Direct Consular Filing from India

We received packet 3 on Nov 3, took it to the consulate in person and submited the forms.

Received interview letter on Dec 3 with an interview date of Jan 4th 8 am.

I was able to accompany my wife and daughter into the consulate for the interview.

Submited the documents in the order as requested was asked to take a seat.
We were called for the interview around 11 am, the gentleman was pleasent
and the question asked were general in nature, asked to take a seat while
checks were performed was called back to the counter and told the visa's were
issued and should be delivered by 2-3 workings days

It tooks us 3 months from the date of filing of I-130 in Delhi to issue of Visa.

Thank you all and goodluck to all.

Venkat
 
Thanks a lot Venkat for responding to my mail. Appreciate your help.. Id love to get a bit more info on your case if you are willing to share!!

And a hearty CONGRATS
 
Packet 3

My wife received Packet 3 on 1/4 and mailed it out today 1/6. Packet 3 contained DS-230 Part I (Biographic), Application Checklist and DS 2001 (Interview Readiness)
 
phillydude said:
Spouses of US citizens are not eligible for Tourist visa. Dont think only in terms of Indian born naturalized citizen. Also consider how an American born (not of Indian descent) married to an Indian spouse would have to travel to US for Thanksgiving /Christmas :D
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One of my close relatives is a US Citizen ( Naturalised) and his son and daughter are both born in USA and hence USC by birth. His wife is citizen of India and she always have had US visitor multiple entry visa. The family never wanted GC for her as it was never thought as required. So there is no reason why a spouse of USC cannot have Visitor visa.
 
Radni,

Its not illegal to have a Visitor Visa. Its just not given as they are potential immigrants! If you get a multiple entry visa before your wedding then fine - you may still be given a hard time at the PoE

However its illegal to travel on a Visitor Visa while an immigration petition is pending - said my lawyer!
 
Questions for Rahul

Hey Rahul

I tried to do this as a PM, but it was too long :( Thank you for the PM you sent!

Your post was extremely helpful! - I have a few questions.

Rahul Kumar said:
We reached the New Delhi embassy at 8.55 am.
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How early in the morning can you queue up? It opens at 9:00 A.M.?


Rahul Kumar said:
He went through our I-130/G325a.
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Here is the information I found on docs to be prepared - can you tell me which ones are applicable to the DCF process?

1. Marriage Certificate (Original + 2 Copies)
2. 5 Color Passports each of petitioner and beneficiary (right ear visible)
3. Naturalization Certificate (Original) and My US Passport (Original + 2 Copies)
4. Birth Certificate of beneficiary (Original + 2 copies)
5. Indian Passport (Original + 2 copies) of the beneficiary
6. Copies of last three years of Tax Returns and W-2 (petitioner)
7. Employer Letter of current employer or Pay Stubs (Petitioner & Beneficiary)
8. Documents showing common residence
9. Wedding/family photos


Rahul Kumar said:
He approved our case and asked me to cancel my pending I-130 (VSC) immediately.
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I'm confused - you filed a I-130 here in USA before you left for India? Did you pre-register the wedding? Should I file my I-130 to VSC as soon as I register the marriage (send it express mail from India)? Am I supposed to take the NOA for the filed I-130 up to New Delhi with me?


Rahul Kumar said:
I paid $185 in USD. ND Embassy does NOT accept Rs. 500 bills.
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If you pay the application fee in USD, what other fees need to be paid in rupees? How much should I take?


Rahul Kumar said:
I went back to the consulate and gave a copy of the letter I sent to the VSC along with the mailing receipt to be included in my new file.
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Was this on the same day? What was the format of the letter to cancel the petition?


Thanks so much! What have you heard about the expected wait time between Packet 3 and the interview for Chennai?

Ratrat
 
As a US Citizen your wait time is much shorter than others. Be at the consulate by 8 or 830 so you can be inside
by 9am at the latest. 12pm is when they stop interviewing


You need to take atleast these docs when you file DCF @ Delhi
-------------------------------------------------------------
I-130
Marriage Certificates (Original)
2 Color photos for applicant,beneficiary . NO SIDE VIEW. 2x2 FRONT PASSPORT SIZE (US STANDARD PASSPORT SIZE NOT INDIAN)
G325a for each of you (4 pages each)
Natz Cert/US Passport
Indian passport (spouse)/Birth Cert/Maybe school leaving cert
Copies of all the above!
Proof of wedding (albums, invitataion card, loose photos to pin with your file etc)


No need for Tax returns
No need for employment letter

Save the above for your I864


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I filed an I-130 at the VSC immediately after my wedding (in case I could not DCF for some reason). I stayed 60 days in India for the DCF. In that time the I-130 (VSC)
had not moved so I asked for it to be withdrawn. If you are DCFing dont bother with I-130 from VSC or anywhere else


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Total fee = $185. Best way is to carry USD Cash
No more fee on that day


-----------------------
Same day yes. The letter stated that I wanted to withdraw as I filed from Delhi etc.

