Consular Processing

My I-140 was filed in February 2004. The National Visa Centre, in its letter dated 24th June 2010, informed that they had completed processing of my petition seeking immigration to the USA and had forwarded it to the American Embassy/Consulate at New Delhi. I was informed that an immigrant visa interview had been scheduled at the US Consulate, New Delhi on the 9th of August, 2010 at 10.45 am. 
I reached the US Consulate, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi, (hereinafter Consulate) a little before the scheduled time. I was given a token bearing a number at which the concerned Official of the Consulate would interview me. Once inside the Consulate, the assisting staff promptly verified my token number and advised me to wait for my turn. I was informed that token number and the counter number were being displayed on an electronic screen at the end of the hall. The waiting area had seating arrangement in rows and was very practically furnished. The air conditioning was comfortable, considering that it was sweltering hot outside. While I was waiting for my turn, time seemed to have stopped; it was a long wait. On my number being shown at the relevant window, I appeared before the official and handed over the token given to me at the entrance. At the first instance, I submitted my documents to the Consular Officer. The Official started looking through the documents submitted by me, which in fact gave me time to be at ease. The Consular Official, after going through the documents asked me questions relating to my profession in India. On my responding to the said questions, the official asked me questions relating to the kind of work I was expected to do in the US. The Consular Officer also asked my about why I wanted to immigrate after 20 years of practicing law in India! There were also questions asked about my relationship with the applicant/employer. What was I going to do in the US (what was my role/job profile)? I was asked about my familiarity with preparing websites et al. I answered all the questions honestly and told them that I was not conversant with the technical aspects of a web site; my job would be to provide content for the same. The interview lasted about 45 minutes and throughout the concerned official was very practical and to the point. Finally, I was handed a letter along with an annexure and was politely informed that I would be required to provide the information sought therein before my application could be processed further.
As per letter dated 9th of August, 2010, I was asked to provide the following documents:
a) Original job letter from my US employer.
b) Updated DS 230 part I for myself.
c) Since I was married now, in order to process immigrant VISA for my wife and daughter and son, they needed to come on any working day along with their passports, DS-230 I & II, birth certificate, marriage certificate, two photographs and immigrant visa fee $ 404 or Rs. 19,393/-.
In addition, I was also required to furnish certain documents from the employer as per annexure to the said letter.
I arranged the relevant documents as per letter dated 9th of August, 2010 and approached the US Consulate at New Delhi on the 12th of July 2012, along with my wife and children. I was given a token number and was asked to wait for my turn by the assisting staff at the consulate. The wait was long. My daughter, just about two years old, was restless. The assisting staff observed her and requested us to take her to the play area for kids. It did help, as she got busy with the toys there and with the other kids almost her age. We were amongst the last to be called for interview by the Consular Officer. The wait was tiring considering we had with us a two year old child. The Consular Officer accepted our DS 230’s and thereafter requested my wife and children to wait as he proceeded to interview me. I was asked questions about my employer, the kind of work done by him etc. It appeared that while I was being questioned, the Consular Officer was looking at my employer’s website, as he did say it was impressive. He also asked questions about my work, how it correlated with employment sought by me! I answered the questions to the best of my ability and honestly. The whole process may have lasted about 40-45 minutes. 
At the end of the interview, the Consular Officer handed me a letter wherein it was mentioned that I could not be issued a VISA at this time, and I was required to provide:
a) Police clearance from Regional Passport Office for myself and my wife.
b) Medical clearance from an embassy-approved panel physician for my wife and children.
c) Recent job letter from my employer.
I submitted the aforesaid documents along with our passports to the VFS, Nehru Place, New Delhi. The duly stamped Passports, along with a sealed envelope in each immigrant’s name, containing documents were returned to us by courier. 
We arrived at Dulles, Washington, DC on December 24th, 2012. On board our flight, we had been given blue forms by the crew, and we were informed that the duly filled forms were to be submitted to the immigration official on arrival at destination. This blue form was basically a declaration to the effect that we were not carrying any food article(s), had not visited a farm within a specified period before our journey, etc. 
Upon arrival, we followed the queue for non-US citizens. It was a rather long winding queue and my daughter, who was just about two years and few months, was very restless. The assisting staff was quick to observe my restless daughter and promptly guided us to an immigration counter ahead of other waiting passengers.
At the immigration counter, we handed over our passports, the sealed envelopes received by us from the US Consulate in New Delhi and the blue form given to us on board our flight, to the immigration officer. The Officer examined our passports and documents, one by one, and, on being satisfied, put the immigration stamp on our passports. We were informed that this would serve as our green card, until we actually received one. We were then directed to another counter for finger printing and submission of the sealed envelopes. The blue forms were also stamped and handed over to us. 
The counter at one end of the row was meant for immigrants. The officer at this counter once again examined our passports and opened the sealed envelopes. I was asked questions about my job and the nature of duties that I would be required to perform. The officer carefully went through the documents that were in the sealed envelope handed over to him by us. Thereafter, our fingerprints were taken. While we were going through the process, an airport staff approached the officer and wished him Merry Christmas. He handed over a few chocolates to him and then enquired from us about the airline through which we had arrived. When we informed him about our flight details, he enquired about the kind and number of bags we were carrying. When I informed him about our baggage details, he pointed through the glass window, towards the conveyor belts and said that since ours was the only unclaimed baggage so far, he had put our bags together at a particular place. He wished us a Merry Christmas and walked away. 
Once the immigration formalities had been completed the Officer looked up, smiled, handed over a chocolate to my daughter and wished us Merry Christmas. We then proceeded to claim our baggage. The airport staff, who had informed us about our baggage at the immigration counter earlier, was standing by our baggage. Once we reached to collect our bags, he wished us Merry Christmas and moved away.
At the exit, we were directed to another counter where we handed over the blue forms to the officer. She asked us specifically that the declaration signed by us was correct. On receiving our answer in the affirmative, our bags were put through the scanner. Once the scan was complete, we were signaled towards the exit.

