kyle.sari

Ok here is the deal with the lounge. Firstly you will have to be there by 6:30 or so, and they dont let you in by 6:45 or so. Once you are inside, you are being searched and also you can deposit your things that time to them. Once that is done you are then taken to the snack room. Just gives 2 types of sandwhich and coffee, I swear you won't even be able to finish one of your sandwhich before they start calling names to get on the bus for the 7:30 am interview.

Its good if you have things like mobile phones and other electronic stuff, you can keep it with them, but otherwise its waste really.

Another thing, please don't take any zip folders, try plastic sea through folders or paper bags. They confisticate any zip bags/folders.

What about clear plastic zip lock bags to hold the paperwork? Will they let you take that in? Also will they let the USC go with their fiance to the interview?

They do not let USC inside for the interview. You can wait comfortably at VFS.

Btw, do you actually need DS-230 Part 2 for the interview. From what I can tell from Packet 4 info on the website for K-1 I haven't seen a need for it but I am not sure. Can anyone verify if you actually need DS-230 Part 2 for the interview or not.

Gagan

We are bringing extra copies just in case. You will have to sign part II in front of someone at the interview.

We did not use DS-230 Part 2. I think that is used for other types of visas.

You do have to sign DS-156K in front of them.

Congrats!!!! :dance:

We posted this in the consulate review section as well.

My fiance got approved!!! She arrived at VFS at 6:30am. The Stars and Stripes Lounge was closed at this time and she waited outside with a large group of people all having their interview that day. Finally at approximately 6:50am Stars & Stripes opened and she went inside to deposit her purse and mobile phone in a locker, because you are not allowed to take such items into the consulate. Then she got on the shuttle bus at 7:05am that took her directly to the Consulate at about 7:15am. She then went through a security checkpoint and then got inside the consulate at 7:20am. They gave her a small wooden block to hold onto which shows that you indeed passed through security. Do not lose this wooden block, because you return it to them when you exit the consulate. When she got inside she was directed to a counter where she gave her fingerprints, they also collected her original appointment letter here. After this she was told to wait in the Immigrant Visa section. She was sitting there for about 20 minutes and around 8:00am they called her name for the interview. They shout out your name and tell you to go to a specific room #. Listen carefully so you hear that room #. She got inside that room and a very friendly Indian man interviewed her. He started by asking: Is this a love marriage? How many times have you been to U.S.? Do you have his I-134 & his current tax return? Then after that he left the room for a few minutes. He came back and then told her to write her fiance's name on the DS-156K , on the line which says "You intend to marry ____" But he said Do Not Sign It at this point!! You have to wait to sign in front of an American Officer. After that he said everything is good except the bank draft. We have got a bank draft with the exchange rate of Rs.50/per dollar. But since then, they changed the exchange rate to Rs.52/per dollar. So they asked her to go outside and get a small bank draft to make up the difference. She got a note from the interviewer which allowed her to come back into the consulate before 9:30am. So she ran outside, got the bank draft and came back at about 8:30am. She had to pass through security again. She deposited the bank draft at the counter that they told her to. Then she waited there until 9:45am and was called again to a room #. There was an American lady this time, and also an Indian translator if you need one. She told my fiance to raise her right hand and take an oath saying that all the information you have provided is true. Then she had to sign DS-156K in front of her. Then she asked questions: Who are you going to marry? How did you meet? How many times have you been to U.S.? What dates did you go? Was the relationship already romantic after the first meeting? When did he propose? What does he do for a living? What do you do for a living? What do your parents think about this marriage? Have you met your fiance's parents? Where is your marriage going to take place? What type of marriage, Hindu or Christian? This American lady was very very nice and kind. The American lady then said your Visa is approved!!! My fiance collected her visa from VFS at 5:30pm the same day. You get a visa and an envelope which you Do Not Open! It is for the immigration officers at the port of entry in U.S. During her entire interview not a single person checked any of her proof of relationship. They didn't look at anything!! But for those reading this you definitely should bring proof because other immigration officers will definitely check. Some interviewers can be mean and harsh and others are friendly and kind. It seems to be random if you get a good one or a bad one. Thankfully my fiance got a great interviewer!! Thank you VJ members for the great information & help. Best of luck to all of you!

My fiance's interview is on feb 24th. I made $20,000 last year and have $3,000 in savings.

