Any experiences on what is the total time period from I-130 filing to visa in hand at Delhi?

aprox. time 3 months after filing DCF.

Thanks Raj0000.

Anyone know if it is possible to file DCF at Delhi before 90 days of USC stay?

Hypothetical situation;
Indian national man in US on a B1/B2. Marries his USC GF in US . USC GF(now wife )applies for an Entry visa(long term visa) at Indian embassy in US
on the basis of wife of an Indian national. USC wife enters India on the long term entry visa with his Indian
national husband. After entering India she right away registers with FRRO and gets a resident permit.
With this resident permit she files DCF right away at US embassy in Delhi. Resident permit in India, as the embassy states is enough to file DCF at Delhi.

Anyone think this is possible? Or there could be problems with this?
I am hard pressed for time so I am looking for ways to substantially reduce that minimum 90 day USC residency period in Delhi.

90 days is NOT the only requirement. I doubt Delhi is going to go for any shortened time, based on past performance, but you're certainly welcome to have at it.
Have your USC read the following carefully--the devil is in the details:
http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/uscisi130pet.html

Hi

I just filed my I 130 at Delhi. The rule is more strict for the 90 days than the FRRO. In fact - the FRRO would not let me register with a tourist visa, said i had to change to X visa. SInce this would take so long....i called the embassy and got to speak to someone. they said i qualified since i have been here for longer than 90 days.

FUnny thing is that when we got the embassy - even the security guards ask you - do you have FRRO? I said no, but i already spoke with (name of guy i spoke to) and he said i could apply. THen after getting the back room (CIS area) the lady came out 2 times and reminded everyone they need this FRRO.

When i got to the window i told her i idnt have it but i spoke with so and so and they said i qualifed. She said yes, you have been here more than 90 days (she was looking at my papers).

so ---- to those of you trying this the length of time is more important than anything else. I had no FRRO certificate. ANd all my bills i put in the packet, she just gave them back to me. she gave me back my 2nd copy of the packet i made as well.

SInce i was last in line i got to watch about 6 other couples. Many did not have FRRO. Many were here less than 90 days. Everyone less than 90 days was sent packing.

sam






My question to those who have done DCF Delhi

DO they send you a paper with your case #?
she gave me the Packet 3 while we were at the window. but, she didnt give me a case#. wheni looked at the papers we have to enter the case #. where does it come from? my only guess was that they send it to us later?

she actually never said at the window "your approved" but she sent us to pay the $190 fee which i assumed meant i was approved.

anyone have info for me?

sam

Thanks a lot for that information.
Since you did DCF at Delhi, did your Indian spouse get the police certificates from Delhi too?
I wish to know about obtaining DISTRICT police certificate in Delhi.

Congrats on successful filing. In most cases, acceptance of DCF with 190 $ fee means approval....so, as in most cases, your case must be approved to proceed further....
She didnot give us pack-3 when we filed..may be bacause our jurisdiction is mumbai...but I am sure pack-3 will come later in mail with CASE NO on it....usually you shd reced within a month.....(Its been exact month for us but mumbai being slow we havnt recd pack-3 yet....but heard Delhi is fast!!!!)
At the end, did you ask lady...such as how long the process takes...what's next etc ??
Hang in there...good luck.............

hey sam

we filed last month, and they haven't sent us a case number yet. i sent back the packet 3 without mentioning a case number (left it blank). I haven't recived my packet 4 yet, but i confirmed on email and phone that my interview is in december!

Hi

Kind_Heart - havent done the police certificate yet since its not required until the next step. BUT - will get to working on that and let you know what i find out. will post in here so just keep an eye out.

Raj - i did ask the lady how long we would hear etc. She said it takes 2-4 months for the interview date from the time the papers are submitted. but - that was with delhi. dont know anything about mumbai. and since she gave me the papers - i dont have to wait a month for packet 3.

Kaur - whats the date you filed in Oct? whats the date you filed your packet 3? and whats your Interview date? just curious the timeline as i am very anxious (i know im preaching to the choir in here!) did you have to requset the interview date OR was that automatically scheduled by the emabassy?

Thanks Guys - its soo nice to have a group to converse experiences with.

sam



Kind_Heart - I just spoke to my HUSBAND :-) he says the police certificate is done at the passport office. you drop off your passport in the morning and they run a report from the police. you pick it up in the evening. he says he had to do this once before for something else but its the same report.

but you know that the police report is not required for the I130 filing. its required for the 2nd step.

sam

sam,
I filed on Oct 13, got packet 3 at the same time, mailed packet 3 on nov 3, and then i emailed and called up the embassy on nov 16 - they told me that packet 4 has been sent, and that i m scheduled for interview on dec 12

kindheart - sorry i missed the question on the police certificate
i read the instructions and now see that the passport office certificate AND something from police dept is required.

my best guess is a vist to the police dept and a bit of cash will do the trick. this seems to work well in india.........

