geophil

New Green Card arrived yesterday!!!

I got the status update alert from USCIS a week ago, and I was surprised to see it so quick after the finger print appointment.

So it took a total of 8 months for the whole condition lifting process. And out of it 6 months were waiting for the finger print appointment.

Everything seemed like normal. So dont be suprised if anyone experience an unusual delay in finger print appointment. Contact them, and as I gather from other experiences, it wouldnt take more than a couple of months to get the card once your finger prints are taken.

Okay, my fingerprint appointment was today. It was interesting. They took the image of all the fingers twice.

Anyway, what I wanted to mention is, I got another letter yesterday in response to the call I made a few weeks ago.

The letter mentioned that an appointment has been sent already and the process is on hold till the biometrics are taken. And a copy of the appointment for today was enclosed in it.

That implies that the appointment I got earlier was part of the normal process. I was under the impression that I got a really quick response for the appointment because of my call.

But the fact, I assume, was that it took a really long time for them to send the appointment. Yes it took over 6 months.

And apparently my call was processed right after they sent the appointment.

This should be useful information to those who are waiting for the biometric appointment. It may not be totally unusual to wait a few months to get the appointment.

But always to be on the safer side, it is better to give them a call if a few months are passed without the appointment.

Hopefully the rest of the process would go smooth.

Thanks again for the support of friends here.

Thanks everyone for the support. Few days ago I got the biometric appointment. It is scheduled for Dec 2.

It took only about 2 weeks since I logged the case. So that was a quick turn around.

Hopefully everything will go fine. Will update more as soon as the appointment is done.

Thanks again for all the replies.

Well, I've been in the same place same address, never got a response from them. And the person assisted me couldnt pull up my information based on the reciept number of the NOA. So they couldnt find out if there was a schedule made already or not. But I assume they never did, because I never got any appointment for biometrics. So they said they have the case and call back if I dont get an appointment for biometrics in the next 30 days or so

Thanks for the response

It is in California service center. Is it a good idea to call them again, or would it make a difference? Or should I followup using a letter? Since they asked me to wait for another 30 days?

Thanks very much for the suggestion, I posted it again in Removing condition general discussion area.

I sent the I-751 package to remove condition and got the receipt notice of I-751 about 6 months ago, and didnt get the biometric appointment yet.

I used the receipt number to get the status, and the automated telephone system couldnt pull up the information with that reciept number.

I called the USCIS today and filed a case, and the person said it might happen time to time, and said based on this case they should send the schedule/appointment in the next 30 days or so.

I was under the impression that it might be a long process, but looking at the timelines of fellow VJ'ers it appears that it usually takes only a month or two. I should've checked the timelines earlier.

Now I am worried if this is going to be a painful process to followup.

Anybody experienced similar unusually long delays for the Biometric appointment?

Thanks in advance for any helpful information

I sent the I-751 package to remove condition and got the receipt notice of I-751 about 6 months ago, and didnt get the biometric appointment yet.

I used the receipt number to get the status, and the automated telephone system couldnt pull up the information with that reciept number.

I called the USCIS today and filed a case, and the person said it might happen time to time, and as a result of this case they should send the schedule/appointment in the next 30 days or so.

I was under the impression that it might be a long process, but looking at the timelines of fellow VJ'ers it appears that it takes a month or two. I should've checked the timelines earlier.

Now I am worried if this is going to be a painful process to followup.

Anybody experienced similar unusually long delays for the Biometric appointment?

Thanks in advance for any helpful information

Did you get the NOA/ reciept for I-175?

I got this about 6 months ago and didnt get the biometric appointment yet. I wasnt sure how long does it take to get the appointment. Apparently It would take only a month or two.

I should've checked with folks here before.

But its over 6 months for me. I called them today, and filed a case. The representative talked to me said I should get the appointment in 6 months.

Anybody experienced such a long delay (6 months or more to get the biometric appointment)?

We are in the process of getting a good ticket deal to New York and we will be moving by the middle of July.

I remember putting somewhere in the forms during the visa processing(CR-1) that the POE would be JFK.

But now we got a good deal to Newark, and I was wondering if we can chose the POE as we want.

anybody has a clear idea on this? can I get that ticket and use Newark as the POE?

Please help

All the best for the upcoming interview... and everything will be alright for you...