My wife recently had her interview on June 6. the process was pain free except for one minor issue. she had become canadian citizen few days before and didnt have her canadian passport on her at the time of interview. Verbally the visa was approved but on the sheet handed to us, it said visa rejected due to Canadian Passport. We mailed the passport to the consulate the very next day and it was received by the consulate the next day. We are still awaiting a reply from the consulate and have been unable to contact the consulate via phone/email. Does anyone know how long does it normally take for a process like this to be resolved. her case is not going through any administrative processing and they only required the canadian passport. the packet was sent to them via DHL.
thanks.

Hi, I would like to share my experience of our interview in US consular in Montreal. Our appointment was schedule on June 20th 2011 at 8h30am. We arrived at the US consular at 8h00am and we got our interview only at 11h00am as there was a lot of peoples waiting in front of us. The interview went well. The typical questions are: How long have you been working? When did you apply for the visa? Confirmed the country of birth? How long have you been leaving in Canada? Confirmed your current address?

The documents needed for the interview: 2 pictures, employment letter and updated police certificate which we don’t have at the time of the interview but the officer let us go because we have a Nexus Pass. Ouff.. But I recommend you to have updated police certificate anyway. To get the police certificate, you will need to go to 1 of the 4 locations in Montreal which specialize in background check. The officer did not asked for our 2010 tax statement.

Thing that change from the previous post is US consular does not issues visa along with your passport the next day anymore. You need to register for a DHL location within CANADA only. We choose Richmond, BC as we work in Seattle. It take about 4-5 days for the passport to be delivered to DHL office. When the passport is ready for pickup and if you have register for DHL drop off location, you should received email confirmation that you package is ready for pickup.

For people that are flying from the State, my recommendation is to allow 2 weeks after the interview date to schedule your returned flight or buy an open return tickets.

In the package, you will see you passport along with the visa stamp on it and a sealed envelope. Do not open the envelope. The envelop should only be open by US officer at the border.
It took 1 hours to complete the whole process at the border.

