lak&ajm

Hi everyone!!

Overall we have been readers more than posters and this site has been fantastic for us!! Today as we got back from a weekend trip we received the approval notice in the mail!!!

We would like to thank everyone who posts on here. Through the years and during the different areas of our journey VJ has made our immigration life much easier.

We also want to congratulate everyone else who has been approved and wish good luck to the rest who are in the process and still waiting. It's a long journey, but it sure is worth it!

Thanks again!!

Lori & Abhay

HI ALL

I have interivew at Mumbai consulate on 25th August.

Share your expericence of IR1/CR1 if any one have..... include what sort of question do they ask in interivew?

Do we need to submit proof of relationship docs to VFS with other documents?

and what ever you think will be helpful to me.

Thanks

Ot the top (under the pictures) click on Reviews: Embassy/USCIS and then in Consulate Reviews click the drop down box, select India and then click on Find Entries. You will find all kinds of reviews, but this should hopefully help.

Or click here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

Good Luck!!

Guys, My spouse missed the packet 4 in mail; which the mumbai consulate sent us couple of weeks back. i did send them an email to send us a duplicate packet 4 and they replied that

"You or someone on your behalf may come to the consulate’s information counter, on any work day, Monday thru Friday, between 09:00 and 11:30 a.m., and pick up a duplicate packet IV."

Now has anybody done this before, have someone else pick up packet 4 on their behalf. Would the above email/BMB Case number be enough for the consulate to dispatch duplicate packet 4. I did send them an email again asking what would be required by somebody picking up packet 4 on my behalf... But no replies.. My spouse wont be able to personally pick up the packet 4. Any ideas ?

Mumbai's web-site is very cool. You can just download the form instead of waiting for them to snail mail it to you. Here is the site: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/ivforms.html

We had difficulties in getting the correct packets (3 &4) - numerous times. Via e-mail from the consulate they really, REALLY recommended downloading.

I have even read some posts where they downloaded Packet 3 early and sent it to the consulate as soon as they knew the consulate had received their application.

Good luck!!

Lori

CONGRATULATIONS!!

It's great to see another approval!!

VISA APPROVED! WE GOT IT!!! WHOOHOOO!!!!

Thanks so much for all your good wishes & prayers!!!

My guy just called now (12:35 AM my time, 1:05 PM India time), he just got out of the Consolute. He said I gotta work tomorrow, I should go to sleep and he has to eat due to having a killer headache from all the waiting. He'll give the details tomorrow he says.

Anyhoots YEA! And OMG I have to rearrange my studio apartment to fit him too!

Will write details afterwards!

Thanks again all!

Everyone remember to go to the Embassy/USCIS Reviews http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/ . Click on India and then read the different reviews. This is an excellent area to use - just also remember to add your review after the interview!!!

Good luck to everyone!!

Lori

From my experience with Mumbai and what I have seen with other people, they have a tendancy to send the wrong information with their packets. I would go ahead and at least download and complete the forms from their web-site. I do think they have a great site - better than most others I have looked at. I am not sure about sending packet 3 - others here may have more experience with that, but I think you have waited quite some time.

In regard to e-mails, when my fiance went for his interview, he was told they get a massive amount of e-mails each day and they try and determine which ones are "important". Ok...I know we all think ours are important, but the main thing is keep it brief, but give enough details so there are no problems understanding what you are asking for. And of course make it sound "important." I was lucky. I did not send too many, and I received a response to all but one of them.

Good luck!

Lori

My I129F was forwarded to Mumbai consulate on Jan 11, 2007. My wife has not received any communication from the Mumbai consulate. I was wondering if its a good idea to download and send 'Packet 3' from the mumbai website and proactively send it in? Also, how long should it take before they contact my wife for an interview. Its been over 3 months already.

thanks for your responses....

key..

Thanks everyone!! And now it's official HE IS HERE!! One long day for both of us - actually longer for him since he has been up for more than 24 hours.....and now it's time for some sleep!!

Thanks again!!

Lori

Hi everyone!! I am now just getting so excited!! My fiance is on his way!! He should be landing in London in approximately 4 hours or so! Then a little layover and on to the States!!!

I have been so hyped this week! It has been 1 1/2 years since we have seen each other - boy is that a long time! Ok...I know some of you have been waiting just as long or maybe even longer - I feel for you, but again I am just so excited!!!

