Case:
Normal CP process and wife pregnant.
Medicals at Breach Candy:
No need to go early. Wait in the sitting area and when they are bout to open be first near the door. It helps only little as you have to wait through out the first half of the day.
Everything was normal as described in the other posts. The only difference was that my wife was pregnant and it was Friday. They called her on Saturday to conduct the TB skin test. She had to go again on Monday to show her hand. Her report was received on Monday. I guess if a person is pregnant do not conduct medicals on Thursdays and Fridays as the person might have to come thrice instead of twice due to the 48 hrs waiting period.
Some of the staff was rude/non-professional from Chaprasi to Doctor. I did not like Breach Candy but preferred it because of “My Own Photo Studio”. Since the photo requirements are simplified now I would suggest Lilavati or Hinduja. Also, they take photos inside the embassy if the photos are not up to requirement.
Interview:
We went to the consulate half an hour before the appointment time. They started letting in 15 mins. Do not carry metal objects, CDs (I guess DVD too), cigarettes and pan masalas etc. No bags with zipper. It is better to have a transparent folder and plastic bags. Take the wooden token with you. I think they use it to determine the number of people inside the embassy. Gave our appointment letter at the desk and they asked us to take seat in the immigrant section facing counter 10,11,12.
Waited long till 12:00 when my name was called at counter 11. The Indian lady collected all the required documents, asked us few questions and then asked us to sit. She then called us again and told that my wife needs some data correction as the husband and father name is not present in their. It took sometime to understand that this stupid reason meant that my wife’s case was a bakara candidate for the "Name check" procedure. She told it will take 2-3 days. So before our CP story is over we had a moral for us “No matter how perfectly you try, things just happen”
At 1:00 we were called at counter 9. The American lady asked us to raise hand and swear. She asked me standard questions about the my job and company. No questions asked to my wife. Then she said that my wife need a name check and they cannot issue visa. I opted to take my visa in the afternoon and wait for her visa.
I came late at 3:40 pm. I was 2nd last to collect my passport and the packet.
The name check process for my wife took a week.
I went directly to consulate without my wife. To my surprise they did let me in with the pending application form before the normal immigrant cases are allowed to enter.
I waited at counter 6 & 7. The officer verified that my wife’s approval has arrived. She gave me a small receipt and asked me to come at 2:30 pm but said the passport can be collected after 3:30 pm.
I went at 2:30 pm they took the paper from me and asked me to come at 3:30 pm. At 3:40 pm they started giving the passports. Since I was only collecting the passport of my wife and my wife was not with me they questioned me. Luckily I had my passport with me and then they handed my wife's passport with immigrant visa stamped.
Except for the Name check to whole process was as expected.
POE:
We waited in the visitor’s line at Detroit. The officer at the counter tore our I-94 and stamped the custom form. Then he directed us to wait at the "special processing" counter 36 & 37.
A lady officer collected our documents and stamped on our passport to be valid until 1 year from the POE date. She took finger prints and told us GC will be mailed to us in 6 months.
Wow this was faster than expected. The whole POE process might have took less than 20 minutes including wait time. We did not have to wait in any room.
So, It was time to catch my connecting flight.
We wish “All the best”to the CP folks.
Thanks to Rajiv Khanna for maintaining this site.
And the seniors (KD, Alren , Raju, VM etc.) without their help it would have been very difficult to understand the CP process.
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