Good luck all
EB3 Priority date September 01 2005

CP interview in Delhi (India) - tips and recommendations

went for my CP interview in Delhi and am writing my recommendations here. These were written for Delhi specifically, but general principles are same for all places. Add ur suggestions to make it complete.

going for CP interview involves:
1. Pre-travel arrangements
2. travel from US to India
3. Pre-interview work (on landing in India)
4. Interview
5. Post interview/travel back to US/port of entry

1. Pre-travel arrangements:

1a. --- Air Tickets: keep a minimum 3 day buffer between landing in Delhi and interview date. Also ur return journey should be scheduled for atleast 6 days after interview (in case ur name check in Delhi consulate is delayed). Changing a travel date on an already bought airline ticket can be expensive. I had to shell out $470 per head. L

1b. --- Stay in Delhi: if you have no friends/family relations and want to stay in a hotel - check this website: http://www.hotelsnewdelhiindia.com
or … Ashok Samrat/Maurya Sheraton/Taj Palace hotels are located in Chankyapuri close to US embassy. Ashok: +91 11 2611 0101, rate apprx Rs 11250 ($244) daily; Maurya Sheraton: +91 11 2611 2233, rate apprx 13500 ($293) daily; Taj Palace- +91 11 2611 0202, rate Rs 16,000 (apprx $350) daily. Rates are taxes included

1c. --- Medical appointments: call up and fix ur medical appointments from the US itself. Keep a 3 day buffer between ur landing and interview date. You may choose between Apollo hospital/Dr Dawesar- Bhikaji Cama Place/ Dr. Chawla- Prithviraj Road/ Dr Khosla – Jorbagh. All in South Delhi. I went with Dr Dawesar and my friend went with Apollo, so will write these 2 experiences. Apollo gives you reports in minimum 3 (sometimes 4) days, Dr Dawesar gives reports in 2 days.

1d. --- Immunizations records: go to ur family doctor in the US and ask him/her to prepare an immunization card in which to write all ur immunizations. Or you can take the proof without getting it written in the card. If you don't take ur shot records with you, you WILL BE FORCED to get the shots in India. No exceptions. Here is USCIS link for vaccines needed: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1331.html
for adults: MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella (chicken pox), Tetanus/Diphtheria. You will need a TB skin test (PPD) and a chest x-ray. PPD test will delay results by 48 hours, so just ask the doctor for chest x-ray.

1e. --- Transit visa: if you, an Indian citizen, do not have a valid *unexpired* US/Canada visa stamp in the passport, and are going via any country in europe except Netherlands (Amsterdam), you WILL NEED a transit visa for that country.
(on your return journey, you will have either an immigrant US visa stamp or a non immigrant US visa stamp if your CP interview is unsuccessful/delayed)

1f. --- Police clearance certificate (PCC). Anyone going for CP interview who has been living in the US – needs only 1 PCC from the local Indian consulate. (NY/Chicago/Houston/SF) and you don’t need PCC from India for this person. If they lived in any other country, they need PCC from that country also. PCC is valid for 6 months (there are recent reports of US consulate Delhi writing that PCC is valid for 1 year).

1g. --- Documents: per your visa category. e.g. for employment based - original certificates, notarized current employment letter dated within 1 month of interview, all proof of legal status in the US, federal income tax return copies – last 3 years, proof of marriage, I-134 if you have a dependent spouse etc etc. (employer’s tax return is NOT needed), DS 230 part I and II are to be filled again even if you sent them earlier to the NVC.

1g(i) --- Birth Certificate is needed at the time of interview for every person. DOB certificate should have ALL of these:
* father's name
* mother's name
* baby's name, sex
* date of birth

- if DOB cert is N/A, then u need secondary evidence of DOB:
statement from local municipality that DOB cert is N/A (copy will be taken by Embassy after checking the original) + your Grade X cert that has DOB (copy taken after checking original) + affidavits from 2 parents/relatives (originals)
- if incomplete DOB is available, then u need
incomplete DOB cert (copy taken by Embassy after checking original) + affidavits from 2 parents/relatives (originals)
- to get a corrected DOB certificate from local municipality, u need affidavits from both parents sworn before a 1st class magistrate (not a notary), then submit them to the local municipality and then the municipality will issue the corrected DOB certificate.
- Affidavits: Both parents or 1 parent + 1 older brother/sister atleast 10 years older or 1 parent + 1 uncle/aunt or 2 uncles/aunts etc.

