ritwikch's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: Niyati Beneficiary's Name: Ritwik VJ Member: ritwikch Country: India Last Updated: 2015-08-20 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for Niyati & Ritwik:

USCIS DCF I-130 Petition:       Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:     USCIS I-751 Petition:   USCIS N-400 Petition:

IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Texas Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Mumbai, India Marriage (if applicable): 2015-02-26 I-130 Sent : 2015-06-04 I-130 NOA1 : 2015-06-08 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2015-06-09 NVC Received : Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : Pay AOS Bill : Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : Submit DS-261 : Receive IV Bill : Pay IV Bill : Send IV Package : Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : Case Completed at NVC : NVC Left : Consulate Received : 2015-06-20 Packet 3 Received : 2015-06-22 Packet 3 Sent : 2015-06-20 Packet 4 Received : 2015-06-20 Interview Date : 2015-07-31 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2015-08-04 US Entry : 2015-09-19 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 1 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 53 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Mumbai, India Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing Event Description Review Date : August 20, 2015 Embassy Review : So, post the letter from the Mumbai consulate that came in 16days (June 4th DCF in Delhi, 20th the letter was mailed from Mumbai), I scheduled the Police Clearance Certificate Appointment on 22nd June at the Lalbaugh PSK in Bangalore. You have to take an appointment online on the passport service website and pay the fee of INR 500. At the PSK, I was asked for the documents at the reception - Interview Letter, Passport copy and since my passport had a different address from the current address, I was asked for address proof of the current address. I gave them my IT Returns for the last two years. It was accepted and I was given a token. Once I entered the PSK, I was asked to go to Counter A where they took my fingerprints, entered ALL Details, compared it with what was entered online, cross checked documents, charged me 35INR for SMS alerts and asked to wait for my token to flash for Counter B. (Counter A - is run by TCS and is very efficient) Immediately after leaving counter A, I saw my token number on the screen for Counter B. There the Verification Officer (VO) again checked my documents. He said that the ITR is not sufficient and that I need another address proof. I told him that the website also mentions that ITR is acceptable and that I had it for two years. He then permitted it. My passport number was incorrect on the form so he asked me to quickly go back to Counter A and get that changed. This took 5mins. I then had to wait for another 10mins before the counter C call came. The Counter C guys are typically irritating. They are from the Ministry of External Affairs and throw a good deal of attitude. Anyways, the guy checked my documents and said that "I Will not issue you a PCC immediately. You will only get it after a Police Verification". This told me that there are cases where on the judgement of the officer u could get a PCC on the spot! Anyways, I went to the acknowledgement counter. They gave me a receipt with my case number and it said that PCC is granted - subject to verification. The very next day I got an SMS saying that PCC has been initiated and that I will receive a call from the local Police Station. I did not wait for that. I went to the police station with all my documents. The officer checked all documents, made multiple entries in multiple registers. Also made some entries on a computer. He then said that I will receive the PCC in 15days. I went back to the police station the next two days to follow up. Finally on the 29th of June while I was in Chennai for my medical, I received an ams stating that the PCC has been granted and that I should visit the PSK. I went back to the PSK and was given two printouts with my photograph and some text stating that I am safe! That was the PCC! Medical Examination : I scheduled my medical at Apollo Heart Centre in Chennai. Beware that this is the HEART CENTRE and NOT the hospital. June 29th Apollo Heart Centre Chennai : I took with me the letter from the Mumbai consulate, my passport 7 PP size pics. At the reception they took the interview letter and my passport and billed me 3076INR for the medical. I was asked to go to the 3rd floor which is dedicated to VISA medical tests. There were people for other countries too - AUS, UK etc. First, there was a blood sample taken, Height / Weight measured. Then they asked me to wait. After an hour, I met with the physician - a US citizen herself. She was very nice - chatting all through and smiling - thereby helping you get used to the "Womanhandling" to follow. She did a thorough checkup including ALL parts of me an Xray was also done. I did not have vaccination records. So given my date of birth (1986) she recommended basic vaccination - DTAP, Influenza and MMR. I procured the medicines from the pharmacy in the hospital (800INR) and was administered the same by the nurses. The next day at 