Hi,
Does anyone know at what stage the fingerprints are done? We're just trying to get our ducks in a row and make sure all bases are covered before hubby's interview next month. His paperwork in packet four gives instructions for the medical and the pics he needs as well as the documents which need to be submitted at VFS but nothing about fingerprints which I thought needed to be done before hand.


Also I know this varies according to embassy but I read some posts which say that if the CO keeps the passport at the end of the interview that it is an indication that the visa has been approved. However, I'm reading some posts today that say sometimes a passport is mailed back with no visa stamp. Now I'm totally confused.

So if anyone who has been approved lately can provide some insight on how your approval process went, it would be greatly appreciated.

They take fingerprints the day of his interview. if the USICS need full set of fingerprints
you will not know until long after the interview. which then the embassy will call your husband or send a letter. in our case the embassy called my husband.

In Chennai it happens at the time of the interview.
There is a fingerprint scanner at the counter, and while doing the interview they will ask to put your fingers in it.
The only entertainment in the interview hall is a video showing how to put your fingers in the scanner. We need to wait many hours and seeing the same video(hardly 5 mins long) over and over again will make us sick of the idea of fingerprints once the inverview is over.

So the process of approval is not very complicated. As mentioned in the packet 4 letter, be there at the interview(read my post for a latest chennai experience) and you are done. Visa will be sent to you via Blue dart within a week.

Usually when the Embassy keeps the passport, it means it will be returned by courier in a few days with the visa stamp. However I keep reading (regarding a number of Consulates, including those in India) that yes, sometimes it happens that the passport is returned with no visa stamp. My fiance was completely confident but I was on edge until he got the passport back with the visa stamp! Nothing is sure until then!

I have heard of a number of cases where the people were told the interview was a success, but later they got the A/P letter and passport with no visa stamp. Maybe after the interview some more security checks are done and if they need more time, the case goes on A/P.

Wow That's not good news. How long did it take for your hubby to receive his passport back? I'm trying to decide if I'm going to fly over for the interview and stay a couple of days afterward in case we can fly home together afterward. However, I was just there April 24-May3 so I'm not so excited about making the journey back so soon. It's so taxing physically to go back and forth as often as I have but I also miss my hubby and try to see him as often as I can. I can't wait until this journey is over. I'm having anxiety attacks like crazy now.

My fiance had his interview on Friday the 13th (April) and got his passport back by courier on Tuesday the 17th April. The visa date is stamped April 16th.

Wishing you two the best of luck!