Kaur

Did you do the 864 or 134 papers?
the packet 3 includse 134 instructions - but not 134 form
it has the 864 included.

also - do you know what triggered your interview date being scheduled?
did you have to do anything to request it?
im wondering if its scheduled after I130 filing or after filing your packet 3.

sam

Kind_heart
i read the post some more and caught something i think you might want to check on. I am fairly certain that if you want to apply DCF at Delhi, you have to have married in INDIA. you cannot apply DCF if you married elsewhere.

My husband and I went to thailand in august and nearly got married there. only thing that stopped us was reading someplace that we couldnt apply dcf if we did so. but i cant find that info again - i just went looking for it.

I think you should email delhi and ask them, im 99% sure on this one.

sam

ManuNSam,
Thanks for your replies.
I have plans to get married in Delhi now.
Just getting ready with all the info well ahead of time.
I know about the passport office certificate but I am thinking about the local police certificate to be obtained from the police station in the area of our residence. I'd appreciate if you can post his experience when your husband gets his.

KIND_HEART and For all those searching for how to get police clearance certificates in delhi (other than from passport office)

you dont go to the district police office - although you need clearance from the district police office.

you have to go to the Deputy Commisioner of Police for your District
Take iwht you the documentation from the embassy that you need a police clearance certificate for immigration, a copy of your passport, and proof of residence.

The paper you complete with them, goes to the district police office.
then the district police officer comes to your neighborhood/house, does his routine, and then sends the form back to the Deputy Commisioner.

then you go pick it up
we havent gotten ours back yet - but they told us a week.

In order to know we were supposed to go to the Deputy Commissioner, we had to call my husbands AUnt that lives in Canada. She used to be a police officer here in India, so she called her friend here which she used to work with, who in turn called another friend. I dont know how other people in the past have figured this out.


sam

Thanks ManuNSam. This is surely invaluable piece of info.

this message is for kind_heart and anyone getting a police certificate in delhi

you have your work cut out for you
after waiting a week - it supposed to take 2 days - my husband went back to police commisioner......he had to go and sit at the district police office for several hours on several days in order to get thsi piece of paper.

so - followup and be a pain in the a** to the police department, otherwise your not going to get it. my husband seriously wonders how anyone that doesnt know someone at the police department gts this. we had to call a friend of an aunt that works at the police station many times. its vry frustrating to get this paper.

so - you really have to bug them to get it done
i hope this is not for all of delhi. we are in east district. i hope that other districts know what they are doin and get it done.

sam

Also note that you can save a lot of time by getting all the police clearances before you file your I-130. Then you can submit your packet 3/3.5 forms and schedule an interview date directly after the I-130 is accepted and not sit around for a month waiting for the police, which is what I'm currently doing in mumbai...

yes you can submit right after you file I130
but it takes at least 2 weeks for CIS to send it to immigration anyways
so - your not really saving any time........

I filed for my husband last week in Delhi. We received packet 3.5 at the window and the woman said that the quicker we have everything ready, the quicker will be the interview date. However, we do not have a case number. When does the formal approval letter with the case number usually arrive in the mail after filing the I-130? Also, do we have to submit the initial few docs contained in Packet 3.5 even if we don't have a case number yet?

With regards to the police clearance certificate, we went to the DCP and they said that they can't accept the application for a PCC until we have a formal letter from the embassy. Also, they said that they cannot start the verification process until after we receive the interview date. However, how can we be assigned an interview date until and unless we have the PCC first?

Does anyone have any insights or suggestions on how to handle this issue?

Thank you.

Simran

They dont exactly have the best system around!
i just went through this in november.

assuming you went through delhi and will be continuing through delhi...........

your i130 was approved, it takes 2 weeks or so for themto send this to the immigration department. so if you call the immigration anytime soon they are going to tell you that they dont have anything. you also will NEVER EVER receive any official approval letter of your I130.

however they gave you packet 3.5 at the window
the first line reads - your 130 has been approved.
sadly this is the only documentation you will get

yes you do submit papers at the VFS without a case number
you wont get the case number until you get a interview date

submit your papers at the vfs office within a week to keep things going as quick as possible. since you just submitted your papers,most likely they wont make it beofre the middle of the month. this is a critical point in time because they create the interview dates mid month. IE mid Jan is going to be the Feb interview list.

thinking about that more......
if i were you i would submit my 3.5 papers NOW, ASAP, TODAY for a smidgen of hope that i would make it in time to get on the february list that they will be making soon.