Thanks for everything!! I do not know what I would have done without VJ! It has been a blessing!!!

Lori

P.S. And soon on to AOS....

When you do a rollover, make sure that the brokerage that operated your 401k does not make the check out to you... If they make the check out to you, they have to withold 10% for the penalty fee.. even if you do roll it over...choose where you want the money to go and have them cut you a check that is made out to your new brokerage with your new Rollover IRA account number on it... a lot of the time a brokerage will let you establish a Rollover IRA and give you an account number before you get your old brokerage to cut you a check. This way you can just have your old brokerage wire the money directly to your new brokerage and avoid the 10% penalty...

This is critical and actually is called a Direct Rollover. Be sure to tell your 401k administrator you want to complete a Direct Rollover. You will probably need to set up/complete initial paperwork at whichever financial institution you go to.

And actually if you do not do a Direct Rollover but do a "regular" Rollover instead, your 401k plan will be required to withhold 20% for federal income tax - this is NOT optional. Then to not have to claim this as income on your tax return, you would also need to come up with this dollar amount and roll that into your IRA. And if you are under age 59 1/2 you would also have to pay a 10% IRS penalty tax. I know it sounds crazy, but this is how it works with 401k's and IRAs.

I am sure most people here meant the Direct Rollover process, but probably just did not know the terminology. Your 401k administrator should know this though. And actually they are required to tell you all your options. However I know that in many companies, unfortunately the admin does not always have a clue.

If you have any other questions, please ask them. I work for a bank and in my previous position for about 9 years I was considered the IRA guru and did all the training for our insititution.

Good luck!!

Lori

First off Good Luck to Everyone!! This entire process is enough to drive a person crazy. When I first found VJ I read more than you can ever imagine. I have so many posts as favorites now on my pc it's unbelieveable - but it helps if someone asks a question. I know I saw it once and probably saved it.

One thing to note, please don't hesitate to go to the Embassy/Consulate Reviews http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/ . Click on the applicable country and read what other people have posted. And then don't forget to add your experience.

We went through Mumbai. I have to admit after seeing all of the people on AP and AR, I think we were extremely lucky. We are "against the norm" in India. I am white, older (8 years), Christian and a single parent - and of course he is the opposite of all that. However we have known each other for quite some time since he was in the States for a few years. He ultimately needed to go back and then a little later we started the K1 process.

I have never visited India, but then again that was not necessarily critical in our situation since we had seen each other way more than the one required time.

We were also lucky and unlucky in police certificates. My fiance has a friend who works in the police department and even more lucky he works with police certificates. He was able to get his very quickly. I do agree from what I have seen on here, most places require the interview letter to get the pc's.

He was unlucky in getting the one from the passport office. The instructions on Mumbai's site clearly state one is needed from the passport issuing office and the police. However they did not state what to do in his type of situation. His original passport was issued in Mumbai. The last time he was here in the States, it was going to expire so he went to Chicago to the Indian consulate and had a new one issued. Now the Chicago consulate will issue pc's for Indian's who need it to go to another country, but a pc is not needed from the States when traveling back to the States (does that make sense?). So he could not get a pc from the office (Chicago) who issued his passport. I thought maybe he would still be able to get one from Mumbai since they issued his first one. He contacted the embassy in Mumbai to see what should be done and did not get any clarification other than a pc is required from the passport office that issued the passport - just like their web-site said.

He also checked with the passport office in his hometown. They would not issue him one because they did not issue the passport. They referred him to Mumbai who of course said they would not issue him one because they did not issue the passport - Chicago did. So it seemed like we were in a no-win situation - there was no information or help anywhere.

He took all of his paperwork to the VFS office and again they had no clue about this either. I guess this type of situation does not occur too often. When he got to his interview, they stated they did need this pc and gave him a letter to take to his hometown office. Ultimately the visa was approved upon this last pc being turned in. Again, he was lucky because his friend was able to keep on the passport office to get it completed quickly. As he picked it up, one guy said he had been waiting 45 days for his and my fiance's only took 9 days. I do have to admit, it would have been nice if Mumbai had clearly read the e-mail we sent asking what to do and issued this letter then. He would of been able to have both certificates at the time of his interview.

