Is Mumbai consulate scheduling interviews for IR5 (Parent of a U.S. citizen)

[nakubo]

I along with my wife completed our GC (green card) interview successfully today (01 Jun 22) at Mumbai. We had an appointment for 8:30am and reached the place (Dhirubhai Amabani Square opposite to the US Consulate, Mumbai) one hour in advance. Appointment holders for the day are called out based on the time slot to form a queue at the entrance where a preliminary check (passport and IL) is done before an entry in to the consulate premises is permitted. At 8 am, there was an announcement for all candidates (all visa categories IR5/F1/L1 etc) having interview slots for 8:00/8:10/8:20/8:30AM to form the queue for preliminary document check at the entrance of the consulate. So, in my view it is better to reach at least 45 minutes in advance contrary to 15 mins indicated on the website. As bags/mobiles/smart watches/electronic devices are not allowed, there is a locker facility right at the entrance of the premises accessible only after preliminary checks. Record of items being stowed (cell phones, smart watches, deodorant /perfume bottles, USB drives etc.) is made and you are charged a fee of Rs 50 per item. Therefore, it is better to bring only documents and a phone only, else you may end up paying extra for stowage of other items. After entering the consulate premises, security check (X-ray) is done. Thereafter, GC candidates are allowed to enter the second premises while other candidates (for F1 and other visa categories) are separated to form queue as there numbers are too large compared to GC candidates. In the second premises, you have to take a token (single token for family) and await for a your turn for detailed document check/submission. We entered the second premises at around 8:30AM and had to await for detailed document check until 9:45AM.This lasted for about 10 minutes, our original documents PCC/birth/marriage certificates were taken by the attendant along with current & old passports and we were asked to wait again for the final interview by the consular staff. After waiting for about 40 minutes, we were called for the interview which started with an oath. This part of the interview lasted only about five minutes with 4/ 5 questions pertaining to - (a) who is sponsoring your visa? (b) Where is the sponsor living? (c) Have ever overstayed in USA during your previous visits? (d) When did you visit your sponsor last? etc. At the end of the interview, the interviewer informs the final outcome. In our case, we were told that the GC is approved and our current visitor visa stamped on the passport was cancelled right in front of us and we were given an instruction sheet for further steps. Now we will have to collect our passports after 3-5 days. Thanks a lot to this forum, as we could get a wealth of information from here. I have tried to give details, so that one knows what kind of events are likely to happen when you come for the interview. Wishing all the GC aspirants all the best.

cmdeanil, my mom had her interview today. My brother was not allowed inside even though he showed them a printout from the website that senior citizens can be accompanied by one person. They didn't take any phones because I read on multiple forums that there was no locker facility available at the Mumbai consulate. Glad to know that you were able to use the locker.

My mother had her interview in Telugu. She entered around 8:30 for a 9am interview but did not finish until 11:30am. It's crazy that the wait is so long. I wonder why they don't space candidates apart longer. Oh well! OTOH, I remember the days when we lined up overnight for a student visa interview at the Chennai consulate so this is not that bad.

The officer didn't ask too many questions because most of the documents (Birth Affidavits in lieu of birth certificate, new PCC, W2/tax transcripts, Photos) were verified earlier in the day. The consular officer questioning seems like a formality which is likely because all of us would have submitted the documents online (to USCIS as part of the previous steps) and they would have had a chance to verify most of that information beforehand.

After the interview, the attached two papers were provided. I assume that the stamped visa will have the Alien (A) number because that's how even my GC was! The Case ID is already known from the emails received from USCIS anyway. My plan is to wait until we receive the visa, verify that everything is accurate, and then pay the $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee.

My mom/brother stayed at Hotel BKC Inn. It was below par and I would not recommend that you stay there unless you have budget constraints.

[nakubo]

Having problem with scheduling biometrics appointment. Can we go to any center for biometric or it has to be interview location?

cpandya , you can schedule the biometrics in any location. However, I suggest that you keep trying for your own city (or a nearby one). Be careful because there is some limit on how often you can login to ustraveldocs.com (Google for the information).

[nash_d]

Previous year / latest tax returns?

Hi - question about the latest tax return (and prior year returns) - I have a combined federal + state return from my CPA which spans approx 70 pages. I was wondering if my parents would need to carry all of those to their appointment (it'd be almost 300 pages if we consider all returns from 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021)? I also uploaded the PDF's of these to CEAC just in case. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[nakubo]

Previous year / latest tax returns?

Hi - question about the latest tax return (and prior year returns) - I have a combined federal + state return from my CPA which spans approx 70 pages. I was wondering if my parents would need to carry all of those to their appointment (it'd be almost 300 pages if we consider all returns from 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021)? I also uploaded the PDF's of these to CEAC just in case. Any guidance would be appreciated.

nash_d , it is best to upload/take tax return transcripts and not the actual tax returns (i.e. 1040 plus schedules) themselves. You can get your tax return transcripts by creating an account on the IRS webpage. In addition to the tax return transcripts, W2s for each year are also recommended. I had filed the NVC paperwork in 2020 at which time I only had documents for 2019 and earlier. Therefore, for the interview, I sent documents for 2020 and 2021.

[Shanaya]

Previous year / latest tax returns?

Hi - question about the latest tax return (and prior year returns) - I have a combined federal + state return from my CPA which spans approx 70 pages. I was wondering if my parents would need to carry all of those to their appointment (it'd be almost 300 pages if we consider all returns from 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021)? I also uploaded the PDF's of these to CEAC just in case. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Just go to www.irs.gov and create a account and you will be able to download transcript for each year and then you do not need to send 70 pages/year to your parents.
Create an ID.me account - ID.me

[kalyanam]

My parents immigration visa got approved few minutes ago. Appointment was at 7.30 AM . Entered embassy gate around 7 AM and parents got back to Trident at 8.30 AM. Interview was done in Telugu .Officer mentioned , passport/visa would get delivered in 3 days. Thanks a lot for helping petitioner like me by posting your experiences.

