Experience in detail
Hotel:
We stayed at Hotel Manhattan at beach end of Radhakrishnan Salai. The rate was flat 1200 bucks. The facilities include: running hot water, fridge, A/C, and complimentary mineral water. Also included is complimentary South Indian breakfast at the restaurant attached to the hotel. It’s about 7-10 minutes from the consulate by auto (costs about 25 bucks). The beach is a stone throw away. This part of Marina is less crowded and good. And with DGP office close by lot of police (good thing in a sense). Would highly recommend the place.
Lister Labs:
We were there at Morning 8.15 AM. About 10 people there. They asked us to fill the forms and pay 1200 bucks. Then drew say 1/2 test tube of blood. And took X-Ray and gave a receipt for the above amount. Went back in the evening around 5.00 PM and the sealed packets were ready.
Dr. Mathai Thomas/Best Hospital, Kodambakkam:
There were 2 groups ahead of us. We had to fill forms and wait for 1.5 hours. The doctor asked if breast examination was fine with me. When I said what if I refused. He said he wouldn’t go ahead with the report. So, finally relenting he breaks open the seals of Lister Lab packets. A pregnant nurse did a namesake break examination. And then my height/weight noted was sent outside. Later inside my husband was asked to "drop pants" (he was in shorts!) and cough. This for the hernia checkup!!!
Then I was asked to come back into the office and we were given MMR. The whole thing was over within 15-20 minutes. He took 1400 bucks in total for everything. After this asked us to make a photostat copy of the report. But he had misspelled my husband's name. And hence redid the reports. Looked like he has all prepared forms and just fills in the names!
Interview:
For 10.00 AM interview went at 9.50 AM. Were sent in directly. No wait nothing. We had everything in big ziplock kind plastic bags. Even then they opened all envelopes. Were inside the building before 10.00 AM. Surprisingly they called our names within 5 minutes of our entering inside. She (Indian clerk) took our whole bundle. And chose the documents herself. And gave back all the unnecessary. She just took 1040 & W2 for 2003. For others they were asking for all the past 3 years. (Other documents just like in other posts.. Nothing unusual. We hadn't taken our X-rays, Degree Diplomas and Transcripts. Even the INS documents we had were bare minimum ie. I797 approvals and labor approval. No H1B application copy and the associated documents). Then were asked to wait for a few minutes.
Few minutes became 2 hours. Again were called around 12 Noon. By a young white officer.
O: So, why do you intend to go to the US?
M: I have been working there for past 5 years and would like to continue doing the same.
O: Which school did you go to?
M: XYZ
Then the officer started babbling about the football yada yada....
O: So, how do you like living there? What's the median home price?
Then officer babbles about how much he loves to live in that part of the country....and at least expects to retire there........
O: (to my husband) Sir, How do you like living there?
H: Very much.
That's it.
During the above conversation he took our finger impressions. Then asked us to wait for few more minutes. Calls after 10 minutes. Gave back all the documents. And asked us to check if they were OK. Said we can expect the visas in 2-3 days.
Next Day:
Back in Bangalore. Blue dart delivered the package at 10.00 AM. There were 2 huge manila style envelopes. The passports had the MRVs stamped (they just look like H1B visas). The only pain in the ass was my surname and given name are interchanged. Still interacting with the consulate to correct that. And they don't seem to budge. Anyone with similar problem?
Travelling around Madras:
As we went earlier did our share of traveling around Madras.
Madras itself. Fort St. George, Marina Beach, Kapaleshwarar Temple, Snake Park, IIT campus. Took autorikshaws.
Mahabalipuram with the shore temples, rock cut & cave is really good. The sea looks turquoise and is great to swim in. The road to Mamallapuram (East Coast Road – ECR) is pretty scenic.
Kanchipuram the city of silk and temples. Visited the Vamana, Ekambareshwarar, Varadarajaperumal, Kamakshi, Kalilashnath temples and also a handloom. The temples are huge and magnificent.
Pondicherry. The modern parts look ugly. The old french parts (where the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is) with the colonial architecture looks great. Auro Beach, Auroville,the churches are great too.
Chidambaram, the Chidamabara Rahasya temple also famous for the Nataraja is huge and beautiful.
We took the local buses which are dirt cheap. 50 rupees max on the above connections. The buses are less crowded and fast. With loud Tamil FM station playing is also great for people watching.
You may also rent a car for a drab and cleaner version of the above.
Thanks:
Thanks to all the folks who interacted with me directly and those who helped me passively (thru my passive browsing!). Thanks everyone. Special thanks to Alren, VM, RJain, Dilbert, VJ & KD.