One of the main things I want to note is to be sure all your paperwork is in order. Make sure the USC's income is at the 125% poverty level or have a co-sponsor who is. And remember if you have a co-sponsor to send an affidavit yourself. I remember one person (I think caagirl) who did not send one for herself and they had to wait until she completed one and got it to the embassy.

We had plenty of evidence of relationship, but none of it was asked for. I sent phone records, chats, e-mails and he took copies (and originals) of cards I had sent. I did not go crazy on this though. Probably one or two e-mails per week, phone records for the past 5 months or so, and a couple of chats. He also had some pictures, but these were all taken while he was here. And he has a wallet-size picture of me and one of my daughter. He did show those.

If you are going to your fiance's country for anything make sure it is clearly documented. Pictures (with dates is great). Be sure to wear many different clothes in these pictures so it does not appear they were set up. If you are having an engagement party, document the guests, make sure you have receipts from the vendors and you may even want to go so far as to have a few of the guests write a short note stating they were at your party. Keep receipts, airline tickets and stuff like that. I don't think for some people you can be too unprepared.

Ok...I have to go now....but I will write more....as you can probably tell by this one I can write and write....but I hope it helps someone.

Again good luck!!

Lori

P.S. And one last positive thing about us - it is now less than one week and he will be HERE!!

Congratulations!! Good luck with the interview!!

Here are some areas to look at.

The first one is the embassy reviews. Just click on India for the country http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php .

This one is the general list of questions here on VJ http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=exampleq .

Oh yeah, here is another one that I found helpful http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=88 . That one is quite long and has an archived link within it, but I don't think that link is accessible anymore.

If these don't help you, let me know. I have saved so many posts as favorites over time I am sure I could post some more. I went through the K1 process, but looked at everything!

Good luck with everything!

Lori

Just curious if there is a list on VJ that has a collection of questions that have been asked at the Mumbai (or other Indian) consulate for K3/IR1 interviews.... looked but couldn't find a good list so far....

If not, was hoping we could build a list here that might be useful.

Best,

/UM

Ok...my fiance is from India not MENA and does have excellent reception. However it is quite expensive for him to call me. What we have done, when he wants to talk to me is he calls me, but hangs up before it goes into my voicemail (and I do not pick up). We call these "missed calls". I then call him back with my much lower rate and we get to talk. He gets free time as long as they are received and not dialed calls.

This works for us and I thought maybe it might work for some of you. Although I will admit many times he does not call enough....or respond to e-mails enough...... MEN!!

Lori

Twice a week? How bout never? Is never good for you?

Quite honestly I told him never to call me. It costs him approx $2/minute or so to call and it sucks up all his phone $$ so 1 phone call means that I don't get my 5 or 6 texts per day. I'd rather get the texts and then talk for free at night via the net. When I do call him it's only about .21/minute so I just don't think it is fair of me to ask him to call, especially given the exchange rate. That's just me though.

CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME TO AMERICA!!!!

Your interview experience is very similiar to my fiance's - at least for questions asked and showing some pictures. They did not ask to see any of evidence of relationship, but he had some with him.

Again CONGRATS!!

Lori

Have a great trip and a great time!!!

Well, my tax refund was deposited to my account yesterday morning, by noon I was on the phone with Tashi the travel agent.... It's amazing, I got just the travel dates I wanted and the fare was actually less than my refund even though I am staying for 5 days in Bangkok on the way back to the US, usually booking a flight to Nepal is much more complicated as some airlines fly there only once a week.

So, (cue Bob Seger), I think I'm going to Kathmandu!!!!

On May 17th at 12:45PM I will be back with my Maya!!!! Woohoo!!!!

We went through Mumbai. Here is what we had notarized:

I-134 Affidavit of Support

Employment Letter

Bank Letter

We also had letters of support from family notarized - my mom and daughter and his parents. These were not asked for, but we are "against the norm" in India and since we had family support on both sides, I wanted to be prepared at the interview if there were any problems. Thank goodness there were none!

I did not have tax returns, birth certificate or anything else like that notarized. All a notary does is state they identified the signer as that person. They do not state anything in the document is correct so I did not feel the need to have anything like that notarized.

Good luck!!