Police certificate.
we too had a great deal of trouble gettting a police certificate. your packet 3.5 is the letter that shows you need the appliation for a pcc. and as far as waiting until your recieve an interview date........NO WAY!!!!!!!!!! first of all when you sign the 3.5 papers and submit them to the vfs office to send to embassy - youre saying you already have the police certificate. ie your saying you have all documents you need for the interview. so whoever told you at the police office that you have to have an interview letter in order to get things is looking to be paid or has no idea what they are doing. offer some money and/or ask to speak to someone else. if you know anyone that works for the police it might be helpful to ask them to step in (thats what we did). even if you have your cousins cousin that is an aunt by marriage..........or whatever.

you need to get that police certificate NOW.
your 3.5 letter is the letter they need to proove you need a clearance certificate.
they take forever to get it done - you will need to seriosuly bug them to get it.
i wouldnt leave them alone for a day! my husband had to go to the police office everyday to get it done.
can i ask what part of delhi you are getting the certificate from?
did you go to your district office or to your police commisioner office?
we were in east delhi and we had to go to the commissioners office to get the ball rolling.

hoep this helps
sam

Hi Sam,

The information you provided was really very helpful. Thanks so much. It is indeed sad that the system is not run very diligently. It would save so many of us a lot of time and energy if it were. Nonetheless, now I understand that the case number will not be received until the interview date is established by the embassy. So, regarding the two forms (DS 230 and DS 2001), they first have to be submitted to the VFS office? I thought those docs would go straight to the embassy and then Packet 4 would go to the VFS only. Anyhow, do you know what section of the New Delhi VFS office in Nehru Place? What do I say to them...just that we're here to submit Packet 3.5? Do they provide a receipt after taking those 2 forms from us? As you suggested, we will try to get those papers in as soon as possible.

We first went to the commissioner's office in Ashok Vihar with the packet that we received at the window. I think that's on the west side of Delhi. Since you specified that there will be no offical letter from the embassy, we have to urge them to accept whatever we have been given.

Congrats on finally getting your police certificate though. After Delhi, we will have to get them from Mumbai as well. GOSH!!

Regards,

Simran

COngrats on filig I-130.
Just thought to let you know that in Mumbai, getting PCC takes 1 month....so if you have to get it from Mumbai than start working on this.
Another thing is that, fortuantely, delhi is the fasted in India as far as scheduling of the interview so the point is that if you submit your pack-3 now(before 15 of this month) than chance are that you may get interview date by Feb 10 which is good thing but in your case, you may not have PCCs in your hand by than. If this scenario happens than I am not sure how much effort/pain is required to reschedule interview etc...
So not to discourage you from submitting pack-3 ASAP but just wanted you to think abt it.....
good luck....

DS230 and DS2001 we submitted AT VFS
one of these forms asks for your case number
just leave it blank

they have a little slip of paper at VFS
they write the packet number your submitting for and any other info you ahve
there is a list of forms on the paper and they check off everything you submit
it is my understanding (now) that you dont have to actually submit all the documents for 3.5
however we were a little confused..........we submitted all of our documents (minus originals and medical) when we submitted 3.5

after you submit the 3.5 papers, they will connect it with whatever they get from CIS (where you files I130) and then schedule your interview date.

then you get packet 4 - interview letter and nearly a duplicate of 3.5
then you submit all papers (originals too)
the only thing you might not have is the medical
you can take that to the interview
in fact you can take any of the documents to the interview with you if its something you dont want to submit through VFS (any super important originals)

later youll get packet 3. which is obsolete. only shows how much time it saves that they give you packet 3.5 at the window!

i didnt go with my husband to drop off the papers. do you need directions to the VFS office? i can ask my husband anything - but ill need a more specific question. (IE you need directions to the office or are you confused once you reach there WHICH office)
and yes - you go to the window (they actually have a ticket que he said!)
they ask you what packet you got to drop off
mark any papers that you want to submit (its a checklist)
you both sign it
you get a copy (this is your receipt)


You will have to convince them that the papers you have are proof you need the letter. Like i said before, does your honey have anyone related to anyone on the police force? that would be a great help. ALso - maybe ask his dad to go with you, or a close uncle. the older men seem to do better at the bribing. Also - its more likely that a dad or uncle will be the same age as the officer. easier for them to talk to them and convince them. just do whatever it takes to get it done.

and start on your mumbai one also.

if i were you i would wait until after jan 15 to submit 3.5 to VFS. this way you know you wont have an interview in february and you will be in march. you dont want to get an interview date in february because you wont have your police certificate from mumbai yet (Raj says it takes a month).

