Hi All,
We had successful CP on 23rd August at Mumbai. Sorry for posting my experience so late, but I was travelling a lot in India and didn't had internet access in remote areas. Here are the details of my CP experience -
Medicals:-
Finished my medical on 12th at Lilavati hospital. We took appointment; they ask me to come between 7-7.30 am. I recommend to reach there around 7.45 am since office opens at 8 am. No numbering or line concept, one who reach first at table after they open office, gets first number, but even after filling forms and handing over to lady (at my time), she done everything in batches, so no point in rushing out there.
Filled the forms for each family member. We were asked for ORIGINAL appointment letter, passport and 2 photos
Took out blood for me and wife (no blood testing and x-rays for kids)
Send us for x-rays, 2 min job, finished it and came back to the same place (remember this, don't wait in xray area)
Then another lady took all Vitals (asked whether we had chickenpox, remember to say Not sure, but I think YES)
Gave me two shots, MMR and Titanus and Titanus for my wife (which is compulsory for everybody) All process done by 9.30
and asked to wait for doctor(she called lady and told she will come by 11, came after 11.30). Went upstairs and had Batatawada, Idli and samosa. by 11.45, she called at doctor’s office and we were done by 12. Didn't ask any questions, as she was on phone and she told to collect reports by 4pm.
Then rushed to My own studio for photos took urgent photos(charged Rs 200) had snacks for lunch, came back to hospital. Then waited for 4 pm. We were sitting outside the area from Visa section in hospital and the door was always closed. So I thought ok its still time to open the door, and after 15 mins, I saw everybody gone and door is still closed. So I knocked the door and collected the reports. Asked lady that everything is ok or not? She smiled(finally) and said everything is ok.
But hospital and staff is good and I recommend Lilavati highly for medicals.
Day before interview :-
Since our relative staying in Mulund area, and we came from outside, we stayed at hotel Royal Castel. Its good hotel as compared to cost and you have to spend one nite there only, so didn’t bother to go to Hotel Shalimar, close to consulate. Took double bed room and also talked about late checkout, since checkout time is noon, agreed to charge half rate, otherwise they charge for full day. If you are taking taxi for this area, tell them Kemps corner/Nana chowk.
Interview Day :-
Took taxi for consulate and reached around 9.20 for 9.30 interview time. Guard asked us to stand in line, I told him that I have immigration interview, but still asked us to stand in line. So I recommend everybody to reach there early. Luckily there were few people in line. If you have kids, don't wear them lighted or musical stuff like shoes, etc. As soon as we entered into room our name was called and we reached at window 12. Lady started asking documents(me, then wife, then kids) like passport, photos(didn’t signed any, she asked to sign only one), DS-II and asked to sign it. Asked to change address to India address on part I(for everybody), original employment letter, birth and marriage certificate(I had translations notarized by translator in US). For my wife, part II, affidavit of support, birth certificate. Since we didn't have her birth certificate, we took affidavit for her parents, but was not able to get non-availability certificate from local authority, so lady started telling that this is law and you have to get it and all that stuff, finally she put remark on the verification sheet for docs. She collected all the docs for wife kid and me. asked for tax return for 2001, gave copy of tax transcript. Asked to sign the document saying that I will join the same employer and if any thing changes, I'll inform them. She asked us to wait to be called. She was nice as compare to lady next to her at window 11. She was grilling one family and took 1 hour to collect the documents and was shouting on them.
From 10 am we stared waiting to be called and finally, was called at 12.45 pm at window 9 where there was American lady consular and Indian officer assisting her. She was about to sign the papers and then she was note on the sheet regarding lack of document. She asked that why we didn't have that document and asked Indian officer whether it is necessary document, I was holding my breath and he said yes and started giving lecture how to get and all .... I told lady that we tried hard to get the letter, but they refused to issue it, but I have 10th board certificate where it has date of birth. Lady asked Indian officer that whether it is sufficient to have that document and he said YES. All my tension from 10 am gone that time. He asked lady to fill form to waive the requirement of document and she asked to pay visa fee($65).
You can pay visa fee in US $, but have to fill one form, and $ bills should be in 5, 10 or 20's. No 100 $ bills are accepted. By the time we were done with American consular, cashier’s window was closed for lunch. So again started waiting to open the window, luckily, it opened soon, paid the fees by DD, and he asked me to come back 3.30 to collect the passport. Came outside the consulate with big smile on face, went to good restaurant for lunch, dropped wife and kid at hotel(remember extended check out). Stood in line, showed receipt and collected passport and sealed envelope with immigration visa paper with photo on it. Checked all the names, spelling and address. Everything was ok.
I had separate folders for each applicant. One folder for copies of all documents and one folder for other documents like tax transcript, pay stub, IRS 9003(not asked for), etc.
POE:-
Our port of entry was Philadelphia. Just filled customs form and stood in line for Citizens/ Permanent residents. Immigrations officer entered our name in computer and directed us to another room. Another officer called me, took all the envelopes, passport and asked us to sit. After he finished all the entries, he called me, took fingerprint, then he took my wife’s fingerprint. He didn’t take my daughter’s fingerprint since she is below 18. Then explained what’s going to happen after this. Showed us ‘A-‘ number for everybody. Suggested to contact social security office for new card(may get same number). And told us that we will receive green card in 6-9 months. Checked the address.
Collected all luggage and happily entered US.
I’m very thankful for the members who participated in the discussion board and answered all the questions/queries that I had. This board was very helpful to me in completing successful CP. Thanks to everybody and I’ll be glad to answer, if anybody has any questions.