1h. --- Photos: You need 5 photos, 3 for medical and 2 for Embassy. Take atleast 3 passport size photos (not necessarily immigrant visa style, just frontal view) for medical exam, if ur medical exam is on the same morning as you land in Delhi, b’coz you won’t have time to go for immigration style photos before medical. Immigration style photos will be cost effective done in Delhi.
Those el cheapo ($6-9) disposable cameras that you get from any store in the US are good. A shot from this camera (film sensitivity ISO 400 or 800), with flash, and white background, done at a distance of 5 feet, and printed as a post card size (4x6) photo will give you great result. You will need to cut it to size. Take multiple snaps (there are 24 in each camera) and get many copies of the shot you like. (More on immigration style photo later).

1i --- Visa Interview letter: if you haven’t received your interview letter, send someone to US embassy (they just need your case number and Name) to collect your interview letter.
You WILL NEED this letter for your medical exam and to enter US embassy.
.

3. Pre-interview work (on landing in India):

3a. --- send an email to US consulate Delhi, ASAP. if i remember correctly (recheck with US consulate New Delhi website):
* in the email header section, you need to write - "REQUEST SPECIFIC INFORMATION"
(yes, all caps. if you don't write this header, then your email will be delivered to the general email section and response will be delayed).
* in the body of email - write your Name, Case number and ask them to initiate a quick name check and that you have reached Delhi.
US consulate New Delhi starts name check (FBI name check) after the person has reached Delhi.

3b. --- Taxi cab. Preferably hire a taxi cab, for 1 day in Delhi, as you will need to go to many places. Rates are: Tata Indica (compact car) with AC: Rs 700 minimum for 80 Kilometers, then Rs 7 per Km; and Night charge of Rs 150 starts at 11pm. Where would you need to go?
3b(i) * medicals (1 place if going to Apollo, 3 places if going to other doctors)
3b(ii) * immigration style photo
3b(iii) * US embassy, to tell them to initiate your name check.
.

3b(i) * Medicals:
Take your visa interview letter, 3 photos. Labs done are HIV test and RPR (Syphilis) test. You may need a TB skin test (PPD) and a chest x-ray. PPD test will delay your medical results by 48 hours, so just ask the doctor for chest x-ray.

- With Apollo, you get everything done at one place (medical exam, immunizations, PPD, labs, chest x-ray). they give you results in 3 days.
- with Dr Dawesar, you get medical, immunizations at her office. Labs are drawn at another place about 2 miles from her office, x-rays are done at another place 2 miles away. She gets a chest x-ray done, no PPD. you get reports in 2 days (save 1 day over apollo).
***** get appointment with her in the morning. After her appointment, go for Blood draw first and then for chest x-ray. so you can reach the blood collection office before 12 noon, otherwise you will have to wait until next day or go to Connaught place (Lal Labs, main office near Janpath, 10 miles away in traffic) to get your labs drawn on same day. x-ray clinic is fine.
Charges: Rs 800 per person for medical, Rs 400 for labs (HIV and RPR test), Rs 200 for chest x-ray, Rs 1450 for Chicken Pox, Rs 550 for Hepatitis B, Rs 100 for MMR, Rs 50 for Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccines.

3b(ii) * Immigration photos: Go to Malcha Marg shopping complex (5 min walk from US embassy). It is a convenience store (White Sales Corp.) actually, who takes pictures with digital camera. Good work. Rs 100 for 3 photos. It takes about 1 hour for the photos to be ready - during this wait, go to the US embassy (there is no parking place outside US embassy, just passenger drop off. Nearest parking is in this shopping complex).

3b(iii) * Embassy visit: In the 1 hour you are waiting for your immigration style photos to be ready, go to the US embassy and tell them to start your quick (FBI) name check.
.
4. Interview:

- Visa interview letter checked outside the embassy. You may go earlier than your indicated time.
- You may carry a bag for documents/ladies’ purse to the inside of embassy. Cell phones and remote car keys are not permitted inside. Deposit them at the security counter outside with phone in switched off mode.
- go inside, hand over the interview letter to any of the embassy help people, sit in the lounge, and ……wait.
- after about 1 hour, you will be called for checking/collection of documents by a local staff person. You will sign DS 230 part II, sign a statement that you will not leave your prospective employer and will notify the consulate if your job is gone, submit documents and 2 photos. Make sure they take 2 photos (if they take 1 photo, then you will need to carry 1 photo to be given to the USCIS immigration person at your port of entry (POE)
- if any fee wasn’t paid in full earlier (e.g. visa fee etc), then you will have to pay them at this stage. They will accept cash, both INR and US$
- come back to your seat, and ..

