Hi,First thanks to to everyone on this forum for all the help.
I did DCF in Delhi on Jan 4th,2006.The procedure is pretty much the same as posted in the previous posts here above.You have a walk in appointment with your wife after staying for 60 days in India.The consulate opens at 8.30 AM ,so be there by 7.15 AM.And this time of the year,it was freezing cold in Delhi,so had to take some warm clothing.The guard asks you for what have you come.Say,I am a US citizen and have come for I-130 Direct filing.You cannot take sealed bottles inside.They make you open the bottle and ask to take a sip from it.After a security search,you are taken inside.Once inside,you are given a security ID tag and a lady escorts you inside.The immigration officer inside checks all your documents and sees the entry stamp on your passport.And asks some basic questions like---What is your job,where do you stay in US,are you studying,,etc.She then gives a token and asks us to pay the I-130 fee at the cashier.You are again escorted out to the cashier's counter.
You have to pay $190 in US dollars or Indian equivalent Rs.8470.{The current exchange rate as of Nov.2005 is 1US$=Rs.46}.They accept only 100 rupee denominations only.They do not accept 500 or 1000 rupee notes.There is a notice stating this on the cashier's window.So take 100`s only.And you have to takeexact change,b'cos I don't think they give back any change.We paid in US$ and then he gave us 2 receipts--One for us to retain as our proof of having filed I-130 at Newdelhi and the other to be given to the guard outside while leaving.That's it.It is a very simple walk-in procedure.The staff at Delhi embassy are very courteous and polite.[Wish the Chennai consulate officials were so nice}.The immigration officer said I would receive further info and packet 3 from the Chennai consulate within a month.{since i come under Chennai jurisdition} Important things I have noticed while DCF filing ::
1.Only the first page of for G325A for both husband and spouse is needed.They don't need the other 3 pages.But take it anyway to be on the safe side.
2.Take an entire marriage album along with invitation card and loose photos.If the officer is not convinced with the loose photos,you may have to show the entire album.
3.Dress appropriately.Some people were dressed in shorts,some in jeans and sneakers,some in rubber bathroom slippers---will not affect you case but the immigration officers, one could sense ,were not very happy with that attire.Anyway it`s a personal choice.It creates a better impression if you appropriately dressed and well organised.
4.Relatives and friends not allowed inside.They have to wait outside.
5.Make sure when you enter India,the immigration officer at the airport properly stamps your US passport with the correct date.If he forgets to stamp it,it just makes lmatters tough for you.My suggestion--check your passport when he stamps it,retain your boarding passes,your baggage id tags,retain your arrival/departure customs form and your copy of the airticket.[The passport officials in the US do not stamp the US passsport either when leaving or even when arriving back in the US].
That's it.Any further info if wanted,please feel free to ask .I will try to answer your query.Also i will soon post info regarding hotels in Delhi where you can stay.Thanks.Waiting for packet 3 to arrive.