The poverty line is $17,500 for us.

I know it is not very much over the minimum. Should I be worried?

It seems early morning or late evening, is the best times. My fiance has gotten through at those times, but it takes persistence that is for sure.

But the best way to contact is emailing them. mumbaiiv@state.gov They have always gotten back within 24 hours on business days. You should definitely give that a try.

You should also call VFS, they almost always pick up instantly and they are very helpful and knowledgeable. They are truly great! We've called many times.

Hope this helps!

-Kyle

Good Luck!!! My fiance's interview is on 24th. I wish everyone on here great success!!!

Please, everybody write a thorough review of your interview in the Embassy Review section on this site. It is tremendously helpful for those preparing for their interview.

Thanks again :-)

5.5 lbs !!! Geez, what did you put in there, rocks ?

I have used them twice and it did get there in 3 days each time. And you can track it. I actually used my employer's account number to get a corporate discount and it was SIGNIFICANT. I am talking `70 bucks vs <$15 for a 1-1.5 lb package.

Gosh that discount is fantastic. I paid over $100 for 2.5 lbs through FedEx 2 Mumbai.

I wish I could help but my fiance had no trouble at all with the PCC from the passport office in Mumbai.. It was really quick. She filled out the forms and she picked it up the next day. She has been a lifelong resident of Mumbai so that's probably why it was easier. I'm sorry for you trouble. Don't give up, I know you will get it soon.

I would bring copies of your w2's for the last couple years, copies of your tax returns, and copies of a few of your most recent pay stubs.

That's what I am doing anyway.

Does the relationship letter, passport pages, and beneficiaries parents letters all have to be notarized???

Packet 3 & 4 from Mumbai consulate does not say notarized. Does it really have to be??

I am concerned about the exact same thing.

In 2007 I made approx $20,000

In 2008 I made approx $19,900.

Is over the $17,500 limit but I am nervous as well that they would say its not enough.....

Has anybody here been denied because of a $20,000 income??

My wife and I are both very dissapointed as she received a 221 g white paper asking for more relationship proof. When she was interviewed she asked the officer to look at her emails, chat logs and photos but he said " no, not right now" and the 221 g consists of the very things she was carrying with her to the interview.We are both very depressed and feel extremely low at this point.She was interiewed at New delhi india on the 15th of jan 2009.the 221 g consists of the following ....

you are requested to submit proof of relationship to include but not limited to :

notarized explanation of how and when you first met and why you decided to get married

itemised phone bills,emails and/or postmarked letters or cards showing correspondence

photos of you and the petitioner before, during and after the wedding

notarized copy of your and your husbands passport

voters ID card and the voters list for the past 5 years for the benificiary

notarized statements signed by the applicants/benificiary's parents discussing their views of this marriage

My wife was given back her original documents submitted like marriage certificate . bitrh certificate, passport etc.

They did not ask for the VFS receipt but kept the medical report envelope and gave her back the unopened xray report.

please advice...any thoughts would be appriciated.thank you

Are you saying that you had submitted everything that they asked for? Emails, photos, relationship, letter etc. If you submitted all that was listed I would be very upset. I'm sorry for your troubes, but as another poster mentioned it is not a denial and as soon as they receive or discover what they need, you should be approved.

UPDATE: Gosh im such a dope. Upon reviewing my last paycheck of 2008 i noticed my actual gross income was $19,900. Which is much better than $17,850 that i thought I had earned. Although its not a huge increase, it is definitely enough to hopefully put the CO at ease. Maybe i can report some birthday money on my tax return to get it over the $20,000 mark which sounds even better.

If the interview date is Feb 24th do you think they will want my tax return for year 2008? Even if I haven't filed or received my W-2 by then? I sincerely hope that 2007 will be enough.

In 2007 i made a little over $20,000 which should be totally fine.

In 2008 i made $17,850. Only $350 over the 125% poverty limit.

Now I AM over the limit, albeit just barely. Do you think they can deny me based on this even though I made enough??

Has anybody here been asked to get a co-sponsor even though they made more than the minimum??