Lori

I'm nearly ready to send all the docs to India for the interview and was reading up on what docs need to be notarized. Some posts say only the I-134 Affidavit of Support but other posts mention requiring the USC to notarize their tax returns, copy of their birth certificate, copy of passport, etc! (Depending upon the Embassy.)

My wonderful bank B of A said they only notarize “official bank documents” so I had an acquaintance notarize my I-134. I don’t want to bother her again with a stack of other things to notarize, if not necessary!

Would be grateful to hear from those who went through the interview in India – what is required and whether there were any complaints about non-notarized docs. (Chennai and Mumbai Consulate sites don’t mention anything about notarizing other docs.) Thanks!

Directly from Mumbai's web-site: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/interview_appt_schedule.html

Immigrant Visas

Immigrant Visa Appointment Schedule

We post the immigrant visa appointment schedule for the current month by approximately the 15th of the previous month. Simply click on one of the links below. If you do not find your case now, please check back after we have posted the next month's appointments.

Please keep in mind, the 15th is just their general guidline. When we were checking they were not posted until the 17th, 18th, 19th....

Lori

hey does anybody know how often the dates on the interview postings on mumbais web site are updated?

thanks everyone in advance

Here is a link to a topic I used as reference back while I was waiting http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...l=tracking++nvc . The main thing is you will not necessarily know the date it was sent, but you can possibly get a close idea. Believe me I tracked and tracked and tracked!! Ours was sent very quickly and received just a few days later - note my signature.

Throughout this link there is some good information as to the type of petition and what to use with DHL. Ultimately it is a guessing game, but think positive thoughts that it will get there quickly!

Good luck!!

Lori

NVC has approved my case.. it's on the way to Mumbai shortly. Does anyone know how long it takes for Mumbai to receive my case?

Thanks

\

You can track your package at dhl.com, just type in search by correspondance with the nvc area code and it will show you all the packeges sent out from NVC, then you can see your package going to mumbai ( you need to know the date NVC mailed it to Mumbai)

NVC has completed my case.. it'll be on it's way to mumbai shortly!

Congratulations!! Kick up your heels and dance!! Oh...I see you have been doing that already!!

Lori

I was also wondering whether they would take all paperwork at the VFS and wondering if my fiance still needed copies of everything he gives there. Sounds like they pick out the most important docs and the rest is returned, to be taken in person to the interview. The fast interview dates given are all the more reason to have all paperwork ready by the time the file gets to Chennai from the NVC. I'm nearly done, only bank letter & signed I-134 to go! (And our case hasn't even arrived at the NVC yet!)

I just spoke with my fiancé about this - someone else had asked me what the VFS office takes. It is only the forms that are completed, DS-156. DS-156k, etc., medical report, PCCs. They did not want to see any evidence of relationship stuff.

I don't know if copies are still needed, but I told him to make copies (and I assume he did).

I don't know how fast interview dates are normally given. I specifically e-mailed Mumbai about ours when the December schedule came out. I thought we should have had an appointment scheduled and it wasn't. When they scheduled it and e-mailed both of us with the date, he only had 5 days to get things completed (like his medical) and turned in at VFS. He scrambled a bit, but got everything done. Thank goodness we were organized about this and downloaded packet 4 from their web-site prior.

Good Luck!

Lori

Thanks, Lori. Unfortunately we did not know about this and top of that, this package from the consulate was sent only 11 days before the interview and we are left scrambling at the last minute.

Thank you for your kind help.

I can totally relate. We received an e-mail from Mumbai on Nov 27 stating his interview was scheduled for December 18th. That sounds like quite a bit of time, but was actually only 5 days before everything was due. He got everything completed though, but boy did he have to scramble to get it done.

I wish this was something that was noted to people more when they send out Packet 3 - but I guess that would make too much sense!

Good Luck!!

Lori

Yes this is true. Here is a link with the announcement for Chennai: http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/prind060504a.html

And here is the pertinent information from that link.

The new system will allow immigrant visa applicants to turn in required documents at three convenient VFS locations in Jalandhar, Chandigarh and New Delhi prior to the date of their visa interview. Beginning May 1, 2006, immigrant visa applicants must appear at the U.S. Embassy only on the day of their interview. In addition, the new VFS agreement will expedite immigrant visa processing procedures on the day of an applicant’s interview.

