a smooth sailing.
Funning thing I spent so much time and energy for this immigration packet, after having it in my
hands I was elated at first, and then as if nothing happened. Maybe it was the long lines.
PORT OF ENTRY ( NEW YORK ) :
Nothing at the Port OF Entry. This time no need to fill I-94, just fill the customs form.
The immigration officer took the sealed packet, tore it apart, stamped the entry
and wrote the A # from the packet. He then asked me to go to left where I can get the
finger prints and signature. This process took 20 minutes. After the finger prints the
lady doing the finger prints stamped I-551 stamp, and dated it a year from now.
Finally I can say I am a permanent resident.