BTW - i work in data analysis (diease trends etc)
i studied the interview date schedules over the past few months
they lump the interviews by type. so - about 90% of the cr1 visas are done in the 2nd week of the month and spill over 2/3 days of the 3rd week. beats me why, but that is definetly the trend. so when you get your interview date its most likely it will be march 12-16. (or feb 12-16th but as i suggeted you should wait to avoid having a feb interview).

let me know if i can help any more
this process is such an ordeal

whenever someone tells me that hes using me to get to the US ....... i just think - if you only knew what this entails! its easier to come illegally or on a work visa. my goodness they really have NO IDEA. nobody does until they go through it

sam

Thank you so much, Sam. Your guidance is extremely helpful and very much appreciated...I know a lot of people in the process currently and those who will be undergoing it in the future are and will find all your information to be a great aid!

You're right...no one knows until they actually go through it how involved and time-consuming this process is...especially when it comes to getting the police clearance certificates. I will ask an elder male relative to accompany my husband to the DCP. It is def about money...I saw that when I went to get my marriage certificate.

Regarding the 3.5, is it ok to attest to the fact that we have all documents when we don't actually have the PCC's yet? Does everyone do that and does the embassy allow that?

Thanks for the info on the VFS process. My husband should be able to find the location. Thanks!!

And also, are clearances from the passport office only required from the PO that issued the passport or from each PO at the place one has lived in India? I'm assuming it's the former...but the instruction pages were a bit unclear.

I sooke to the mumbai police call center (which is so efficient and helpful) and they also said that the PCC process takes about a month.

If anyone needs more info for getting a PCC from Mumbai, please call 1090; they will give you the info about the DCP office for the area you reside in. And all PCCs are eventually issued by the Commissioner of Police in Crawford Market, Mumbai. I haven't called them yet...but their number is 22620347.

Simran

YOur welcome
without VJ and all those here that helped me along I would be lost on this process.
so i am happy to provide any help i can
vj is undoubtedly a great source of help and info that you cant get anywhere else

did you have to pay for your marriage certificate?
oh goodness! for us that was an issue to get too - the guy kept asking us for documents with SEALS on them. i actually yelled at him one day and threatened to contact the US embassy regarding the matter. We got approved for marriage the next time we went. My husband thinks i scared him.

I think its ok to submit 3.5 even tho you dont have the PCCs.
If you dont turn in 3.5 before say March 1 you could be risking not getting onto the March interview list.
Everyone does do it. I dont think the embassy matches up the date on the PCC and the date you attested you had it. ALthough thats possible - but noone on VJ has reported that happening. Everyone just gets 3.5 in as soon as possible so they can get a interview as soon as possible. We did it. I can let you know tomorrow if its issue (my husbands interview is tomorrow - ohhhhh nervous sigh)

and i dont know about the passport clearances. my guess is only 1. you only have a passport issued from 1 location. so you would only need that from 1 location. you could call the delhi embassy on that if you wanted. or - since getting the passport one is the easiest part, when you are in mumbai to get your PCC from district police just stop by the passport office there and try to get one from them. that might be easier than trying to contact the delhi embassy!

sam

Hi Guys,

[Quick Introduction: My wife is a US Citizen from NY. I'm from Kochi, Kerala, India. We got married a year and a half ago. But we postponed filing because of some personal reasons, and finally decided to start processing]

We are going to Delhi for DCF (filing I-130) Next week.

We have the following things ready
1. Form I-130
2. Birth Cert, Citizenship cert. and US passport of my wife(Copy and Original)
3. FRRO (my wife is on a 5 year visa, and she is in India since June 2005)
4. Marriage Cert. (Copy and Original)
5. G 325 A (four pages) for both of us
6. Passport size photo of both of us.
7. Photographs of our wedding.

Do I need anything else to add to this check list.
And all of you have already done this, so
could you please tell me how you arranegd this pack.
I was wondering if there is a standard way of arranging this documents that all of you have followed.

Please help me with any tips you have for keeping all these handy.

Thank you very much for you help

Dont worry about arranging it in some great order
when you get to the room they give you a piece of paper that tells you how to arrange it, so you jsut end up dissasembling it right there.

dont take multiple copies either. we took 3 copies and handed her tons of papers we thought were important and they just gave them all back to us. they really only kept a few pieces of paper.

they keep photos so take COPIES of photos. we just printed copies on regular paper and that was fine.
take your wedding album with you - they may request to see it.