Under the new system, all immigrant visa applicants scheduled for interview on or after May 1, 2006, should submit their completed Packet-4, “Information for Immigrant Visa Applicants,” documents at their nearest VFS office (list of offices given below). The documents along with a photocopy of each applicant’s passport must be submitted at a VFS office no earlier than 15 working days and no less than 10 days prior to the scheduled interview date. VFS will provide a receipt for all documents left at its offices and place a bar code sticker on the original passport. The fee for this service is Rs. 337/- for each applicant.

And the most important part of this is the paperwork must be turned in to the VFS office NO EARLIER than 15 working days AND NO LESS than 10 working days and don't forget the holidays.

Although to my understanding if not everything is complete such as the medical that can be turned in at the interview. In Mumbai, my fiance took everything with him - evidence of relationship, etc., but I think they did not take everything - only the "official" paperwork - DS-156, medical, etc. He took everything else to the interview.

Lori

Hi,

I was under the impression the K3 applicant must carry along all the paperwork with him/her for the interview at the consulate. By paperwork, I mean ALL the required documents like the DS-156, I-134, Photos, Proof of relationship, and so on and everything else.

HOWEVER, the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) in Chennai asked my wife to submit all the documents to THEM!!! Is that how it is supposed to work??

What should we do now? Kindly please help!! We are dangerously close to the deadline!!!

Thanks.

Sorry for reposting this in another forum, we desperately need some help.

Ok...things changed....his travel agent thought he said May not March and completely messed up the travel arrangements.....I won't go into details about how ticked off he was......well it got fixed (not by the same agent thank goodness!!) but instead of March 11th I have to wait until March 16th....but that is only 5 more days....I think I can live with that - especially compared to May 11th!!

Hi Everyone!!

I just got the great news that my fiance will be traveling on March 11th!! It has been so long.....but now at least I have a date to focus on! It's only 28 days away and there is just so much to do!!! I hope I can get it all done! But then he won't care whether it is all done or not - he (and I) will just be happy he's here!

Thanks!!

Lori

I have enjoyed reading these and the ones in "Just for the Women" so much. My fiancé has been sending me this kind of stuff lately and I thought I would share. Believe me though I have been sending stuff right back - mostly from "Just for the Women"

Enjoy!

Lori

GIRLS ARE COMPLEX CREATURES

If you kiss her, you are not a gentleman

If you don't, you are not a man

If you praise her, she thinks you are lying

If you don't, you are good for nothing

If you agree to all her likes, you are a wimp

If you don't, you are not understanding

If you visit her often, she thinks it is boring

If you don't, she accuses you of double-crossing

If you are well dressed, she says you are a playboy

If you don't, you are a dull boy

If you are jealous, she says it's bad

If you aren't, she thinks you do not love her

If you attempt a romance, she says you didn't respect her

If you don't, she thinks you do not like her

If you are a minute late, she complains it's hard to wait

If she is late, she says that's a girl's way

If you visit another man, you're not putting in "quality time"

If she is visited by another woman, "oh it's natural, we are girls"

If you kiss her once in a while, she professes you are cold

If you kiss her often, she yells that you are taking advantage

If you stare at another woman, she accuses you of flirting

If she is stared at by other men, she says that they are just admiring

If you talk, she wants you to listen

If you listen, she wants you to talk

In short:

So simple, yet so complex

So weak, yet so powerful

So confusing, yet so desirable

That's a Woman For You...

--------------------------------------------

March is the month in which Albert Einstein's was born. He was born March 14, 1879.

Few remember that the great scientist married his cousin, Elsa Lowenthal, after his first marriage dissolved in 1919.

Einstein stated that he was attracted to Elsa because she was well endowed. He postulated that if you are attracted to women with large breasts, the attraction is stronger if there is a DNA connection.

This came to be known as Einstein's Theory of Relative Titty.

Yes that is the correct answer.

Lori

Ok...So, I know that questions about I-134 are extremely boring to you guys...but please help me out on this one. On the question that ask if I intend or don't intend to make specific contributions to support blah blah blah...I saw the example here on visa journey and it says to put N/A K1 visa process for permanent residence...Is that really the correct answer?...can someone please help me out on this one? Thanks...alicia