I have successfully completed my CP interview in chennai without any problems. I haven\'t received the appointment letter So I just took the printout from the chennai web site as was advised by the consulate personnel.
Started here on sep 10th(day before the blasts). In fact the bombing occured when I was midflight closer to India. I came to know about the events only after I reached chennai. Promptly called the consulate the very next day only to be told that it was closed because of the events.
Lister Lab: Went there on the 12th around 9.00. You need to take a passport size photo and fill the application that you get with pkt4. Since I didn\'t get neither the appointment letter nor pkt 4 I just took the print out of the application from the website. You can go there any time between 8.30 and 10. The whole process took about 45 minutes for both me and my wife. I went to the konica lab to get the immigration photos(costs around Rs. 150 for both). Came back around 4.30 to collect both the photos and the reports.
Medical: Had an appointment with Dr.Vijaya Lakshmi at 10.30 A.M.
Went to the doctor 10.30 sharp only to be waited until 12.00 before I could go inside. The lady is cool and she accepted all the vaccinations.( I had my MMR taken 7 years ago(2 shots) and for my wife she accepted the one shot that she took just before we left.) We both had chicken pox so we didn\'t have to take that. Please take a passport size photo for the medicals.
In the meanwhile called the consulate on the 13th and found out that everything is functioning normal. It seems they have rescheduled the cancelled interviews the vert next day.
Interview: The day of the interview I was there at the gate around 8.00. The gaurd will not allow me inside since I didn\'t have the appointment letter. I showed him the email and the correspondence I had with the visa unit but he will not budge. He said that I need to wait until the consular officer arrives, to see if I was really scheduled for an interview. Finally at around 8.30 he allowed me inside after verifying the interview appt. with the consular officer. Went inside and paid the fee after submitting the documents. Please make sure that you keep the documents in order(I just followed the Srifx\'s list of documents order). They called my name around 10.00 and gave back the original marriage certificates, birth certificates and the 1999 and 1998 tax returns. The person also asked for the blue dart draft and the address to which the passport need to be sent. The same person came outside around 11.00 with the approval slips(for all who were eagarly waiting) and advised us to pay the issuance fee.
POE: No hassles at the port of entry in dallas on 2 Oct. Waited in line with just the customs form filled(no I-94) and they took the finger print of the right index finger and stamped on the passport which is valid for an year. She said that you should be getting the card within an year.
If you have got any question please post the message and I will answer them. My heartfelt thanks to Mr. khanna and all the other members who have posted their experiences and other info which really bolstered my confidence in taking this route. Glad it is all over and wish the same to all the future CP candidates.
Started here on sep 10th(day before the blasts). In fact the bombing occured when I was midflight closer to India. I came to know about the events only after I reached chennai. Promptly called the consulate the very next day only to be told that it was closed because of the events.
Lister Lab: Went there on the 12th around 9.00. You need to take a passport size photo and fill the application that you get with pkt4. Since I didn\'t get neither the appointment letter nor pkt 4 I just took the print out of the application from the website. You can go there any time between 8.30 and 10. The whole process took about 45 minutes for both me and my wife. I went to the konica lab to get the immigration photos(costs around Rs. 150 for both). Came back around 4.30 to collect both the photos and the reports.
Medical: Had an appointment with Dr.Vijaya Lakshmi at 10.30 A.M.
Went to the doctor 10.30 sharp only to be waited until 12.00 before I could go inside. The lady is cool and she accepted all the vaccinations.( I had my MMR taken 7 years ago(2 shots) and for my wife she accepted the one shot that she took just before we left.) We both had chicken pox so we didn\'t have to take that. Please take a passport size photo for the medicals.
In the meanwhile called the consulate on the 13th and found out that everything is functioning normal. It seems they have rescheduled the cancelled interviews the vert next day.
Interview: The day of the interview I was there at the gate around 8.00. The gaurd will not allow me inside since I didn\'t have the appointment letter. I showed him the email and the correspondence I had with the visa unit but he will not budge. He said that I need to wait until the consular officer arrives, to see if I was really scheduled for an interview. Finally at around 8.30 he allowed me inside after verifying the interview appt. with the consular officer. Went inside and paid the fee after submitting the documents. Please make sure that you keep the documents in order(I just followed the Srifx\'s list of documents order). They called my name around 10.00 and gave back the original marriage certificates, birth certificates and the 1999 and 1998 tax returns. The person also asked for the blue dart draft and the address to which the passport need to be sent. The same person came outside around 11.00 with the approval slips(for all who were eagarly waiting) and advised us to pay the issuance fee.
POE: No hassles at the port of entry in dallas on 2 Oct. Waited in line with just the customs form filled(no I-94) and they took the finger print of the right index finger and stamped on the passport which is valid for an year. She said that you should be getting the card within an year.
If you have got any question please post the message and I will answer them. My heartfelt thanks to Mr. khanna and all the other members who have posted their experiences and other info which really bolstered my confidence in taking this route. Glad it is all over and wish the same to all the future CP candidates.