Think about the majority of them who are not doing research as much as you do... and you are much prepared than most of them...

I Used DHL and I am so far satisfied with their service. Its a bit expensive compared to some other services. But we dont want to take a chance when we cant afford losing it by any chance.

Recently it seems they are in the process of merging with bluedart. That means it has a wider service network, which was an added reason for me to use their service.

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.

Lesley, I'm not sure how exactly your process is going on, because it seems a little different than mine.

But I would suggest to send an email asking them whether you need to send the packet 3 they sent. This may not be needed. But since the CASE NUMBER is assigned to you in it, probably it would be good to confirm as soon as possible. They should be able to associate the packet you sent with your already assigned case number.

Congratulations and wishing you all the best on your interview. I've been following your posts and noticed you're also from kerala. I'm now in the US, and my husband is in kerala. We filed the I-130 in delhi 2 weeks ago and were handed the packet 3.5 there itself. I'm really confused about what to do now, though. The packet included the checklist, ds-230 part 1 only (part 2 was missing?) and ds2001 and the I-864 forms. What do I send off to VFS? Only ds230 part 1 and ds 2001? Or do they want copies or originals of all the documents listed in the checklist as well as the I-864 forms? Sometimes in my searches on this site it seems like everything is only required to be submitted with packet 4 for the interview. PLease let me know, as I know you will have a clearer idea.

Lesley

Hi Lesley,

Sorry it took so long to reply.

In my case, we didnt get packet 3.5 from the window. I assume that you got it because you are going through the Delhi consulate itself for further processing. We were going through Chennai since our place belongs to the jurisdiction of Chennai. But I gather from other posts like "manunsam", that for those who are gonig through Delhi they will give 3.5 at the window.

We got packet 3 from the consulate by snail mail and we sent it to chennai consulate by courier. But in your case I believe 3.5 should be sent to VFS.

So ideally, all you have to care about is the checklist given in the packet.

DS230 part 2 will be given only with packet 4.

Along with packet 3/3.5 they dont want any originals. Just photocopies would be enough. And packet 4 needs all originals and copies. Originals will be given back to you at the time of interview.

You will have to submit many of the papers with packet 4 also, like DS230 part 1 and 2 etc. Dont be confused with that. they need the same papers over and over again.

So for packet 3.5 just give them what is given in the ckecklist.

please post your questions if you still have some..

Others in the forum also might want to respond to it.

Thanks guys,

Congratulations!

Have a quick question regarding the $380 DD. Did you not pay that at the NVC since you are doing a CR1 visa?

Why did you have to pay for it again?

devblt,

we were trying the DCF rout(US citizen resident in India can walk-in to the Delhi embassy and file I-130), so it was not through NVC. That means we have to pay $380 at the time of the interview.

Hello friends ...

YESS... WE GOT IT !!!!

Thank you so much for all the encouragement

my very detailed experience is posted here :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=67226

Yes we got it

This long story is primarily meant for those who are going through Chennai consulate.

If you are on the way in your journey, I know how much you want to see the experiences with all the details.

For the May 3rd interview we (my wife and I) reached there on April 30. May 1st was a holiday, and so we wanted to get the medical done on April 30th itself.

So early in the morning of 30th we went to the Lister lab which is on the other end of Nungambakkam high road(Consulate is on one end of the same road). Reached there at 7:30 filled up the form with photo and gave them. they finished taking blood sample and xray in about 30 minutes. It was real quick because there were a huge crowd of people. I think for UK visa also they do the tests in the same lab. We were asked to get the report by 4:30 in the evening. We went back, collected the report, went to see the doctor.

Dr. Sanjan John has his clinic not very far away from the lab. So we can get a rickshaw or something and reach there in 10 minutes. We waited there for some time and everything was perfectly alright. He filled up the form and said we can keep the photocopy if we want, and give the original set of papers to the consulate guys. Then he said I need to get a couple vaccines and got the shots. He charged some 4000 rupees for all that. I dont know if this is the normal fee..

We will get the xray film from the lab, we should take it to the doctor, of course, but we don’t need that anymore. I saw many people coming to the consulate for interview with Xrays in their hand. We don’t need the xray for the interview. So if you don’t want to use it for further reference, you can by all means put the xray in a dust bin soon after the doctor appointment.

