Mumbai Consulate
CR1 Visa Guide
Revised On: August 18, 2005
Version: 1.0.0

Following guide is for information purpose only and is not an official guide by Mumbai Consulate.  It should only be used to guide you through the process and in no way guarantees anything.  Information contained on or made available through this guide is not intended to and does not constitute legal advice, recommendations, mediation or counseling under any circumstance and no attorney-client relationship is formed. Do not act on or rely on any information from this guide without consulting with a licensed attorney as this guide is not a substitute for obtaining appropriate legal advice from a competent, independent legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Moreover, due to the rapidly changing nature of the law and our reliance on information provided by outside sources, this guide makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content of this. 

This guide assumes that all your paper work at National Visa Center (NVC) has been completed successfully and your case has been sent to Mumbai Embassy.

Contact Info:
Consulate General of the United States of America
78, Bhulabhai Desai Road
Mumbai 400 026, India
Phone 1: +912223637407
Phone 2: +912223637408
Fax: (91-22) 2363-0350
Website: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov
E-Mail: MUMBAIIV@state.gov

General Info:
The Immigrant Visa Unit processes visas from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  The Embassy is closed to the public on both U.S. and Indian holidays, and does not see visa applicants on the last Friday of every month.

	How do I know if my case has reached Mumbai Embassy?
•	After NVC has completed your case it takes approximately 2-3 weeks before your case is sent out.  Once you confirm with NVC that your case has been sent to the embassy, it usually takes a week for Mumbai Embassy to acknowledge it.  There are two ways to find out if your case has reached the embassy or not.  
•	E-Mail MUMBAIIV@state.gov.  On your subject line, make you write the NVC case number.  Mumbai Embassy is really good about replying to emails, you should get an answer from the embassy with in 48 hours.
•	Another way to find out is to call Department of State at 202-663-1225 and key in 1-1-0 to speak with an operator.  Give operator the NVC case number and they can look up if your case has reached the embassy or not.

	How can I find out when my interview is?
•	As of August 2005, it is taking approximately 2½ months for the Mumbai Embassy to assign an interview date from date the case has reached the consulate. Here are few ways to know your interview date:
•	E-Mail MUMBAIIV@state.gov.  On your subject line, make you write the NVC case number.  Mumbai Embassy is really good about replying to emails, you should get an answer from the embassy with in 48 hours.
•	Call the embassy at either +912223637407 or +912223637408.  This probably is not the best way to reach the embassy as the lines are constantly busy and the phone calls may get expensive.
•	You can visit the Mumbai Consulate website.  A list for interviews is posted around mid of the month for next month. (e.g. List of August interviews would be posted around 15th of July)
•	When your receive Packet 4 from the consulate, you will have the interview date in there.

	What is Packet 4?
•	You should receive packet 4 approximately a month before your interview date.  If you do not receive this packet, you need to contact the embassy.  If you leave near Mumbai area you can pick up this packet personally at the information window.  Another option is to email the embassy requesting your packet 4; they will send it as an email attachment.  Packet 4 contains following information:
•	Your interview date
•	DS-230 Part I & II
•	Information about scheduling your medical.
•	Required documents for the interview.
•	Click for a copy of Packet 4

	Preparations before the interview.  (Most of the information on Interview preparation is available in packet 4.  Look through this packet thoroughly.)
•	Police Clearance Certificate
•	This can be obtained at your local police commissioner’s office.  Remember, this from your local authorities.
•	Passport Clearance Certificate
•	If your passport is less than 6 months old from the day of the interview, you are not required to get a passport clearance certificate. Otherwise, this can be obtained from your district passport office.  
•	Medical
•	Medical packet says it can take up to three days to complete.  However, in most cases, the medical is done in a single day.  Medical is recommended few days before the interview, not a day before the interview.  This is mainly because, if doctors find that they need to do additional testing, it will give a few extra days and you won’t have to reschedule your interview date.  
•	During the medical you will give be given vaccination shots, tested for HIV, and will have your x-rays taken.  The fees and the hospitals for medical can be found in your packet 4.
•	DS-230
•	Even though you already have submitted DS-230 part I to NVC, packet 4 will contain both DS-230 Part I & II.  You are not required to fill out part I; however, Mumbai Consulate does recommend filling out it again, just incase if there are any changes.
•	DS-230 Part II should be filled out, but do NOT sign the form.  You will be asked to sign the form at the interview.
•	Do I need to take documents already submitted to NVC to the interview?
•	Technically, you do not need to take anything you already have sent to NVC and are accepted.  However, it would be a to your advantage to take a copy of everything that has been sent to NVC, just incase if there was paper missing in the transfer of files.
•	Are there any fees I need to take with me for the interview?
•	If you have paid all your fees to NVC (Affirdative of support fee and Immigrant Visa fee) then you do not have take any fees with you.  Make sure you do take the receipts that state that you have paid your fees.  The embassy will not tell you if your fees have been paid or not and will ask for a draft; just show them the receipt of payments.