[Aviask2]

cmdeanil, my mom had her interview today. My brother was not allowed inside even though he showed them a printout from the website that senior citizens can be accompanied by one person. They didn't take any phones because I read on multiple forums that there was no locker facility available at the Mumbai consulate. Glad to know that you were able to use the locker.

My mother had her interview in Telugu. She entered around 8:30 for a 9am interview but did not finish until 11:30am. It's crazy that the wait is so long. I wonder why they don't space candidates apart longer. Oh well! OTOH, I remember the days when we lined up overnight for a student visa interview at the Chennai consulate so this is not that bad.

The officer didn't ask too many questions because most of the documents (Birth Affidavits in lieu of birth certificate, new PCC, W2/tax transcripts, Photos) were verified earlier in the day. The consular officer questioning seems like a formality which is likely because all of us would have submitted the documents online (to USCIS as part of the previous steps) and they would have had a chance to verify most of that information beforehand.

After the interview, the attached two papers were provided. I assume that the stamped visa will have the Alien (A) number because that's how even my GC was! The Case ID is already known from the emails received from USCIS anyway. My plan is to wait until we receive the visa, verify that everything is accurate, and then pay the $220 USCIS Immigrant Fee.

My mom/brother stayed at Hotel BKC Inn. It was below par and I would not recommend that you stay there unless you have budget constraints.

Hi Nakubo,

Congratulations on your mother's successful visa interview. I wanted to know about one thing. You mentioned that your mother had her interview in Telegu. Can you provide some details about how you arranged for the interpreter (like if you emailed/called the consulate well in advance and they confirm or is that something she mentioned before the interview). Also was the interpreter present only during the interview or did he/she also help during the earlier document verification process as well. There are many elderly parents who can hardly converse any language other than their local language, given that no one is allowed to accompany the interviewee, information about the availability of interpreters will be really useful. Thanks in advance.

[kalyanam]

Hi Nakubo,

Congratulations on your mother's successful visa interview. I wanted to know about one thing. You mentioned that your mother had her interview in Telegu. Can you provide some details about how you arranged for the interpreter (like if you emailed/called the consulate well in advance and they confirm or is that something she mentioned before the interview). Also was the interpreter present only during the interview or did he/she also help during the earlier document verification process as well. There are many elderly parents who can hardly converse any language other than their local language, given that no one is allowed to accompany the interviewee, information about the availability of interpreters will be really useful. Thanks in advance.

In Biometrics appointment , I selected English . But today when my parents went to Embassy for interview , even though my father can speak English, as my mother can only answer in Telugu, Embassy suggested my parents to go with Telugu Translator.

[sapnaanagol]

Hello sapnaanagol
No need to upload new PCC. In fact recently what we noticed is, the old PCC was sufficient. However, we must carry both PCC s at the interview.

Thank you dear GeoMac.

[sapnaanagol]

Wanted to know regarding birth certificate for Applicants born in 1958.There was no availability of birth certificate then.Kindly suggest

[nakubo]

Hi Nakubo,

Congratulations on your mother's successful visa interview. I wanted to know about one thing. You mentioned that your mother had her interview in Telegu. Can you provide some details about how you arranged for the interpreter (like if you emailed/called the consulate well in advance and they confirm or is that something she mentioned before the interview). Also was the interpreter present only during the interview or did he/she also help during the earlier document verification process as well. There are many elderly parents who can hardly converse any language other than their local language, given that no one is allowed to accompany the interviewee, information about the availability of interpreters will be really useful. Thanks in advance.

Aviask2 , sorry I don't remember where I picked the language for the interview. It could have been earlier in the process or at the time of biometrics. I request the others to chime in.

[AlienKanpur]

Wanted to know regarding birth certificate for Applicants born in 1958.There was no availability of birth certificate then.Kindly suggest

Dear sapnaanagol,
I am a little surprised at this question. You must have taken care of this issue when the petition for I-130 would have been filed. Beneficiaries who do not have a birth certificate need to produce three documents, two affidavits of birth from persons who are about ten years older and can personally vouch for the birth, along with a NON-AVAILABILITY Certificate from the Office of the Registrar for Births and Deaths.

[kalyanam]

Dear sapnaanagol,
I am a little surprised at this question. You must have taken care of this issue when the petition for I-130 would have been filed. Beneficiaries who do not have a birth certificate need to produce three documents, two affidavits of birth from persons who are about ten years older and can personally vouch for the birth, along with a NON-AVAILABILITY Certificate from the Office of the Registrar for Births and Deaths.

My father took affidavits from elder brother, elder sister and uncle for birth and marriage certificate of my parents . Scanned copies were uploaded to website and originals were taken to Embassy for interview.

[ir5dqapr21]

Are there any folks here who can shed light on the interview experience / process after getting rescheduled due to the need for a sputum test? In particular, how does the rescheduling for a co-applicant who doesn't need the 8-week delay work?

[sapnaanagol]

Thank you dear AlienKanpur,Kalyanam & GeoMac,I am touched by the concern shown by all of you.I got a bit scared, so checked on the CEAC,where we have submitted our documents & they are accepted,the reason of acceptance is that at India,Birth Certificate for people born before 1960 is not required.
This is a truly amazing Forum!!!