i\'ve read messages on this site quite a few times over the past 6 months, though never posted. anyway, you\'ve all been so helpful that i thought i should get off my lazy ass and write a quick note of "thanks" as well as a quick overview of my experience 
first of all, my particulars:
indian citizen, living in US for 7 years (initially came on F-1, did one year of OPT after graduating with a bachelors, then got an H-1B with company X. quit that job to get a more interesting one and got a second H-1B with company Y. company Y sponsored my GC)
now, the process:
.i applied under the EB3 category. the entire process from start to finish took me exactly 12 months. company Y filed my labor certification in april 2001, and i was issued the visa in april 2002.
.i took all manner of documents with me, including:
- tax returns for 5 years
- police certificate issued from Hong Kong police as i had lived there for a few years prior to the US
- PCC from indian consulate in SFO
- DS 230 I & II
- photographs
- all my paystubs and bank statements
- letter of employment from company Y
- letter of emplyment verification from company X stating how long i was employed and that i was never out of status, legally employed, etc.
- IRS 9003 form
- medicals (i did mine at breach candy)
- original birth certificates as well as affidavits from my parents
- copies of my current as well as all previous passports
- copies of high school and college diplomas, as well as original college transcript
- originals and copies of all I-797 approval notices for my two H-1B visas, all I-20s from my F-1 days, OPT approval notice, and all related application materials
- proof that i have never been out of status in the US: this was the hardest part only because i have done a lot of int\'l travel in the past 7 years. i made a list of every time i entered and left the US, and on what visa.
anyway, as you can see i took a lot with me, i suppose it is better to be over prepared then to not have a document and be rejected.
as it turned out, the interview was two part. the indian gentleman who called my name first simply took the following from me and gave everything else back:
- passport
- DS 230 I & II
- photos (i signed on on the front right side)
- IRS 9003
- indian consulate issued PCC and hong kong police certificate
- birth certificate
- medicals (except x ray)
that\'s it! everything else he just returned to me without even looking.
.i was told to wait for my name to be called. when i was called for the round 2 interview, the first thing the american woman (she had an indian assistant with her) told me to do was raise my right hand and take an oath. i raised my left hand by mistake and she started laughing. she then told me that right was the other side anyway, i took the oath, and she then asked me to sign the DS 230 form. while i was signing, she asked me 3 questions:
1) where do you live?
2) what do you do?
3) will you go back and join the same company?
then she said, "your visa is issued". that\'s it.
those are the most important points. two things i would recommend to future CPers:
1 - it is a pretty standard process. if you use your common sense, there is no reason to worry or stress.
2 - even though it is easy to take shortcuts and assume you don\'t need a document, be very well prepared. take as much applicable documentation proving your background/character with you. it is much better to have some piece of paper and note use it, rather than need a piece of paper and not have it. remember, the burden to prove your legibility for the GC is on you, not the consular officer.
anyway, nothing i\'ve posted is "new" information. everything you need to know is on this board - so thanks to all the participants. you did a good job educating me! if you have any questions, i\'ll be checking this
first of all, my particulars:
indian citizen, living in US for 7 years (initially came on F-1, did one year of OPT after graduating with a bachelors, then got an H-1B with company X. quit that job to get a more interesting one and got a second H-1B with company Y. company Y sponsored my GC)
now, the process:
.i applied under the EB3 category. the entire process from start to finish took me exactly 12 months. company Y filed my labor certification in april 2001, and i was issued the visa in april 2002.
.i took all manner of documents with me, including:
- tax returns for 5 years
- police certificate issued from Hong Kong police as i had lived there for a few years prior to the US
- PCC from indian consulate in SFO
- DS 230 I & II
- photographs
- all my paystubs and bank statements
- letter of employment from company Y
- letter of emplyment verification from company X stating how long i was employed and that i was never out of status, legally employed, etc.
- IRS 9003 form
- medicals (i did mine at breach candy)
- original birth certificates as well as affidavits from my parents
- copies of my current as well as all previous passports
- copies of high school and college diplomas, as well as original college transcript
- originals and copies of all I-797 approval notices for my two H-1B visas, all I-20s from my F-1 days, OPT approval notice, and all related application materials
- proof that i have never been out of status in the US: this was the hardest part only because i have done a lot of int\'l travel in the past 7 years. i made a list of every time i entered and left the US, and on what visa.
anyway, as you can see i took a lot with me, i suppose it is better to be over prepared then to not have a document and be rejected.
as it turned out, the interview was two part. the indian gentleman who called my name first simply took the following from me and gave everything else back:
- passport
- DS 230 I & II
- photos (i signed on on the front right side)
- IRS 9003
- indian consulate issued PCC and hong kong police certificate
- birth certificate
- medicals (except x ray)
that\'s it! everything else he just returned to me without even looking.
.i was told to wait for my name to be called. when i was called for the round 2 interview, the first thing the american woman (she had an indian assistant with her) told me to do was raise my right hand and take an oath. i raised my left hand by mistake and she started laughing. she then told me that right was the other side
anyway, i took the oath, and she then asked me to sign the DS 230 form. while i was signing, she asked me 3 questions:1) where do you live?
2) what do you do?
3) will you go back and join the same company?
then she said, "your visa is issued". that\'s it.
those are the most important points. two things i would recommend to future CPers:
1 - it is a pretty standard process. if you use your common sense, there is no reason to worry or stress.
2 - even though it is easy to take shortcuts and assume you don\'t need a document, be very well prepared. take as much applicable documentation proving your background/character with you. it is much better to have some piece of paper and note use it, rather than need a piece of paper and not have it. remember, the burden to prove your legibility for the GC is on you, not the consular officer.
anyway, nothing i\'ve posted is "new" information. everything you need to know is on this board - so thanks to all the participants. you did a good job educating me! if you have any questions, i\'ll be checking this