With the change in procedure in December 2007 for most Indian consulates (and probably for most visa categories) NVC now collects all original birth, marriage, police / RPO clearance, photos, etc. However, it seems that not all helpline employees of Mumbai consulate and VFS employees in Ahmedabad are aware of this change. Both consulate and VFS helpline personnel are asking the applicants to submit these documents again and pay VFS fee!

Has anyone experienced this? Has anyone experienced otherwise (meaning these people knowing the change)?

Also, why is there a need for VFS fee when we are not sending any documents to consulate using their service? Is it because consulate is goign to send passports back by VFS courier? Shouldn't the fee be reduced if VFS is doing half the work? Is there anyone who paid the VFS fee in full (Rs 365 per applicant) at VFS but did not have to provide all docs to them?

Also, does anyone know why an adult child (qualifying under CSPA) get a phone response from this ignorant support staff that his name is not listed for interview, when NVC appointment letter for interview lists the adult child and his mother? Does anyone know if providing derivative beneficiary's name produce similar response, as the system they might track only primary beneficiary?

Please share your experience or suggestions. This is mostly applicable to applicants interviewing March 2008 and later who have submitted all docs to NVC. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi Sanjiv! I went to VFS (Hyderabad) yesterday to pay the courier charges of Rs. 365 and the guy didn't know anything about the new changes in the procedures. He went on & on about documents to be submitted with the fees... I explained him in great detail about the new process but to no avail. Finally a lady colleague of his came to my rescue and asked him to take the courier fees. He gave me a white receipt on which the details about the payment was given and a barcoded sticky to be stuck at the back of the passport. On the chennai website it states a pink slip has to be submitted along with the interview letter and passport at the 1st counter. I told them it is a pink slip but was informed that there is no pink slip and I have to give the white receipt at the 1st counter.
Looks like there is no coordination between NVC, consulate and VFS... They make us go thru sooooo much.
Whew!!! All done finally....

ze22,

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's amazing to see lack of coordination in the times of electronic communication. How difficult it is for consulate to circulate an e-memo to VFS heads, who then pass it on to their employees? Even the consulate help staff didn't know about this change. Talk about lack of coordination.

Good Luck,

Sanjiv Patel

hi,

In my previous posts I had mentioned that people should submit certified copies or the so called notarised copies of the originals and send to the NVC...... but many people opposed my view.... Its best to keeep originals for the interview.. because NVC has lots of appplications.. and once we loose originals.. it can take months to get them back from the source or from NVC or they can be lost for ever,..... But many didnt agree with my view..... Its clearly states on the website.. people can send certified copies or notarised copies of the original..

Please Please take originals for the interview or submit to VFS... because VFS people dont know anything yet... and also there is a safety option with us so we show the CO offficer the orignals which are submitted at the time of interview.....

I hope this helps

Jigi

Hi Jigi,

I send notorised documents & got RFE!! The website states to send orginals or certified copies not notorised ones!!

Dunhill,

I agree with you. Certified copies are copies certified by issuing agency, and not by a notary.

BTW, Jigi went through the process before the transition of all Indian consulate from "Standard" to "Appointment Post" in December 2007 / January 2008. May be notarized documents worked when VFS collected all documents, but now NVC collects them and it clearly states: ". . . original documents or certified copies of the documents. . ." (Reference: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html)

I would not advise anyone to risk getting an RFE by sending notarized copies to NVC.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

hi,

Respected members..... Best of luck... to alll....

Jigi

Concur with Sanjiv and Dunhill. No offense Jigi.

Another twist in the story that highlights the disconnect between NVC / Consulate and VFS. My sister went to pay for VFS fees in Ahmedabad, Gujarat VFS office on March 25, 2008 and the guys wouldn't accept the Appointment Letter from NVC as authentic!!!!! They only recognize the letters issued by consulate as authenticate. My sister and her son talked to them with no avail and eventually had to return to their home town without doing anything. They have sent a letter to Mumbai Consulate requesting them to send an Appointment Letter from consulate or else educate their VFS counterparts so that they don't create unnecessary hassles to applicants.

The VFS staff was asking for original documents. So, they don't even know about the change in process. My nephew was able to convince them to accept photocopy of the originals, as we don't have originals (they were submitted to NVC and are now with consulate). I don't even see a need to submit copies, when originals are with consulate. Of course, since their interview is on Apr 15, they still have another week to sort this issue out with VFS and make payment.

Anyone with this sort of experience? Any suggestions how to deal with these ignorant VFS staff? Anyone who has a response from Consulate in this regards, if they raised this issue to Consulate?

Thanks for your feedback.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi Sanjiv,

I received my wife's interview letter couple of days back. It did have a list of documents that was filed with NVC like marriage certificate original, etc.

hope this helps. my wife has to file her documents with VFS in May. So, hopefuly VFS would get their act together.

