peter_guest5450
Registered Users (C)
Hey fellas,
How's it going? After many months of painful waiting, the game is finally over. GS28, congratulations!! Will call you sometime today. here is a brief recap of my CP experience at the chennai consulate.
Medical exam:
Arrived in chennai on the 10th of august at around 9am....we rushed to lister labs the same morning and managed to make it there by 1025am...cos the results are given to you the same day if done by 10 30 am. had to fill out the medical exam cover sheet with one 2X2 inch photo and paid Rs. 600 for the tests....they take blood for HIV and VDRL and a Chest X ray. I got the reports the same day. Went for the medicals the next day on the 11th....total anticlimax...panel physician asked me a couple of questions, gave me a shot of MMR (though I had one a year ago) and had to pay Rs 700 as fee. He gave me all the reports in my hand, unsealed, after asking me to make a copy. everything over in 30 mins.
At the Consulate:
I simply couldnt sleep well the night before, in part due to the excitement and the anticipation. Had ALL my documents arranged in 5 folders. Reached the consulate at 730AM....a security guy asks you for the appointment letter and passport and lets you inside. Then the usual security checks.....did not carry cell phones or any other portable electronic stuff...i asked my dad to come back in an hour as we live only about 3 miles from the consulate. Was escorted to the waiting room where they have a bunch of counters with glass windows and microphones. An indian clerk asked me to submit the originals and the photocopies. She did ask me for I-134 which I said was not required. She then asked me to pay the blue dart courier fee as well as the $45 surcharge. One thing they ask for is your graduate/postgraduate degree certificates, so make sure you have these with you at all times. She then asked me where I worked and stuff and if I had travelled anywhere outside the US other than india. I was then called by the consular officer, who looked more like a british guy than an american. Asked me who I worked for; cracked a couple of jokes about the place I lived in the US. Asked me to take the oath right before him (you sign DS230 part 2 well before that, directed by the indian clerk). Then took my fingerprints (index fingers of both hands) and gave me the IV surcharge fee receipt and said my passport will be mailed out by friday. I was out of the consulate by 9 15AM. They gave me back all my originals except the empolyers letter and the PCC.
And that's it. Currently in chennai waiting for my passport and another experience at the POE, which I believe will be smoother than the experience at the consulate.
Good luck to all here awaiting their interview. I was really worried about EB2 being retrogressed in aug/sept. but it seems like it wont happen before december. Well, lets all hope the numbers stay current. In my opinion, CP is a great way to obtain your GC...however, the part leading up to the interview can be a hassle, as you've gotta stay on your toes making sure you have all the documentation. It is a great feeling, though, once you've made it thru the interview, which seems way too easy, considering the documentation and the mental preparation you may have put in before.
My sincere thanks to all the veterans out here on this forum who have helped me come this far with their words of wisdom.
How's it going? After many months of painful waiting, the game is finally over. GS28, congratulations!! Will call you sometime today. here is a brief recap of my CP experience at the chennai consulate.
Medical exam:
Arrived in chennai on the 10th of august at around 9am....we rushed to lister labs the same morning and managed to make it there by 1025am...cos the results are given to you the same day if done by 10 30 am. had to fill out the medical exam cover sheet with one 2X2 inch photo and paid Rs. 600 for the tests....they take blood for HIV and VDRL and a Chest X ray. I got the reports the same day. Went for the medicals the next day on the 11th....total anticlimax...panel physician asked me a couple of questions, gave me a shot of MMR (though I had one a year ago) and had to pay Rs 700 as fee. He gave me all the reports in my hand, unsealed, after asking me to make a copy. everything over in 30 mins.
At the Consulate:
I simply couldnt sleep well the night before, in part due to the excitement and the anticipation. Had ALL my documents arranged in 5 folders. Reached the consulate at 730AM....a security guy asks you for the appointment letter and passport and lets you inside. Then the usual security checks.....did not carry cell phones or any other portable electronic stuff...i asked my dad to come back in an hour as we live only about 3 miles from the consulate. Was escorted to the waiting room where they have a bunch of counters with glass windows and microphones. An indian clerk asked me to submit the originals and the photocopies. She did ask me for I-134 which I said was not required. She then asked me to pay the blue dart courier fee as well as the $45 surcharge. One thing they ask for is your graduate/postgraduate degree certificates, so make sure you have these with you at all times. She then asked me where I worked and stuff and if I had travelled anywhere outside the US other than india. I was then called by the consular officer, who looked more like a british guy than an american. Asked me who I worked for; cracked a couple of jokes about the place I lived in the US. Asked me to take the oath right before him (you sign DS230 part 2 well before that, directed by the indian clerk). Then took my fingerprints (index fingers of both hands) and gave me the IV surcharge fee receipt and said my passport will be mailed out by friday. I was out of the consulate by 9 15AM. They gave me back all my originals except the empolyers letter and the PCC.
And that's it. Currently in chennai waiting for my passport and another experience at the POE, which I believe will be smoother than the experience at the consulate.
Good luck to all here awaiting their interview. I was really worried about EB2 being retrogressed in aug/sept. but it seems like it wont happen before december. Well, lets all hope the numbers stay current. In my opinion, CP is a great way to obtain your GC...however, the part leading up to the interview can be a hassle, as you've gotta stay on your toes making sure you have all the documentation. It is a great feeling, though, once you've made it thru the interview, which seems way too easy, considering the documentation and the mental preparation you may have put in before.
My sincere thanks to all the veterans out here on this forum who have helped me come this far with their words of wisdom.