……… wait …..

- in about 3 hours, you will be called for final interview by the Visa officer. The person will ask some questions about ur employment, ur family etc., and if satidfied, ask you to raise right hand and take oath. ……. congrats.
- if your name check is incomplete, the visa officer will let you know and give you the option of collecting your passport and documents in person or having them mailed to anywhere in India.
- get your passport and the sealed envelope, to be given to the immigration officer at POE. (x ray is not needed). Carry 1 photo extra.

5. Post interview/travel back to US/port of entry

- you don’t need to fill I-94
- go to the New immigrants line if there is one at ur POE.
- the officer will take the sealed envelope and open it right there. The papers will be the forms that you had filled at the embassy and 1 photo. If the photo is not there, be sure to give it to the person there, else ur plastic card will be delayed.
- Immigration Visa stamp will be endorsed and you will be allowed entry to the US.

>>> NOW, you ARE a PERMANENT RESIDENT <<<

- in 2-3 weeks, you will get a welcome letter with a case number. Do Case status check at the USCIS website for ur plastic card.
- 3 weeks you should receive ur new SS card
- 4 weeks you should get ur plastic card.
- enjoy ur new life as a PR.
- Remember, you are a PR, not a Citizen, so any serious offense may lead to deportation.
.

Interview Date: Feb 2009
Consulate: Chennai, India

Jan 28, 2009: Called panel doctor Vijayalakshmi and fixed an appointment for Jan 31st, 11 AM.

30th Jan 2009:
Reached Lister Labs at 6:30 AM and no one was there. Security opened the gate and gave us the first token. We were out by 8:30 AM. Collected Sealed envelope at 4:30 PM. X-Ray, blood test cost: Rs 810.

31st Jan 2009:

At last it is over - the wait and agony of many years!

First, I want to thank this spectacular group and everyone who have shared their views and ideas... this forum has been a great asset for everyone appearing for CP.

Last stage of my Green Card experience went through a tough ride and we saw a lots of tipsy turvy roads.

Here is my journey of the GC:

Mar 2003 - Applied for labour.
May 2006 - Applied for I-140.
June 2006 - I-140 got approved.
November 2006 - Applied for CP

Hello,

I finally received my Green Card yesterday. My wife got hers 2 weeks ago. Here are the filing dates.

I-140 (EB1) filed in July 2006 (Approved in 2 weeks)
I-485 sent to NVC in September 2007
Interview notification from Chennai US Consulate on January 17, 2007
Interview at Chennai on February 12, 2007
Received the passports on February 20, 2007
Validation stamp in the passport on February 28, 2007
Welcome Letter (wife) on March 6, 2007
Green Card (wife) received on March 7, 2007

Hello All,
Heres my experience on the CP

Flew to India on June 12th (Interview Date June 26th) Since you have to submit documents to VFS 7 working days prior to Interview.

Flew Virgin Atlantic ti Mumbai and went straight to VFS from the Airport. They are open from 8.00am - 12.00 and 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Documents Submited to VFS
- Copy of the first, second, last page of the current passport, copy of all us visa's in the current passport.
There is no need for old passports and copies of all pages.

The Immigrant Visa looks like a H1B1 visa stamp but the information is obviously different. The embassy also hands out a packet with top right part perforated. It has a white paper on the front which has your picture and information on it.

I landed at Chicago O'Hare airport at about 3:15 PM. While in the plane, I had filled only the customs forms and not the I-94 white form. After landing, I went to the New Immigrant line. The officer looked at the IV and took the packet from me. He sent me to the NSEERS special registration line.

Hello everyone.
I am back and a PR finally (after 6 years of waiting!!)
Had my CP at NWD on April 18
I stayed at the Park Hotel in Delhi and went to Apollo hospital for my medical. Would recommend both the hotel & Hospital since they are very professional & prompt service.
I had sent my name check via email the night I arrived in NWD

At the interview they only asked three questions to me
Which co. do you work for?
what does you co. do
what do you do for your co?