Regards

so we have to submit the original civil documents at VFS before interview

The originals are submitted to NVC. So, what's the point of providing another set of originals to VFS? Most importantly, in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, only one original Police Clearance Certificates are issued even when we ask for 2. So, where are we going to find another original? VFS needs to understand the changed procedure and stop asking for originals if they are submitted to NVC, as confirmed by NVC on Appointment Letter.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi MGK,

Did you receive interview letter from indian consulate? Is it asking to submit the 'un-submitted' orginals to be submitted to VFS and pay any fee? I have so far not received any communication from consulate; but the NVC letter sent to petioner in US says to bring all un-submitted documents for interview and does not talk about VFS or paying any fees? could any one clarify??

Thanks!!

we have paid the IV fee of $400 at NVC , so should we have to pay any fees on the interview day.

June007,

No offense, but please do not hijack thread for unrealted discussion - start a new thread. To shortly answer you, you will not have to pay the fee at consulate since you have paid $400 to NVC.

Dunhill,

Although your question was for mgk, I would like to say that in my case, the Appointment Letter was from NVC (sent to 3 parties: Petitioner, Agent of Choice, and Beneficiary) and so far there has been no direct communication from Consulate - and I believe there is no reason for them to duplicate NVC's communication. The consulate's web site shows the interview has been scheduled for our case number, so that's one peace of mind. the NVC letter shows what was submitted and what was missing, and it also says to bring all un-submitted documents, if any, for interview and does not talk about VFS or paying any fees. So, there is some confusion. However, VFS fees need to be paid, I think, for return of passport to beneficiary. My stand is, if you have submitted all evidence to NVC, VFS should only collect the money and not request original or even photocopies of the documents.
However, there is no communication between Consulate / NVC, who are working with new process, and VFS.

I can update you all after Apr 8th - latest date by which the beneficiary needs to pay VFS fees.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi Dunhill,

Letter from NVC doesn't mention anything about VFS. It only stated to bring latest tax returns(2007) for interview and any "un-submitted" documents.

Beneficiary should be receiving interview letter along with instructions. Which would talk about VFS, paying the fees and retain the receipt safely.

Please note we have to submit to VFS, proof of marriage and photocopies of all originals submitted so far. So, we can get our originals back.

Proof of marriage could be photographs, wedding invitations, life insurance documents, medical insurance documents, affidavits, phone bills, emails, etc.

Hope this helps...
Cheers

Hi Sanjiv,

In your case, did the beneficiaries receive their interview letters? If so, they should have received instructions along with it.

Cheers

Hi Sanjiv,

these links should help you for mumbai consulate immigration visas...


http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/uploads/imag...ation_Sheet.pdf

http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/interview_appt_schedule.html

http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/ivinterview_preparation.html

Cheers

Thanks Sanjeev & MGK.


I had mailed the consulate for the same, they have asked to contact NVC to know the status. ..they also mentioned we can download instructions from chennai consulate website, if we do not receive the intervierw letter.

Please do update if you have any info. Thanks

mgk,

The links you provided are OUTDATED if you are following the new "Appointment Post" process by NVC, where NVC collected all the original civic documents. These documents in your link asks you to submit all documents to VFS, which if you have already submitted to NVC, and you don't have any more originals left (esp. PCC and Passport Clearance Certificate, which are only issued as one original). (I had checked thse links out several times in the past, mostly in the hope that consulate will update the web pages with new instructions, but so far Mumbai Consulate has not changed a word, probably because they are following both processes in parallel, while they are going through this transition from "Standard" Post to "Appointment" Post.)

Just today I have come across the new instruction (dated 2/21/08) for Mumbai Consulate, though I can vouch that these instructions were not posted to Dept. of State web site until 10 days back.

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/supplements/BMB-SUP-ENGL-0001-0802.pdf
If you are from one of the other consulates, appropriate document for your consulated can be accessed from: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3742.html

This letter was NOT sent with the NVC generated Appointment Letter. This letter clearly states that all applicants should pay the VFS courier fee of Rs. 365 between 15 and 3 working days prior to Appointment Date. It does not ask to submit any copies or originals to the VFS. So, we should now be clear that nothing more documentary evidence need to be provided to VFS.

Notice that the dates VFS will take your fees is different than in the old process (10 to 7 business days before interview).

The NVC generated Appointment Letter (for both petitioner and beneficiary) has no mention of VFS (probably because NVC process is global and VFS is specific to India). MGK, beneficiary does not receive any other thing from Consulate, so they will NOT get any additional document that talk about VFS, unless it is the above document that they have started to send out to new applicants. Our interview is approaching soon (Apr 15), and the NVC generated Appointment Letter was dated 2/21/2008 (same day as our Appointment Letter). Probably there are a few applicants who are ahead in the new process., who did not get this letter in mail and are unfortunately suffering because of lack of knowledge about this changed process in VFS, as well as surprisingly in Consulate!! My nephew called Mumbai Consulate yesterday and it was the first time these phone support staff had heard of the new NVC appointment letters. They did not believe him last week when he had called consulate and VFS did not beleive him when he presented the NVC generated letter, and VFS did not take payment for courier fees. However, when he spoke to a supervisor of the phone support person, he was aware of two cases from earlier in the morning that had the same situation. Even then, he did not know about this on Apr 3rd, when this letter is supposedly from Feb 21st!!!!!!!!! Talk about lack of coordination. He was saying that they have now informed VFS offices about this changed process and new applicants that follow should hopfully get less hassle.

