MUMBAI CONSULATE IR 1 INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE MARCH 2015

[nirshd47 10]

I would like to start by thanking all the people on Visa journey for your guidance and suggestions. Without you my visa journey wouldn't have been complete. I made it a point to write this review for all those people who are still waiting at some stage on their visa journey, to reach the stage of interview and hear the 3 magic words YOUR VISA IS APPROVED. It is the successful visa stories of other members on this forum and their reviews that kept me going and boosted my moral, confidence and strength. Thats why i know how important it is to write a review of my interview on vj for others. And of course my lovely wife who has been with me throughout this rigorous journey of test and mental agony, without you my life is incomplete.

Before i start the review, i would want you people to know a little about my situation. Im a doctor,aged 33, neither me or my wife have been married before. She is a year younger to me and is the petitioner. We have known each other since 8 years, have been married since almost 3 years and have been living together since over 2 years now in India. This is an inter-faith marriage, with her family still in denial of our marriage.

This is how my day went by at the Mumbai US consulate.

1) My wife and I reached the consulate at 7am. My interview time was 7.30am. We stood in line outside, my interview letter was checked and we were let in. Electronic devices and CDs(including X ray CD) are not allowed inside. You can carry cash and eatables along with you as you might have to wait a long time until your interview actually starts.

2) Once Inside the consulate, we were asked to go a window where we were given a token number. After receiving the token, we were asked to wait in a sitting area until our token number is called out. In about 15 mins my token number flashed on the screen. I went to the first window where an Indian lady took my PCC, medical report , DS 230 confirmation page stamped by the VAC during bio metrics and my marriage certificate. She started asking a few general questions like Who is calling me to the US? Who is the sponsor ? Where do u plan to live ? Where do you reside in India ? Which countries have i visited till date ? Where do i want my passport to be delivered if i get a visa approval ? and then i was handed a paper describing domestic violence and what i have to do if i get in that situation in the US. She also handed me some of my chats and documents which we had sent in to the USCIS and NVC. She then asked me to wait for my interview with the Case officer.

3)By now it was 7.45am. We waited and waited and waited. People behind me in the line had their interview done and had left .Only a few family visa applicants were remaining.

4)It had been almost three hours now and my token number flashed on the screen. It was time for my interview. My wife and I went up to the window. The Case officer was a young white guy in his late 20s, very polite and looked like a very nice person. Then the conversation went as follows.

ME: Good morning. How are you doing ?

CO: I'm fine. How are you doing today ? OH i see you are with your wife. Is she the petitioner ?

WIFE : Yes, im the petitioner.

CO asking my wife: Did you come for the interview from the US ?

WIFE : I live with my husband in India since over 2 years now.

CO : Thats nice. So how did you guys meet(qns for me ) ?

ME : Answered.(CO keeps looking in the computer and papers that he has of ours. He wasnt even listening to my answers. It seemed like he was asking qns just to make time pass by and that he had already made his decision before the interview had started )

CO : How long have you guys been married ?

ME : Answered.

CO : Where did you guys get married ?

ME : Answered ( He still keeps looking in his computer , typing something every now and then , isn't paying attention to my answers )

Then he pauses and says

CO : OHHH, this is an interfaith marriage ? Is it a love marriage ?

ME : I said Yes it is.

CO to my wife : So how do your parents feel about this ?

WIFE : Answers.( Now CO is paying attention completely )

CO to ME : Who attended the marriage from your wife side of the family and who attended from your side of the family ? Did you ever meet any of her family members and how did it go ?

ME : Answered all the qns .( My wife parents are not happy with our marriage. I have met my mother in law though )

CO to ME: How does your family members feel about your wife ?

ME : Answered.

CO is still looking in his computer and typing. He then stops and starts going through my civil documents and the sponsors tax papers.

CO to my wife : Who is the joint sponsor ?

WIFE: Answers

CO to ME: Did you read the paper about domestic violence from the first window ?

ME: I read a little of it.

CO : Explain to me about what you read .

ME : Its about domestic violence. If i get harassed in any way by my wife or in laws i can approach certain organisations that can help me.

