Thanks to all the help from this forum, our (wife and myself) CP at Mumbai was successful on Jan 24th. I will only post differential or additional information (I have a very slow connection) but will be happy to answer specific questions.
Medical test (Hinduja):
Going earlier than 7am was not fruitful, as they open the counters sharp at 7. They require a copy of the passport. There were only four applicants for medical. We were asked to return to the first floor and wait in the common waiting room(instead of directly going to the third floor). There was a female doctor performing checks both for male and female patients. I had a slight fever from shots for the next three days or so
Interview:
We were admitted to the consulate half an hour before the appointment instead of 15 minutes. There is a lot of additional security around the consulate after the kolkatta attacks, however the security inside did not seem any different. We had prepared the documentation based on legendary srifix mail. They allowed us to carry thick opaque plastic shopping bags inside. The pleasant lady at window 10 collected documentation. I did not have a translation for my Marathi NAC. She then went inside and called up someone. I was asked to write up an English translation on the back of the NAC and that seemed to satisfy her. She took only father\'s affidavit (original) in addition to NAC copy and returned mother\'s affidavit back. We were asked to cross out the US address on the DS230-part I form and write up local(indian) address. Since our visa\'s had expired she asked us for H1 extension notices. She did not ask us for any PCC (the only question she asked was - did you stay more than a year in another country?). We had spent enormous time on both local and CGNY PCCs and my wife said later she was tempted to ask her to take them anyway!! No bank statements or tax returns or pay stubs.
The American consular officer said to come back and collect visa packets at 3. Based on previous experiences we went there at 4:10, they were already handing out packets back and we got ours in less than 10 minutes. A happy end to a five-year long journey.
Medical test (Hinduja):
Going earlier than 7am was not fruitful, as they open the counters sharp at 7. They require a copy of the passport. There were only four applicants for medical. We were asked to return to the first floor and wait in the common waiting room(instead of directly going to the third floor). There was a female doctor performing checks both for male and female patients. I had a slight fever from shots for the next three days or so
Interview:
We were admitted to the consulate half an hour before the appointment instead of 15 minutes. There is a lot of additional security around the consulate after the kolkatta attacks, however the security inside did not seem any different. We had prepared the documentation based on legendary srifix mail. They allowed us to carry thick opaque plastic shopping bags inside. The pleasant lady at window 10 collected documentation. I did not have a translation for my Marathi NAC. She then went inside and called up someone. I was asked to write up an English translation on the back of the NAC and that seemed to satisfy her. She took only father\'s affidavit (original) in addition to NAC copy and returned mother\'s affidavit back. We were asked to cross out the US address on the DS230-part I form and write up local(indian) address. Since our visa\'s had expired she asked us for H1 extension notices. She did not ask us for any PCC (the only question she asked was - did you stay more than a year in another country?). We had spent enormous time on both local and CGNY PCCs and my wife said later she was tempted to ask her to take them anyway!! No bank statements or tax returns or pay stubs.
The American consular officer said to come back and collect visa packets at 3. Based on previous experiences we went there at 4:10, they were already handing out packets back and we got ours in less than 10 minutes. A happy end to a five-year long journey.