	What do I need to prove my relationship with my husband is legitimate?
•	Wedding photographs.  Make sure you have a lot of them.  Photographs should include you and your spouse, both of your families, the actual ceremony pictures. If you have any other pictures such as from your honeymoon, you should take them with you as well.
•	Any greeting cards exchanged between you and your spouse.
•	Phone bills.
•	A Civil Marriage Certificate
•	Anything else that you may think will help prove your relationship.

	List of possible questions at the interview. 
•	 Usually you are not asked these many questions at the interview, but you should be prepared for anyone of the following questions.  This is just an example of questions; you maybe asked any other questions regarding yourself, your spouse, his family, your family, his work, your work, your marriage, etc.

•	Who is calling you to the US?
•	What's his name?
•	Was your marriage arranged or love?
•	Did you speak on the phone? How frequently?
•	How long do you know your Husband (spouse)?
•	How did you meet? 
•	Have you ever been to the US? 
•	When is the last time you have seen your Husband (spouse)? 
•	When will you leave for the US?
•	When did you meet in person?
•	When did your husband propose?
•	What is your husband's birthday?
•	What is your birthday?
•	Does your husband have any brothers and sisters?
•	Do you have any brothers and sisters?
•	Where do your husband's parents live?
•	Where does your husband live?
•	Where was he born?

•	What do you love about your husband?
•	When did you get married?
•	Where did you go for your honeymoon?
•	Have you ever applied for a traveling visa?
•	Where did your husband visit when he was here?
•	Where does he work and what position does he hold?
•	When did he start working there? Or How long has he been working there?
•	How did you meet?
•	Where did you meet the first time?
•	How long have you known each other? 
•	What do you do?
•	Is this your 1st marriage?
•	What does your husband do for a living?
•	When are you going to leave?
•	Have you ever lived in the US?
•	Where does your husband live in the US?
•	What college did he go to?
	Day of the Interview
•	Put all of your necessary documents in a clear bag.  Bag packs, hand bags, etc is not allowed.  You will need your interview letter and a passport to enter the embassy. You should plan to arrive at the embassy around 7:00am.   
•	Step 1: Entering the embassy
•	You will go through a security check before you enter the embassy.  You will need to show your appointment letter and your passport.  Mobile phones or any kind of electronic devices are not allowed!  Only person with assigned interview is allowed to go in, relatives, friends, even your spouse is allowed inside the embassy.
•	Once inside the embassy, wait until your name is called.
•	Step 2: When your name is called…
•	When your name is called, go to that window and give all of your “official” documents to the officer.  At this time, the officer will ask if you need an interpreter.  Once the papers are collected by the officer, you will be asked again to sit and wait.
•	Step 3: The interview…
•	When your name is announced, visit the corresponding window for the interview.  “Don’t be nervous, no one is going to hang you!”  

	After the Interview
•	Successful Interview
•	If you had a successful interview, you will hear the magic words “Welcome to America.”  At this time the officer will take your passport and ask you to come back in the afternoon to pick up your stamped passport.
•	They gave me 221g, what now?
•	Form 221g in most cases means that you had a successful interview, however, there was a document missing or some type of processing that needs to be completed, before they can issue you visas.  
	If document is missing…
•	If a document is missing then it will be marked in your 221g what document is missing.  You will need to take those documents with you again in few days.  Usually the officer will tell you when to return. 
	No documents are missing but it says “Internal Processing”
•	Internal Processing usually means a name check.  It is exactly not known what triggers the name check.  It may be random or it maybe because you have a common name, such as “Patel” or “Shah”
•	Name check usually takes about 3-4 for business days.  In most cases, you will be asked to come back in a week.  For name check, your name and birthday is sent to FBI database for any criminal records.  If your name shows up as green flag, then you are okay.  If a red a flag is found on your name, there maybe more detailed inquiry, delaying your process.
•	To see if the name check has completed or not, you can either email the embassy or call them.

Information on this guide is derived from: 
•	http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/
•	http://www.visajourney.com