We had successful CP on 23rd August at Mumbai. Sorry for posting my experience so late, but I was travelling a lot in India and didn't had internet access in remote areas. Here are the details of my CP experience -
Medicals:-
Finished my medical on 12th at Lilavati hospital. We took appointment; they ask me to come between 7-7.30 am. I recommend to reach there around 7.45 am since office opens at 8 am. No numbering or line concept, one who reach first at table after they open office, gets first number, but even after filling forms and handing over to lady (at my time), she done everything in batches, so no point in rushing out there.
Filled the forms for each family member. We were asked for ORIGINAL appointment letter, passport and 2 photos
Took out blood for me and wife (no blood testing and x-rays for kids)
Send us for x-rays, 2 min job, finished it and came back to the same place (remember this, don't wait in xray area)
Then another lady took all Vitals (asked whether we had chickenpox, remember to say Not sure, but I think YES)
Gave me two shots, MMR and Titanus and Titanus for my wife (which is compulsory for everybody) All process done by 9.30
and asked to wait for doctor(she called lady and told she will come by 11, came after 11.30). Went upstairs and had Batatawada, Idli and samosa. by 11.45, she called at doctor’s office and we were done by 12. Didn't ask any questions, as she was on phone and she told to collect reports by 4pm.
Then rushed to My own studio for photos took urgent photos(charged Rs 200) had snacks for lunch, came back to hospital. Then waited for 4 pm. We were sitting outside the area from Visa section in hospital and the door was always closed. So I thought ok its still time to open the door, and after 15 mins, I saw everybody gone and door is still closed. So I knocked the door and collected the reports. Asked lady that everything is ok or not? She smiled(finally) and said everything is ok.
But hospital and staff is good and I recommend Lilavati highly for medicals.
Day before interview :-
Since our relative staying in Mulund area, and we came from outside, we stayed at hotel Royal Castel. Its good hotel as compared to cost and you have to spend one nite there only, so didn’t bother to go to Hotel Shalimar, close to consulate. Took double bed room and also talked about late checkout, since checkout time is noon, agreed to charge half rate, otherwise they charge for full day. If you are taking taxi for this area, tell them Kemps corner/Nana chowk.
Interview Day :-
Took taxi for consulate and reached around 9.20 for 9.30 interview time. Guard asked us to stand in line, I told him that I have immigration interview, but still asked us to stand in line. So I recommend everybody to reach there early. Luckily there were few people in line. If you have kids, don't wear them lighted or musical stuff like shoes, etc. As soon as we entered into room our name was called and we reached at window 12. Lady started asking documents(me, then wife, then kids) like passport, photos(didn’t signed any, she asked to sign only one), DS-II and asked to sign it. Asked to change address to India address on part I(for everybody), original employment letter, birth and marriage certificate(I had translations notarized by translator in US). For my wife, part II, affidavit of support, birth certificate. Since we didn't have her birth certificate, we took affidavit for her parents, but was not able to get non-availability certificate from local authority, so lady started telling that this is law and you have to get it and all that stuff, finally she put remark on the verification sheet for docs. She collected all the docs for wife kid and me. asked for tax return for 2001, gave copy of tax transcript. Asked to sign the document saying that I will join the same employer and if any thing changes, I'll inform them. She asked us to wait to be called. She was nice as compare to lady next to her at window 11. She was grilling one family and took 1 hour to collect the documents and was shouting on them.
From 10 am we stared waiting to be called and finally, was called at 12.45 pm at window 9 where there was American lady consular and Indian officer assisting her. She was about to sign the papers and then she was note on the sheet regarding lack of document. She asked that why we didn't have that document and asked Indian officer whether it is necessary document, I was holding my breath and he said yes and started giving lecture how to get and all .... I told lady that we tried hard to get the letter, but they refused to issue it, but I have 10th board certificate where it has date of birth. Lady asked Indian officer that whether it is sufficient to have that document and he said YES. All my tension from 10 am gone that time. He asked lady to fill form to waive the requirement of document and she asked to pay visa fee($65).
You can pay visa fee in US $, but have to fill one form, and $ bills should be in 5, 10 or 20's. No 100 $ bills are accepted. By the time we were done with American consular, cashier’s window was closed for lunch. So again started waiting to open the window, luckily, it opened soon, paid the fees by DD, and he asked me to come back 3.30 to collect the passport. Came outside the consulate with big smile on face, went to good restaurant for lunch, dropped wife and kid at hotel(remember extended check out). Stood in line, showed receipt and collected passport and sealed envelope with immigration visa paper with photo on it. Checked all the names, spelling and address. Everything was ok.
I had separate folders for each applicant. One folder for copies of all documents and one folder for other documents like tax transcript, pay stub, IRS 9003(not asked for), etc.
POE:-
Our port of entry was Philadelphia. Just filled customs form and stood in line for Citizens/ Permanent residents. Immigrations officer entered our name in computer and directed us to another room. Another officer called me, took all the envelopes, passport and asked us to sit. After he finished all the entries, he called me, took fingerprint, then he took my wife’s fingerprint. He didn’t take my daughter’s fingerprint since she is below 18. Then explained what’s going to happen after this. Showed us ‘A-‘ number for everybody. Suggested to contact social security office for new card(may get same number). And told us that we will receive green card in 6-9 months. Checked the address.
Collected all luggage and happily entered US.
I’m very thankful for the members who participated in the discussion board and answered all the questions/queries that I had. This board was very helpful to me in completing successful CP. Thanks to everybody and I’ll be glad to answer, if anybody has any questions.