-------------------------

My wife got Packet 3 in about 3 weeks after we filed
She got Packet 4 a week after Packet 3. Interview is scheduled 2 months from the date of our filing. Is thisfast or what?
 
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Rahul Kumar said:
ps

where were you for so long ? no word frm you at all
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Thanks so much for your quick reply!

I had some health issues and some family emergencies...that plus wedding planning, regular office work, etc. totally killed any free time :(

I'll be reaching Chennai on Feb 9th, wedding is on Feb 18th. My boss is cooling his heels on approving my extra month leave without pay. Assuming I get approval and can do DCF, April 10th will be the big day!

Great to hear that I don't need to file I-130 to VSC at all - like you said the dates haven't moved...

3 months from start to interview - WOW! :D And after interview it takes no more than 2-4 weeks to pick up the visa right?

How awesome - I am so glad things worked out for you!

Thanks again!

Ratrat
 
u r welcome. DCF in chennai in the case of 2 other people I know took 2 months from start-finish. Mine is also taking 2 months. !! IF all is well visa is given in 1-2 days

DCF certainly kicks VSC's butt by a LOT. Even with a months lost wages, you will cherish your extra time @ Chennai. I rediscovered myself and my wife in the 65 days that I was there!

I was not willing to wait 8 months for a VSC approval or a K3 . Its just too clumsy going thru the svc centers. K visa, Ead card, AOS, 485, I-751.... wow!

advance congrats on ur wedding. All the best
 
Just a friendly Hello

Hi all,

I've been reading this entire thread - just amazed at how easy it is for you guys.

I'm a natural-born USC.
My wife is a Ukrainian citizen and we are now awaiting action on her N400.

Her GC took 28 Months after filing in the US (went through Atlanta).

So now we have been married 6 years and still she is not a citizen.

I'm glad it's not so bad for everybody, but it sad that things are so messed up that one family suffers for years while another gets things quickly done.

It's just ain't american. :(

It is so frustrating for her to not know who she is.

Anyway, congrats to you guys on your quick GC's and may your marriages be long, happy and blessed with children.

-Paul
 
You should have tried DCF from Ukraine!
Life is a great leveler. I waited a very long time (away from my fiance) while waiting for my citizenship. could not meet her even once

now as a compensation she is gona be here with me quickly!
 
More...

Rahul,

If I knew then what I know now... I might have tried something like that. She was on F1 here when I met her. My company had a lot of international employees and somebody from my company HR dept advised that we just get married and then file AOS. Later, that lady was gone and I figured out that she really didn't know what she was talking about. But, other than the huge delay, it turned out OK. My wife got advanced paroll and was able to visit Ukraine once during the 2+ years wait for GC.

But.. she's been living in USA since Sept '96 now - and is only 25, so it is a third of her life here (J1, F1, then PR) and is still not a citizen.

I filed all the papers myself - only talked to a lawyer to ask a few Q's.

I remember all those J-visa "Advisory Opinion" etc. etc. Whew! It was a bunch of stuff - a thick folder. N400 is easy by comparison (easy to file, that is).

Anyway, I'm glad I found this site. Got a little info on the N400 delay.

Best of luck to you and your wife.

-Paul
 
New Consular?

Has anybody heard any rumors about a new consular coming to New Delhi in March?

My friend who works in the office of an immigration lawyer says that there is some talk that DCF processing in India could be stopped all together? :( :( :(

Also the Vermont timeline seems to have jumped? Anyone who applied for I-130 via Vermont see their case move along recently?

Thanks!

Ratrat
 
Rahul,

Quick question on your experience of DCF from India. The 60 day waiting period was from the day you landed in India or was that after you got married?

Thanks
 
Wrong Information

Rahul Kumar said:
Spoke with my attorney today.. This is what I learnt

* If a person is engaged to a PR/US Citizen then its "illegal" (also very unlinkely) to get a Visitor Visa/Student Visa. If you declare that you are engaged to a PR/USC on the form, then you are almost 100% likely to be rejected and even if you are not, you will have a lot of issues at the Port of Entry
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Rahul,

I have been following your advice. Thank you very much. I want to comment on the above.

I think your attorney gave you wrong information.

I was (and still am) married to a US citizen when I decided to go to school in the US.

I initially applied for a F-1 visa, which I received. Further, the US embassy not only knew that I was married to a USC but also told me I can't get a greencard because my wife wasn't initially joining me. (She was pregnant and wanted to give birth by her parents outside the US). Only when I came back after a couple of months I applied for greencard (whole process took me less than a month!) and then the whole family left for the US.

Within a time frame of less than three months I had my B1 visa cancelled, then my F1 visa cancelled to have my PeErmanent resident stamp on my passport. I gave full disclosure of my intentions at any given point of time to the US Embassy

Hope this experience helps you.

Yalag

N400 PD 8/04
FP 11/04
Currently: Frustrated in Atlanta... i.e. waiting
 
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Ocelot said:
Hi all,


Her GC took 28 Months after filing in the US (went through Atlanta).
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Ocelot,

I dig your frustration.

The waiting time for Naturalization in Atlanta is one of the longest in the country.

What is wrong with us in the South...???

Yalag
 
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