2pm I was given a sealed envelope with my medical reports and an Xray CD. I then came back and filled the DS 260 online - CEAC.state.gov For the Appointment for the Interview at the consulate you have to go to (UStraveldocs.com) - you have to create a login ID and PW. You are offered a choice of available dates - I picked 30th July for the Biometrics and 31st July for the Interview - 31st being Gurupurnima an auspicious day! The following is our experience at the Mumbai Consulate - On 30th July, I went to the VAC - Visa Application Center - which is at the Trade Center - different from the embassy. There were hordes of people lined up - but most were for later slots. I had the first slot - 7:30am. There was a light drizzle but nothing alarming. Most people in the que were chatting to each other asking questions. Most of them had wrong information and inadvertently were scaring other. (You don't have this document...blah blah blah) I ignored them till we were asked to enter the building. There they verified the documents and let us in. As per token, you are called to the window where they stick a barcode onto your passport and take your DS 260 confirmation page and stamp it that - Biometrics completed. Thats it! Done for the day. On 31st July my interview was at 7:30 AM. My wife (USC) accompanied me and we reached by 6:45 AM. The place for the interview is opposite the Trident Hotel at Bandra Kurla Complex. We parked our car at the Trident valet and waltzed out. We intended to return for breakfast, if all went well. When we reached the embassy it looked like we landed in Gujarat! There was a sea of Gujaratis! All waiting for a visa. We were asked to line up by 7:15. Since we filed for an immigrant visa we were aced to stand in a separate que. This was MUCH shorter. But there still were about 35-40people! My wife was allowed entry into the building with me since she is my sponsor. She just showed them her US passport. Once inside, we completed the routine security check, were given token numbers (we were 2nd in line) and were asked to be seated. An Indian lady called out our number and we both went to the window. She asked for the DS-260, the confirmation page print-out, my passport, birth certificate, 2 passport size photos, looked at the original marriage certificate but kept a copy, my tax returns, my wives sponsorship papers and her father's sponsorship papers. She also asked us for the preferred language of the interview - we chose English. She gave me a document on domestic violence and then directed us to another window where she collected the demand draft for $325 (@ consular exchange rate of INR 66 - 1USD). She gave us a receipt and token number and asked us to wait for the interview call. I think we waited for 15 mins until we were called for the interview. (Our token number flashed on the counter # 15) Again, we both went to the window. The interviewer was a Chinese American. He asked my wife if she was the sponsor. When she said yes, he asked her to wait until he called her. He first wanted to interview me alone. I was asked to raise my right hand and take the oath. The following questions were then asked:- 1) How old are you? 29 years old. 2) When did you guys get married? 26th Feb of this year. 3) Arrange marriage or love marriage? Love marriage. 4) Were her parents there for the wedding? Yes, they were. 5) Did you have an engagement ceremony? Did her parents attend the engagement ceremony? Yes, we got engaged on 15th Nov 2014. Yes, her parents attended the ceremony. 5) How did you guys meet? We've known each other since a very long time. Our fathers worked for the same company. 6) What do you do? What will you do in the US? 7) When did your wife come to India? In Oct 2014. 8) What will she do once you guys go the US? The interviewer then asked me to call my wife. When she went to the window, he asked her the following questions - 1) When did you come to India? In Oct 2014. 2) What will you do when you go to the US? I will look for a job again in drug safety in the clinical research industry. He then said, "Alright. Your visa is approved". He returned all of my fathering law's sponsorship papers saying that my wife's papers are enough, but it is good to know that my father-in law has agreed to support us, if required. That's it! On the 4th of August I got my passport with the visa in Bangalore at Prestige Atrium - 2nd floor. Here, they issue the visa for other countries like Canada, Uk, Malaysia etc as well - so there were a lot of people. But it took 10mins for them to locate my package. You have to carry a photocopy of an ID proof - i took my DL copy. They will issue a token at the entrance. You are called to the window basis token number. I received my package with a Mysterious Brown Envelope and my passport. I came back home and created an ID on the USCIS ELIS website. For this you need your visa number and the alien registration number on the visa (A Number) This is an 8digit number but the ELIS system asks for 9digits - prefix 0. I then paid the $165 fee for the green card. You will receive an intimation saying that the case is in process. Conformation will be received after you enter the US on the visa. That is the end of this leg of the journey! Rating : Very Good

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