Thank you!

my husband who is a US citizen plans to come down for my interview. would he be able to enter the mumbai consulate with me. some say he may not be allowed but i thought that he being an american he would not have any trouble getting in.

also can anyone tell me whether the k3 visa fees of $131 and the proof of relationship need to be submitted at the vfs office at mumbai or do we need to carry it for the interview. are there any other fees to be paid for k3 visa at vfs or interview

I called the VFS regarding a K-1 visa and they say that the bank draft of $131 is to be taken to the interview, NOT submitted at VFS. But the small courier fee is paid directly to VFS and can be paid in cash when you submit your documents.

i was checking the 2008 poverty guidlines and i was wondering about the household size. Do I only need to meet the household size of 1 person at 125% which is $13,000 or is it a household size of 2 which is $17,500?

Thank you.

Alright. She will stay with me at my parents house. Thanks for the help. We will just have to deal with living with the parents for a little while until we both start earning better salaries.

Why can't she just live with you at your parents house?

I guess the main reason was it would be awkward and we wouldn't have as much privacy. But I guess if that's my only option at this point then I have to do it.

I am just barely above the "poverty" minimum so I can't afford even a studio apartment here. I live in Southern California so you can imagine that it is not cheap here.

My only option was to get her a room but most people dont rent rooms 2 couples. And I didn't want to completely leave home just yet.

I guess we will just have to stick it out at my parents place. That's gonna be awkward definitely. They are really religious........

I was reading in the AOS FAQ section that during their interview they needed to show evidence of sharing a common address. Is this mandatory for permanent residency to be granted? Is the marriage not enough?

Let me explain. I am going to rent a room for my wife when she comes here on the k-1. I still live with my folks and I want to keep one foot in their house while I finish school & get a real job. And most rooms for rent dont want couples. Plus I can't afford my own aparment yet. I just barely pass the poverty minimums. So if my wife lives in an room in an apartment complex close by but I still live at home will that negatively affect our AOS? Any advice, insight? Thank you all!

-Kyle

I'd say it would. Plus, unless she has a ton of savings, or you/someone else is supporting her, how is she going to afford living in her own apartment?

I can afford to rent out a room for her, not an entire apartment. And I couldn't stay with her in the room because most rooms for rent are for singles only, not for couples.

So I'm gonna stay at my house and rent her a room. This is just for the time being because we are both young and I haven't completed my degree yet, I'm close though.

I was reading in the AOS FAQ section that during their interview they needed to show evidence of sharing a common address. Is this mandatory for permanent residency to be granted? Is the marriage not enough?

Let me explain. I am going to rent a room for my wife when she comes here on the k-1. I still live with my folks and I want to keep one foot in their house while I finish school & get a real job. And most rooms for rent dont want couples. Plus I can't afford my own aparment yet. I just barely pass the poverty minimums. So if my wife lives in an room in an apartment complex close by but I still live at home will that negatively affect our AOS? Any advice, insight? Thank you all!

-Kyle

I emailed the Consulate and I got my fiance's interview date. Feb 24th!!!

Thanks for all the help you guys. Wish you great success in your interviews!

-Kyle

I haven't got my appointment letter yet, but it should come anyday now. I'm hoping it will be end of Feburary but if not its definitely early March.

I could never have done it without this great website/forum. You guys rock!

"Wisdom" really helped me out telling me exactly how and where to get the police certificates.

Cheers!

I haven't got my appointment letter yet, but it should come anyday now. I'm hoping it will be end of Feburary but if not its definitely early March.

I could never have done it without this great website/forum. You guys rock!

you will need two pcc. the one from the passport office is easy . you need to fill there form which is sold there take two proof of residence. passport and snaps and cash of 300. submit all of it at hall no 2 and they issue it the next day. they didnt ask me for my approval letter.

for the pcc from the commissioners office it takes around 3-4 weeks. you get the form there submit documents similar to what you gave at the passport office as well as proof of why you need a pcc. fees is 100 rs. the papers you submit are sent to your police station 5 days later go and ask there. they will either come to you house or will take all the details from you at the station itself. it is then sent back to the commissioners office and they issue it on the day that is stamped on the back of your receipt. commissioner office is behind st. xaviers college and near cama hospital

my experience with all of it was good. seemed like india has improved.

Thank you so much for the info!!! My fiance stays in Malad, can she get a PCC from her local police office or does she have to go to the one near Cama hospital which is down near Churchgate and CST? It is difficult for her to take days off of work right now and she lives far from that office. Thank you so much for your help!