Approved Mumbai Consulate on 5th June
HI Nkelkar,
Here is the list provided to VFS Mumbai
a) Passport copies for me and wife ( with 2 pictures as per specs each)
b) Original passports required for verification
c) Old Passports not checked and not required
d) Original and copy of Marriage certificate (2 copies required one for wife and one for self)
e) Original and copy of each birth certificate ( if you have a birth affidavit an original and copy of that too)
f) DS-230 Part 1 for each of us ( need an updated one) as the consulate already has the one you sent with your Packet 3 to them. Ensure your information is synchronous for ( Level, Dates etc)
g) DS-230 Part 2 for both of us ( DO NOT SIGN the last page)
h) 2 copies of the Appointment letter
i) Orignal and copies of PCC for each of us ( I had mine from NYC but wife had one from CID Mumbai as of 2005) VFS accepted it but asked for one from Passport office Mumbai
Consulate Experience yesterday
a) Had an appt for 7:30 a.m. Reached VFS at 6:50 a.m. They checked the appt letter and the receipt they gave when we went to them for document submission and the 2 receipts for coffee and snacks. wife deposited her cell in the locker and took a token
b) 7:20 VFS asked us to board the bus for the consulate. bus took us to the consulate and we deboarded and were made to stand in a queue. The consulate security told us to stand in separate queues ( Males and Females). I had all the paper work and while entering I told the lady that my wife is behind in the ladies queue. She waved and said she will let her in and not to worry.
c) Security is strict and is as per the book. Belts have to be removed and they check every file ( only in plastic folders and plastic bags allowed)
d) Gave each of us a wooden stick ( dont know what it meant)
e) went in and saw a queue for about 70 people and thought this is going to be long and asked the consulate clerk there whether this is Non or Immigrant visa. he saw my appt letter and asked me to sit at the rt hand corner seats and took my appt letter
f) In all this while my wife had still not come in ( abt 15min). finally i saw her come in and at 7:47 my name was announced with my wife and we walked to counter 15
g) An Indian lady was there and smiled at us which was refreshing in all this tension. asked me for documents sayin she needs lot of stuff from us. I had methodically taken all orignials and numbered them with STICKIES.
She asked for a) Original Employment letter b) wife's PCC from Passport office c) I-134 for wife d) Original passport ( current only , old is not required). I gave it in 2.5 min and she was a bit surprised and said that we were too quick. then she asked for the 45$ draft each ( Rs 1890) and to her surprise we had our names,passport numbers and BMB case num at the back of each draft.
In all this I also gave her wife's new PCC from CID and she was happy that we provided a new PCC which neither the consulate nor VFS had observed and thanked me. she said you are set and wait for final interview. Total time about 4.5 min
h) In all this every other person was taking 15-20 min for documentation interview ( I didnt see a single Employment based candidate and about 20 family based candidate)
i) From 7:50 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. was the longest and most anxious wait since my std 12th results.
j) At 10:15 a.m. they called my name and asked me and wife to come to counter num 9. there was a white american officer with an indian lady to assist him. He asked us to keep all documentation on the floor and told us to take an oath ( blah blah)
k) then he asked me to give my fingerprint and asked me the following questions
1) Who is the sponsor
2) How many years have you worked for them
3) Address of empoyer
4) My address
5) What train do I take and the route
and then said you are set and then turned to my wife
1) When did you get married
2) What is your marriage date
3) Have you been to the US
4) When did you go to the US
5) AGAIN WHAT IS THE DATE of the marriage
and then all friendly questions do you like NYC , do you like Mumbai, do you find both crazy??
took her finger prints and said you are all set. congrats and sign DS-230 PArt 2
we left by 10:35 a.m. and then we reached half way to bandra when my dad called and said that the consulate called and asked me to come back as they forgot to get a paper signed. I thought what was the issue and tried to call the extension and was not getting the right message.
we went back and at the security told them that we came in the morning and have been called back and then he said wait for the consular officer to come. an indian lady came out and heard us and asked us to go in and to counter 10. Had to go through same security crap. went to counter 10 and that indian lady from counter 9 smiled and asked us to come to counter 9.
the same officer was there and both were apologizing to us sincerely a couple of times for the inconvenience. then asked me to sign a consulate doc sayin the immigrant visa is for the period of 6 months and if i quit or lose my job then it will be deemed null. ( not sure what it is but i heard from my friend that it is till u receive a physical green card). signed it and they apologized again for the inconvenience. the lady said go to VFS at 5 pm and said that you should get your passports.
we went to relative's place for lunch. at 4:25 reached VFS and saw a queue of 100 odd people. the stupid VFS guard said this line is for everyone when we were clearly told in the morning that the Immigrant visa passports will be returned at 5:00 p.m. and non immigrant at 5:30 p.m.
We walked around and came back in 20 min and saw that a separate queue was formed on the opposite side for immigrant visa and stood in in. only about 8 people in front of us. when we were about to enter the VFS guards told us only I will be allowed to go in and asked my wife to stay back.
went in sat and then in 10 min they called my counter and gave me two envelopes and said I could open them but not the envelopes inside those. saw my passport and wife's ,names were good. we got an immigrant visa stamp on the passport till the end of this year.
Will be flyin back to JFK on the 9th of June. Will post of that experience too.
Can anyone guide me what the next steps would be??