So we got the whole medical done in a single day.

Then on May 3rd: Our appointment was at 8:00 am. And we reached there at 7:45(no use for getting there early). By the way, we stayed in a hotel nearby called Renjit. Consulate is only in a walkable distance from the hotel. We had our wedding album and other papers like the medical report etc. with us.

No CD, cell phone, cosmetics, bottles or sealed envelopes are allowed to be taken inside(though all that is not specifically listed in the letter). We left everything in the hotel except my wife had her waterbottle and some cosmetics. US citizens are allowed to get a locker to keep these things. But it is on the other gate of the consulate. She kept her stuffs there in the locker. But we saw the securities there throwing CDs out of the door from other guys in the line for interview. It’s quite like a security check in the air port. But the security guards are quite uncivilized in their dealings.

Once we get in with the Yellow letter they will direct you to the building where interviews are done. As we reach there with the yellow paper they will give you a seat in front of the counters. There were about 3 counters open for immigrant visa interviews. For other type of visas it was in the next hall. Guys at the entrance directed people to the appropriate hall. It was comparatively a less crowd for the immigrant visa. I think for the 8 am appointment there were about 10 people. And more came as time passed.

First an Indian lady called our name. we gave the passport and other papers like medical report to her . She was already having all the papers we submitted at VFS. And we said we have the wedding album with us. She didn’t want to see it, but just noted that we have album.

Now, she asked the DD of $380. Unfortunately we had taken our DD last week with the rate of April 15th. But in May 1st they changed the exchange rates. Though the DD we had was for the amount more than required we were asked to get a new DD right then. She gave us a white slip, which states we should get a DD as soon as possible and come back. We can use the slip for going in and out of the gate.

As soon as we got out of the gate to get the DD, some local guys approached us with offers of helping us to take the DD. We never know whether it is a cheat or what. Especially in a city like Chennai. We ignored them.

We rushed to a nearby ATM got cash, and went to a Indian Bank branch which was open from 8AM, and came back with the DD in 40 minutes.

Gave them the DD at the same counter. Then we waited and waited and waited for about 2 ½ hours for our turn. The interview was done by an American lady. We both went to the counter.

She asked some questions like how we got married. And how was it arranged and blablabla.

We explained how we met and how we arranged our marriage and all that. Then asked if we have any other certificate of marriage. I explained that we don’t have a church certificate or anything. The only thing we had for our wedding was the registration by special marriage act. Then we had a reception. And the reception is not a religious thing so we don’t have any other certificate to give.

Then she asked my wife when did she come to India. It was in 2005 June. So she asked whether my wife registered with the authority for staying longer? Yes, we showed them the FRRO registration paper. She has permission to stay until 2010. The lady smiled and said "you can stay another 3 years, but we need it in every 6 months" . Why do you want to go now. the lady asked. she explained that we have our parents all alone there and we have to go back. Blablabl.

The lady was quite friendly, and we showed a file of domicile proof(very recent insurance payments, loan payments, bank statements etc. ) By the way, we used our parents as co-sponsors (I864A). we had tons of docs more than what is required for support. My wife didn’t file her tax return for 2006 since she was not working. So we had a letter of explanation for that too included. But we had all W2 and tax return of her parents for 2006 and the very recent pay stubs too. So since she was not in the US for a long time we were prepared for a lot of domicile proof as well.

Then the lady at the counter went to the other counter and spoke to the guy there for a couple of minutes and came back and said “Everything seems alight.. you will receive your passport with the visa in it by courier within a week”

Yess.. now we are waiting for that.

The only point I had a problem was with the DD. So if there are fluctuations in exchange rates. And if your interview is close to 1st or 15th of a month. Delay your DD taking till the working day before the interview, and get the latest rates from the site and take the DD, otherwise we will have to rush, go out and take a fresh DD with the new amount (or keep USD ready with you $380 in currency. They will take it).

So other than the DD confusion everything went really well. I know this is a very long story, but there might be some of you who want to get all the details. It was not as hard as I imagined . And another lesson is: it is always better to be over-prepared with your documents!!

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement in my journey.

Hello friends,

I'm going to face the big day next week may 3rd in Chennai consulate.

All my papers are submitted at VFS last week, and now I have to get the medical done on monday.

