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Hello Future CPers,
Every thing went smooth but I would like to express couple of suggestions different from what people have posted before. List of documents to carry for CP(any how you get that in Packet IV)
1) OF-171 - Visa Appointment Letter (Part of Packet IV)
2) OF-230 Part I & II Visa Application(Part of Packet IV)
3) Marriage Certificate
4) Wedding Photos
5) Employment Letter for Primary /I-134 for Dependant(including Bank Letter & Bank Statement)
6) Copies of 3 Years Tax Returns
7) Photos ADIT style (1.5 inch by 1.5 inch)
8) Medical Reports (You get them when you go through the medicals in India)
9) Completed 9003 Form.
10) Passport for each applicant
My suggestions are
1) Arrange them in the above sequence
2) For Marriage & Birth certificates take two copies and submit them and if they ask for the originals then show them because if you submit the original you will not get it back. I ended up with submitting my original Birth certificate.
3) Photos do not take them for Sears because they do it 2 inch by 2 inch which is good for AOS not for CP in Chennai I am not sure about other consulates). I got them done in Sears & also Konica in Chennai which is about 5 minutes from consulate - any auto wala will take you there. All my Sears photos are wasted.
4) Enclose the photo copy of your employment letter(Notarized) for your spouse application along with I-134
These are the only documents they took and not asked any other document. In fact I had only one copy of Marriage certificate and the consular officer asked me whether to use the original which will not be returned then when I smiled at him he was very courteous enough to make a copy and gave back the original.
Only thing is take some magazines because it will be waiting game we waited from 8:00 a.m. in the morning to 2:30 p.m. and asked to come at 4:00 p.m. to pick up the passports & visa but we were asked to wait until 6:00 p.m. So if you are from outside Chennai try to book your train & air tickets for next day. We got our visas at 5:45 p.m. and some how we were able to make it to 6:40 p.m. flight.
Regarding Medicals in Chennai, we can go to any doctor listed in Chennai Medicals under the US Consulate Web Site we are not restricted to Surima Hospital any more. Other thing I have seen is one of the applicant got the same vaccinations done at U.S for free in County Hospital and they waived the vaccinations.
Regarding the Port of Entry
1) Do not enter where it says US Citizens other than those lanes you can enter any other lane.
2) We were asked to go to a room and when we entered one lady took our packets and asked us to sit down. She opened the packets and verified the documents and she took our signatures and finger prints. That's it we are done she told that I will receive the card with in 10 months and stamped the passport with I 551.
NOTE:
Believe it or not The only Problem I had was in Bombay after checking my bags I have to go through immigration(India) the officer there hassled me like any thing. He asks for Police Certificate when I showed him the one which was given by Indian Cosulate in U.S he said that is not valid then luckily I had one which was taken from local police station where I lived but my wife did not had one so he said you can't leave the country without it. After few seconds he asked us to show the income tax returns then when we showed US Tax Returns he said I don't care about them I want Indian Income Tax Returns then when we said we never worked in India. He asks me how can I believe that then I said I am not becoming a US Citizen I am just becoming a Immigrant and I am still a Indian Citizen then he waits for few seconds and throws all the passports on the table and waives his hands to go.
I believe not every one will have this problem it depends on which officer you face but if you have time just get an police certificate from your local police station one for you and one for your spouse and if possible get a certificate from IT that there are no dues. If you are not able to get them then don't worry they will not stop you just we have to face them and they will leave you.
Any questions I will be glad to answer them
San
Every thing went smooth but I would like to express couple of suggestions different from what people have posted before. List of documents to carry for CP(any how you get that in Packet IV)
1) OF-171 - Visa Appointment Letter (Part of Packet IV)
2) OF-230 Part I & II Visa Application(Part of Packet IV)
3) Marriage Certificate
4) Wedding Photos
5) Employment Letter for Primary /I-134 for Dependant(including Bank Letter & Bank Statement)
6) Copies of 3 Years Tax Returns
7) Photos ADIT style (1.5 inch by 1.5 inch)
8) Medical Reports (You get them when you go through the medicals in India)
9) Completed 9003 Form.
10) Passport for each applicant
My suggestions are
1) Arrange them in the above sequence
2) For Marriage & Birth certificates take two copies and submit them and if they ask for the originals then show them because if you submit the original you will not get it back. I ended up with submitting my original Birth certificate.
3) Photos do not take them for Sears because they do it 2 inch by 2 inch which is good for AOS not for CP in Chennai I am not sure about other consulates). I got them done in Sears & also Konica in Chennai which is about 5 minutes from consulate - any auto wala will take you there. All my Sears photos are wasted.
4) Enclose the photo copy of your employment letter(Notarized) for your spouse application along with I-134
These are the only documents they took and not asked any other document. In fact I had only one copy of Marriage certificate and the consular officer asked me whether to use the original which will not be returned then when I smiled at him he was very courteous enough to make a copy and gave back the original.
Only thing is take some magazines because it will be waiting game we waited from 8:00 a.m. in the morning to 2:30 p.m. and asked to come at 4:00 p.m. to pick up the passports & visa but we were asked to wait until 6:00 p.m. So if you are from outside Chennai try to book your train & air tickets for next day. We got our visas at 5:45 p.m. and some how we were able to make it to 6:40 p.m. flight.
Regarding Medicals in Chennai, we can go to any doctor listed in Chennai Medicals under the US Consulate Web Site we are not restricted to Surima Hospital any more. Other thing I have seen is one of the applicant got the same vaccinations done at U.S for free in County Hospital and they waived the vaccinations.
Regarding the Port of Entry
1) Do not enter where it says US Citizens other than those lanes you can enter any other lane.
2) We were asked to go to a room and when we entered one lady took our packets and asked us to sit down. She opened the packets and verified the documents and she took our signatures and finger prints. That's it we are done she told that I will receive the card with in 10 months and stamped the passport with I 551.
NOTE:
Believe it or not The only Problem I had was in Bombay after checking my bags I have to go through immigration(India) the officer there hassled me like any thing. He asks for Police Certificate when I showed him the one which was given by Indian Cosulate in U.S he said that is not valid then luckily I had one which was taken from local police station where I lived but my wife did not had one so he said you can't leave the country without it. After few seconds he asked us to show the income tax returns then when we showed US Tax Returns he said I don't care about them I want Indian Income Tax Returns then when we said we never worked in India. He asks me how can I believe that then I said I am not becoming a US Citizen I am just becoming a Immigrant and I am still a Indian Citizen then he waits for few seconds and throws all the passports on the table and waives his hands to go.
I believe not every one will have this problem it depends on which officer you face but if you have time just get an police certificate from your local police station one for you and one for your spouse and if possible get a certificate from IT that there are no dues. If you are not able to get them then don't worry they will not stop you just we have to face them and they will leave you.
Any questions I will be glad to answer them
San
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