CO : Do you have any close or far distant relatives from your side of the family in the US ?

ME : No.

CO(looking straight into my eyes) : Yes sir. You do not have to be in an abusive relationship. If something goes wrong, if you are harassed by your in laws in any way, contact the numbers on the particular paper and you will be guided properly. That doesn't mean you loose your immigration status.You can keep your immigration status with you and still get out of an abusive relationship. Do you understand ?

ME : Yes sir.

CO : Well ,then Sir ,YOUR VISA IS APPROVED.

ME & my WIFE : Thank you so much Sir.

CO( gives a white slip) : You have to pay 165$ as Green card fee. Details of how to make payment is in the paper i gave you now. You will get your passport by mail. You will be updated by sms and email on that.

ME : Thank you so much Sir.

CO : Have a good day.

ME ( i waved TA TA bye to the CO. He smiles and waves back)

CO didn't even ask for any evidence from us .We had about 4-5 bags of evidence, documents etc.

The whole interview lasted for 7-8 mins total. Came home and checked the visa status online says ISSUED

Be confident. Answer properly and the most important point is stick to the truth. Seems like CO makes the decision about your case prior to the interview. Im sure the CO must be studying his cases few days before the interview ,so the CO gets an idea on whether to approve or dissapprove at the time of interview.

Best of luck to all the VJ members. I hope everyone gets their visa asap so they can begin their lives with their loved ones. My Visa journey has finished here and my new life journey is about to start soon. Wish me all the luck . Thank you for your support once again.

Please feel free to ask any qns if you have one. I will answer them if im able to.

Thank you

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[S_R 148]

Congrats! See you on the sunny side.

[KAR_SAT 20]

wow!! Great story...Happy for u..

Didnt know the petitioner can attend the interview with you...Did you make any special appointment for your wife?I wish I could do that too..I m waiting for my case to complete. Don't worry about your inlaw side..You will get back together..Happy journey!! Best of Luck..

[KierenHby 897]

Wondering the same.. Mumbai consulate allows in the USC petitioner? I've read otherwise, curious..

Congrats on your approval!

[nirshd47 10]

wow!! Great story...Happy for u..

Didnt know the petitioner can attend the interview with you...Did you make any special appointment for your wife?I wish I could do that too..I m waiting for my case to complete. Don't worry about your inlaw side..You will get back together..Happy journey!! Best of Luck..

Thank you. The petitioner can attend the interview with the beneficiary. No special arrangements have to be made. American citizens can walk into any US embassy/consulate without prior appointment. Just make sure to carry your American passport during the interview.

[nirshd47 10]

Wondering the same.. Mumbai consulate allows in the USC petitioner? I've read otherwise, curious..

Congrats on your approval![/

Thank you. American citizens can walk into any US embassy/consulate with the beneficiary. Make sure to carry your American passport

Congrats! See you on the sunny side.

Thanks?

[KAR_SAT 20]

Awhh!!! Thank you... I wish I can go with my hubby..Lets see..

[rony.rude 3]

Thank you sharing your story, useful insight.

[indy.kaur 8]

Congrats to you n your wife!!! Thanks alot for the detailed review helps us to know what we can expect on the interview day

[egroeg 66]

NiRshd what financial documents did they ask you ? Did you carry your most recent tax returns along with you ?

[spousewaitingvisa 39]

Congratulations!! Have fun on your trip to the US!

[nirshd47 10]

Thank you sharing your story, useful insight.

Thank you ?

[nirshd47 10]

NiRshd what financial documents did they ask you ? Did you carry your most recent tax returns along with you ?

You HAVE to carry the sponsors or joint sponsors latest tax returns & W2 at the interview. It is compulsory. If your interview is on or after 1st April 2015 then your latest returns is 2014 tax returns & W2.

The CO didn't ask for my sponsors tax returns but I had submitted it at the NVC. I took a copy of it with me too. I did see him going through it during my interview.

Best of luck to you.

Congratulations!! Have fun on your trip to the US!

Thanks ?

[egroeg 66]

I appreciate the speedy response ,well carry our 2014 tax returns as well