Even though you have been married a while, i would supply more proof of marriage other than wedding photos. do you have family photos from other events? traveled and have photos? have you done any travel where your passports got stamped together? have anything in both names (bills or memberships.....)

If your wife has worked in India i would take things showing wheres shes been working, just in case.

The embassy website says that you have to show BILLS in the petitioners name. I would have something ready for this. However when i went i had them and they gave me all these back at the window.

The best thing about i130 is that if your missing something you can just go back the next day! and you only have to pay if your approved!

My only real tip to you is to start on your police report ASAP. that was a royal pain to get.

As soon as your I130 approved i would go and drop off the papers at VFS - the begging of the next step. you will get a packet at the window and it will have instructions. if you get this in before the end of the month theres a good chance youll get on the interview schedule for march (ie your stuff will be in when they make the march schedule in mid feb)
its only a few papers you have to submit so its pretty easy.

sam

Thank you so much ManuNSam,
Those tips are really helpful. I really appreciate your taking time to explain all that.

Geophil:
I am sure you know this but just to remind...dont forget the 190 $ fee equivalent cash indian ruppe or USD (pl.check the web site for latest fees and exchang rate to confirm the 190$ etc...)
Sam has already given the excellent feedback...only thing I wanted to mention that since you are from Kochi....your local consulate may be Chennai and they may operate diff than delhi...Sam had to deal with Delhi consulate where they give pack -3 rightaway for ppl who fall under delhi jurisdiction but dont give to ppl who fall to mumbai/chennai area....so check with your local consl...ours is mumbai and mostly chennai is same as mumbai...after you file 130, you get pack 3 from chennai and need to submit back to chennai consl (and may not be VFS ..)...so get in touchwith your local consl after 130 filing....
good luck....
raj

Raj - good catch. I assumed he was going to be going through delhi and didnt think of the other possibilities of being at another consulate.

Geophil - i would find someone that filed i130 that went through the same embassy you will be going through. do a search on VJ and im sure youll find SOMEONE. this way you can ask them about how long it took for them to get the packet from thier consulate.

if you go through delhi and your consulate that will process the visa will be delhi, they give you the packet at the window. However if you file your 1-130 at delhi and the consulate that processes your visa is some other consulate then they dont give you the packet at the window. you will get the packet from your consulate that you will process at. so that might add a month onto the timeline.

sam

Hi Friends,
I have filed I-130 last week, and it all went really smooth.
The lady at the winow just asked for the papers and the photographs. She took some pictures and returned the rest. And that was it. Then she said we will hear from the chennai consulate within 2 months or so ! Any way it was much easier than we expected.
Thank you so much for helping me getting everything in place.

Now I have some questions regarding what next..
What they told us is to wait for the response from Chennai. And as you said, we didnt get the packet 3/3.5(?) from the window.
I guess you had a similar experience. How long did it take for you to get the packet 3?
Did you do some follow up after your filing? if yes, could you please send me the email/phone# for communication?

Regarding afidavit of support, since my wife is not working here in India, we need to get the income of her parents(household members I 864A)
Is it needed for them to notarize the I 864A, since they are sending it from the US?
if she has a bank balance of 16500 USD which is the 125% of the poverty line income, would that be enough? It might be safe to include the income of her parents too right?
I can get an offer letter from the head quarters of my company which is in Washington where I can continue my job in the US. Can I include that in the aphidavit of support?
Since the objective of this is to make sure that I wont be a public charge, An assured job offer would be a possible item to include. So is there a way I can include it?

I really appreciate if anyone could shed more light on these questions.

thank you so much
Geophil,

I have answered it here:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;#entry716642

We got packet 3 from Mumbai instead of Chennai in two weeks, and two weeks later, Mumbai informed us that we should be hearing from Chennai since our place falls under the jurisduction of Chennai and so they are forwarding our case to Chennai.
Then I sent a mail to chennai, saying we already have packet 3 and shall we send it to you..
Today I got a mail from Chennai saying go ahead a send the same packet 3 to Chennai

In the mean time, as Raj and Sam suggested, I approached the Police commisioner to get a PCC. Interestingly, everything was super easy.
First I went to the commisioner office and said I want to have PCC. There were a PRO, and he said I need 2 photos, copy of passport, certificate from the local police station saying that there is no case in my name, and a written application.
Then I went to the police station to get the certificate. The sub inspector gave me a chair to write the application and within 5 minutes I got the certificate from them.
Then I went to the commisioner office back, and then I was told that there will be a varifiaction at my house by a police man. and he came to my house next day, and I got the PCC the day after.
So everything took just about 3 days, and it went real smooth.
I was really impressed by the police dpt of Kochi. I'm not sure if it is the same in other cities of Kerala.