All of you were a real help for me to reach so far in the journey..

I will post my experience by the end of next week.

Thank you all.. and I'm sure your wishes will be there for me.

-Geophil

Hey... CONGRATS!!!

Thats indeed what I was wanted to hear, and I'm so glad it hear that it was just smooth.

I'm getting prepared for mine next month(May 3rd) at the same Chennai.. and I'm hoping for a similar experience.

Thank you so much Eleen for your comforting words,

What you said makes sense to me, and I called parents today morning and they are going to send the latest one, which they filed couple weeks ago. Express post would take a week or so I guess. And they are sending their latest pay stubbs W2 and bank statements etc. so that would be enough I believe.

But my wife has not filed it this year, since she in india and also she is not working here either. So should we make a letter explaining why she didnt file it this year?

And since my wife is not working, that wouldnt affect negatively on the way they process the afidavit of support right?

Also I have a Job offer from our Head Quarters in the US. So can I use that in some way to assure them that I woudnt be a public charge?

In the forms there are no options to indicate the potential job offers or income of the beneficiary as long as the person is not currently in the US.

Your thoughts on this will be very much appreciated.

Hey.. Congrats knm, I'm so glad to see that it went super easy.

I have got my CR-1 interview appointment for May 3rd at Chennai. I have to submit all the papers at VFS in 2 weeks or so.

My wife, the USC, is with me in Kochi, she has been in India since 2005 June, and is not working anywhere. We are using her parents as Co-sponsors(using I864A).

As the day gets closer I get a little nervous, and now I'm confused a bit on something..

My wife has her tax return filed in 2006, and it is for the year of 2005 right?

and the returns of her parents also is of the year of 2005 which is submitted in 2006.

Now its the time for the return of the year 2006 to be filed, and I was wondering whether we should include the return of the year 2006 also.

My wife doesnt have to file it since she was here in India in 2006 and was not working. But her parents who are back in the US also didnt file it yet.

I remember reading it somehwere that we should include the tax return of the year 2006 only if we send packet 3 after May 2007. In my case I've sent packet 3 at the begining of Feb this year. And we should be ready with all those docs at the time of sending packet 3. right?

So what I gather from those facts is that we need only the tax returns of 2003 2004 and 2005.

We have the latest pay stubs and bank statements etc. of the parents.

Could you guys please validate this and let me know whether this is enough?

Reading your posts makes a few butterflies in my stomach.

Pleeease help me

-Geophil

That's wonderful... I can imagine the joy of seeing the approval after so much of uncertainities and needles waiting...

Finally it happend!! Congrats Sam..

I am USC and planning to visit India for 4 months and file DCF for my husband who is presently an Indian citizen.

Hi Anitha,

My wife is exactly in the same situation as yours, and we filed the so called DCF in January, and we got the packet 3 and waiting for the interview date. By the way, we are from Cochin and I guess you too are from somewhere in Kerala basically.

My wife is not working anywhere since 2005 and we are using her parents as co-sponsors using I864A. And for proving domicile we are planning to use her utility bills mails etc.

I will give you the updates as we progress, and in the mean time if you need any assistance you are welcome to ask.

-Geophil.

We got packet 3 from Mumbai instead of Chennai in two weeks, and two weeks later, Mumbai informed us that we should be hearing from Chennai since our place falls under the jurisduction of Chennai and so they are forwarding our case to Chennai.

Then I sent a mail to chennai, saying we already have packet 3 and shall we send it to you..

Today I got a mail from Chennai saying go ahead a send the same packet 3 to Chennai

In the mean time, as Raj and Sam suggested, I approached the Police commisioner to get a PCC. Interestingly, everything was super easy.

First I went to the commisioner office and said I want to have PCC. There were a PRO, and he said I need 2 photos, copy of passport, certificate from the local police station saying that there is no case in my name, and a written application.

Then I went to the police station to get the certificate. The sub inspector gave me a chair to write the application and within 5 minutes I got the certificate from them.

Then I went to the commisioner office back, and then I was told that there will be a varifiaction at my house by a police man. and he came to my house next day, and I got the PCC the day after.

So everything took just about 3 days, and it went real smooth.

I was really impressed by the police dpt of Kochi. I'm not sure if it is the same in other cities of Kerala.