Janani S

Hi Everyone!
Posting my Visa Journey experience.
We flew to Delhi to file the I130 on April 4th 2013.
We took a 9 AM appointment to file the i-130. It is not manditory, but we had just one day, and we wanted to make sure we finished it.
We were there by 8:45. The guard made us stand in the normal immigration line even though I told him I was an american citizen. Then a white lady with her kid came and they were taken in seperately. I called the guard, showed him my passport, and then he let us in.
We were made to sit in the reception till 9, and then were escorted to the DHS room, which is smaller and was completely empty. A lady asked us what we were there for. We told her that we were there to file for the i130. She asked me how long I had been in India, and I replied 15 years. She said that her colleague would help us with it.
We waited.... I think about half an hour. Then her colleague came, asked us what we were there for, and then told us to keep our documents ready and she would be right back (which was another half hour). We showed her all the documents.
For documents we had taken:
1. Passports + OCI card + Birth certificates + 2 copies
2. Marriage certificate + copies
3. Wedding invitations from both sides
4. Our original wedding and reception albums
5. A seperate album with important photos from the wedding, reception, and trips that we had taken post marriage, and causal photos with both sides of the family, printed specifically to submit for evidence.
6. My indian tax returns of the last 3 years,
7. My work experience certificates and joining letters
8. Payslips of the last 6 months
9 i130 form and 2 copies of G325a
She told us how to arrange the docs, did not look at the original albums, removed half of my work documents, took one of the wedding cards, and then looked at our printed album.
She then said that we looked really good together and that she wanted to show the album to all of her colleagues, and disappeared for half an hour again She came back, took 2 photos out of the album, pinned it to the application and told me to pay the fees.
I paid the fees, gave her the receipt, and she gave a form with contact information and said we would hear in 4-8 weeks.
3 weeks later I wrote to them asking for the status, and they replied (on April 24th) saying that it had been processed and sent to mumbai the previous week.
I waited 3 days and started mailing the vfs (support-india@ustraveldocs.com) to get my case number. I had also previously sent a mail to the NVC as I has assumed that they would have my case. (Which I found out that they didn't when Delhi got back to me). They(the VFS) sent me a bunch of random replies - sayign that I shoudl contact the NVC, and Delhi, and I sent them the replies that I got from both of them, and finally they replied that they had no record of my case and I should send them the case number, which was why I was mailing them in the first place! Absolutely useless they are!
On May 9th I received a letter from the Mumbai Consulate, dated April 26, saying that the interview was scheduled for the 24th of May and that all documents should be brought. That was it.
No NOA, no Packet 3/ Packet 4. Just the application and the interview date. So in 2 weeks I had to get all my documents ready!
The part I was most worried about was the Proof of Domicile - that a lot of DCF filers have a problem with. I had planned to be in the US by the time my husband's interview date came around, but it happened too quickly for that!
For Proof of Domicile I had the following:
1. One way flight ticket to the US
2. Resignation letter
3. Emails from recruiters and companies with interviews scheduled
4. Letter from cousin stating that my husband and i woudlbe living with them when we got there as well as his(my cousin's) lease agreement
5. Quote from movers
6. Letter from the city of Waltham (where I used to live) stating that I have voted in the last 2 federal elections
7. The certified mail receipts to prove that I filed late taxes.
8. Proof of opening a US bank account - couldn't get a statement as it had been less than a month since I opened the account, but I had some communication and screenshots of my internet banking page.
For Proof of Relationship, we had
1. Album that we had taken to delhi with a few more photos added. (not the original weddign albums - that was left at home this time)
2. Wedding invitations
3. Greeting cards from friends and family addressed to both of us
4. Lease agreement in Suresh's name and gas connection in my name and at the same address
5. Insurance records, where we are both covered under the other's policy
6. Letters and mail addressed to both of us at our present address
7. Printouts of google chats/emails of correspondence
8. Phone records with our numbers marked
9. Credit card and bank statements where we are joint account holders
My huband reached the consulate at 6 am on the 24th of May. He waited for about half an hour and then was told to submit documents and fingerprinting at the vfs counter. When he submitted, we were missing 1 document - the printout from the vfs page which said where the passport was to be picked up (my oversight - I didn't know that it was needed). Due to that he had to wait till all other immigration visa interviews were over till he went.
The vfs people looked at all docs, and told my husband to just give the applications, and to not give any proof unless asked for.
When his interview finally came up (the 4 people before him had about 45 min interviews and ended up with white slips) it lasted all of 5 mins. They took the DS 2001, DS 230 part 1, asked him to sign part 2, took the affidavits of support (Mine and a joint sponsor - my cousin). Asked for wedding photos, and a few questions about the ceremony "Why are you holding a coconut", and "Why is he wearing a white thread". Also how long we have known each other, and what he plans on doing when he gets to the US.
Then he smiled and said it was approved and he can collect his visa in 4 working days in Bangalore. They did not ask, nor look at the domicile proof, though very clearly in my petition I was in India!
A lot of people have written here about how it took so long to get their interview dates, I was not expecting it to come this fast! While this may have been a rare case (I'm not sure). So I decided to post it here so that next time someone files, they know that they can get a green card in less than 2 months! For us it took just 50 days.
All the best to whoever is reading this! And hope there is enough information - even though it is really long!

Thanks a lot for this write-up and for the link for the form. It really helped me plan my visit better.
I woke up this morning and decided I would follow approach one to get my PCC. The reason I used this approach was because I would not be able track the application status if I went through the police commissioner's office.
Here are the steps I followed
1) Filled the form online and took a print of the ARN generated receipt
2) Went to the Lalbagh PSK at around 9.40 (There is a very neat parking area next to the office for both cars and motorcycles)
3) Got the Walk-in token number and went in.
4) I was out at 11.30 with 2 letters of PCC signed and stamped by the APO( Assistant Passport officer - Nice lady)
I am shocked(rather pleasantly surprised) at the efficiency with which the whole thing was done, no over crowding, no need to know somebody, nothing.All they asked me was for my old passport to verify if the details were correct.
I read somewhere that if your address is the same as on the passport and that the passport was issued in Bangalore, you will get the letter then and there. This is now confirmed true
I would highly recommend going through the PSK rather than the police commissioner's office as the cops I have dealt with , in my locality, are a***s !
Hope everyone experiences the same efficiency I did.
All the best !