I got my medicals done in Chennai in early November, thought I would post my experience while it is still fresh in my memory.Note that I am not a Chennai resident - I reached Chennai at 6AM on the test day, and had booked my return the same night. I wanted to finish both the lab and the checkup the same day.
A)Procedure at Lister
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 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.
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
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?
Hi everyone. I am back as a permanent resident. Had a successful interview. The interview was pretty easy, a young american guy asked me a couple questions regarding my work and then told me my file was fine but the fingerpritning machine was down so to please wait. I waited for 30 mins and then was asked to go back on Friday. The lines outside the Mumbai consulate are awful, be prpeared to wait for a long time in the hot sun. Since the fingerprinting system was down the day of my interview I was asked to go back along with all the other immigrant visa applications for that day.
On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
For updates, see my blog page on Obama's Immigration Action.
Takeaway points for legal immigration from President Obama’s executive action:
1. USCIS is “about to” publish the final rule on H-4 work authorization. That will make it possible for certain spouses of H-1 holders to get work authorization.
2. Improving employment-based green card backlogs by:
a. Making visa issuance more efficient so no immigrant visas are wasted;
b. Providing for better AC21 rules and other ways to keep immigrant visas intact after a change of jobs. USCIS will clarify what constitutes “same or similar” job so that AC21 will not stop workers from getting promotions or even changing to related jobs within their field. USCIS must clear the path to career progression for green card applicants.
3. Expandingfurther the OPT time for STEM students, but creating tighter control on which universities/schools/degrees are eligible and ensure local workers are protected (Implement some sort of a “mini PERM?”).
4. Creating opportunities for foreign “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” Unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the following parole program will help:
a. Creating a parole (which is usually a temporary, but very quick measure and could eventually lead to a green card) program so that on a case-by-case bases, “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies can be brought quickly into the USA where:
i.They have raised financing in the USA; OR
ii.Otherwise hold the promise of innovation and job creation through development of new technologies OR cutting edge research
5. Creating guidelines for exceptionally qualified or advanced degreed individuals to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” As noted, unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the parole option above could be helpful.
6. Providing clear guidance on L-1B program as to who can qualify.
We won a case for National Interest Waiver a Microbiologist holding a Ph.D., 12 publications and over ten years research experience. We were able to provide evidence of a strong national interest through numerous letters of recommendation from leading scientists. This applicant had an international reputation in his field.
This applicant was a data recovery specialist under contract with the U.S. government providing critical skills to a high-level project. It was noted by referees that his knowledge and background were rare and greatly needed in the interest of our national defense. We provided documentation of his academic achievements as well as additional specialized training.
We won this case for an applicant with five years research experience. The applicant was able to secure a very strong letter from the National Science Foundation director which detailed the innovative and pioneering work of the applicant. It was noted that his skills were critical for an initiative developed by the Foundation. We also offered evidence of his strong Ph.D. work as well as his publication record.
State Department has indicated that as of 11 April 2012 there are no more immigrant visas (green cards) available for China and India-born EB2 applicants. The numbers will be reset on 1 October 2012, the start of the new fiscal year. In the meantime, USCIS will continue to accept I-485 filings until the end of June based upon the Visa Bulletin that will be published in May. No action will be taken on these applications until October, but its is expected that EAD/AP's will be issued.