With the new State Dept. memo, the process is now clear: Pay courier fee of Rs. 365/applicant, do NOT submit any documents to VFS if you have sent originals to NVC, and go for interview.

Hope this helps everyone.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Seems like we do not need to submit even proof of relation stuffs [wedding cards, e-mails print outs etc] to VFS.

Dunhill,

You would need to provide all the proof of relationship now to NVC. If you haven't, you can provide it to VFS or take it in person on date of interview. The idea is to submit this to them for review, at least once. In our case, we submitted everything to NVC and now VFS, in continuation of their old procedure, was asking for it again. These kinks in the process will work itself out by May, when VFS starts seeing more applicants going through Appointment Post process.

Hope this clarifies it for you.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi Sanjiv,

Yes, I saw the message for Mumbai consulate. But, it vanished from appointment post consulate specific information site.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3830.html

Maybe it might come back.

Anyways, its crazy and hopefully...things should pan out. Please lets know your siblings experience, which would be a big help in light of all this masala :-)

Thank you

mgk,

I am not sure if the document that I described was on the link you provided. It can still be accessed from the second link in my article (copied below for reference):

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3742.html

It's confusing why they have different information linked from different pages. In some cases, it makes sense, such as when providing consulate specific medical check instructions with list of panel doctors. But, in other cases, it doesn't make sense. E.g., your link and above link should both have BMB available as a choice, but it doesn't.

Even after publication of this memo, they made my sister sit around for few hours before taking payment from her in VFS-Ahmedabad. VFS Bombay knew the new updated procedure but wouldn't call VFS Ahmedabad to instruct them to take the money from her. They expected her to call Mumbai VFS, but she wasn't allowed to bring phone in and at the same time not allowed to come outside to make the call! Go figure!

At this point, I am so fed up that I am going to write a very strong letter to Indian Ambassador and Cc: to VFS heads, consulate generals, and NVC directors. I just had enough. Hopefully, this will fix the broken process for the good of those who are going through this new process now. This VFS payment thing doesn't make any sense with the new process, as they can collect the fees for return of the passport on the date of interview. Why are they making people go from their towns to VFS offices, as if they are next door? And, then not take payments, because these ignorant people are not updated by Consulates and their VFS headquarters?

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

Hi Sanjiv,

Thank you for the information! Yes, I can't agree more with you!

Cheers

bump

My family got visa without much hassle. My nephew was successful in getting visa under CSPA. This is second case I have witnessed in 2 weeks where CSPA worked!

Sanjiv Patel

congrates!!

congrats

Congratulations!!!

dunhill, june007, mgk,

Thanks.

And good luck with your visa process.

Sanjiv Patel

Thanks Sanjiv!

Thanks Sanjiv!!

got interview date!!!!!!!! MAY 13.
Dunhill , did you finish your medicals at chennai. did you take the vaccinations from outside or during the medicals?

good luck for your interview

June 007

HI!

Congrates for the interview date & all the best

I am planning to do medicals only by 15 of may as my interview is on 28 may. I am taking immunizations/vaccine only while doing medicals.

Can you pls share your timeline?

Hi..I hv diff story.My case CR1 approved from NVC and got interview in May2008.I paid Only 365rs courier fees,No single document even photocopy at vfs Mumbai.I had list of document received by nvc(NVC latter mensioned doc they received) and i displayed to him.then they agreed to take only courier fees.pasted barcode sticker on passport and given white copy.
They suggested to bring all photo copy of document at the time of interview.I think ahmedabad vfs is causing trouble.
I recommend to take NVC lateer+photocopy of all Doc u submitted with NVC+2 photograph(2*2") while visiting VFS.

Thanks,

May be VFSs have got updated instructions now....Goodluck 4 ur interview.

goodluck cmp211 and june007!

Thanks....$ Same to u for ur forth coming Int.

hi mgk,

what all documents did u submit to vfs?

My wife would be submitting following documents coming week to VFS....

photocopy of marriage certificate, appointment letter, i130 approval, birth certificate, police certificate, passport.

2 us passport size photos

sealed medical report

proof of marriage

Thanks!!

will your spouse be carring marriage album to the consulate? will VFS accept a copy of marriage VCD ?? any thoughts?

She would be taking marriage album for the interview.

VFS/Consulate don't accept VCD or DVD.

Cheers

guys please post your interview experiences ..... i am just starting the NVC process and just want to know if all of you got the Original Documents Back and the time of interview .... be kind to post whole experience from VFC ... to the interview

thanks ...