KP
HI Nkelkar,
Here is the list provided to VFS Mumbai
a) Passport copies for me and wife ( with 2 pictures as per specs each)
b) Original passports required for verification
c) Old Passports not checked and not required
d) Original and copy of Marriage certificate (2 copies required one for wife and one for self)
e) Original and copy of each birth certificate ( if you have a birth affidavit an original and copy of that too)
f) DS-230 Part 1 for each of us ( need an updated one) as the consulate already has the one you sent with your Packet 3 to them. Ensure your information is synchronous for ( Level, Dates etc)
g) DS-230 Part 2 for both of us ( DO NOT SIGN the last page)
h) 2 copies of the Appointment letter
i) Orignal and copies of PCC for each of us ( I had mine from NYC but wife had one from CID Mumbai as of 2005) VFS accepted it but asked for one from Passport office Mumbai
Consulate Experience yesterday
a) Had an appt for 7:30 a.m. Reached VFS at 6:50 a.m. They checked the appt letter and the receipt they gave when we went to them for document submission and the 2 receipts for coffee and snacks. wife deposited her cell in the locker and took a token
b) 7:20 VFS asked us to board the bus for the consulate. bus took us to the consulate and we deboarded and were made to stand in a queue. The consulate security told us to stand in separate queues ( Males and Females). I had all the paper work and while entering I told the lady that my wife is behind in the ladies queue. She waved and said she will let her in and not to worry.
c) Security is strict and is as per the book. Belts have to be removed and they check every file ( only in plastic folders and plastic bags allowed)
d) Gave each of us a wooden stick ( dont know what it meant)
e) went in and saw a queue for about 70 people and thought this is going to be long and asked the consulate clerk there whether this is Non or Immigrant visa. he saw my appt letter and asked me to sit at the rt hand corner seats and took my appt letter
f) In all this while my wife had still not come in ( abt 15min). finally i saw her come in and at 7:47 my name was announced with my wife and we walked to counter 15
g) An Indian lady was there and smiled at us which was refreshing in all this tension. asked me for documents sayin she needs lot of stuff from us. I had methodically taken all orignials and numbered them with STICKIES.
She asked for a) Original Employment letter b) wife's PCC from Passport office c) I-134 for wife d) Original passport ( current only , old is not required). I gave it in 2.5 min and she was a bit surprised and said that we were too quick. then she asked for the 45$ draft each ( Rs 1890) and to her surprise we had our names,passport numbers and BMB case num at the back of each draft.
In all this I also gave her wife's new PCC from CID and she was happy that we provided a new PCC which neither the consulate nor VFS had observed and thanked me. she said you are set and wait for final interview. Total time about 4.5 min
h) In all this every other person was taking 15-20 min for documentation interview ( I didnt see a single Employment based candidate and about 20 family based candidate)
i) From 7:50 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. was the longest and most anxious wait since my std 12th results.
j) At 10:15 a.m. they called my name and asked me and wife to come to counter num 9. there was a white american officer with an indian lady to assist him. He asked us to keep all documentation on the floor and told us to take an oath ( blah blah)
k) then he asked me to give my fingerprint and asked me the following questions
1) Who is the sponsor
2) How many years have you worked for them
3) Address of empoyer
4) My address
5) What train do I take and the route
and then said you are set and then turned to my wife
1) When did you get married
2) What is your marriage date
3) Have you been to the US
4) When did you go to the US
5) AGAIN WHAT IS THE DATE of the marriage
and then all friendly questions do you like NYC , do you like Mumbai, do you find both crazy??
took her finger prints and said you are all set. congrats and sign DS-230 PArt 2
we left by 10:35 a.m. and then we reached half way to bandra when my dad called and said that the consulate called and asked me to come back as they forgot to get a paper signed. I thought what was the issue and tried to call the extension and was not getting the right message.
we went back and at the security told them that we came in the morning and have been called back and then he said wait for the consular officer to come. an indian lady came out and heard us and asked us to go in and to counter 10. Had to go through same security crap. went to counter 10 and that indian lady from counter 9 smiled and asked us to come to counter 9.
the same officer was there and both were apologizing to us sincerely a couple of times for the inconvenience. then asked me to sign a consulate doc sayin the immigrant visa is for the period of 6 months and if i quit or lose my job then it will be deemed null. ( not sure what it is but i heard from my friend that it is till u receive a physical green card). signed it and they apologized again for the inconvenience. the lady said go to VFS at 5 pm and said that you should get your passports.
we went to relative's place for lunch. at 4:25 reached VFS and saw a queue of 100 odd people. the stupid VFS guard said this line is for everyone when we were clearly told in the morning that the Immigrant visa passports will be returned at 5:00 p.m. and non immigrant at 5:30 p.m.
We walked around and came back in 20 min and saw that a separate queue was formed on the opposite side for immigrant visa and stood in in. only about 8 people in front of us. when we were about to enter the VFS guards told us only I will be allowed to go in and asked my wife to stay back.
went in sat and then in 10 min they called my counter and gave me two envelopes and said I could open them but not the envelopes inside those. saw my passport and wife's ,names were good. we got an immigrant visa stamp on the passport till the end of this year.
Will be flyin back to JFK on the 9th of June. Will post of that experience too.
Can anyone guide me what the next steps would be??
KP