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

[ramanans_27]

AlienKanpur

Hello sir.. my parents visa got approved and passport is in possession. I was trying to pay their immigration fees via https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/ however the case ID as per the document has only 10 digits and their case id is BMB followed by 12 digit numbers. The case ID field in the online form wouldnt let me enter the last digit, it only takes 11 digits... have you or anyone faced this situation? Appreciate any help. Thanks in advance

[Varaprasad1959]

Hello,
We completed our interview on 14th June and got our passports delivered today at 11.00 am, in Chennai, through Premium delivery option i..e courier. Paid Rs.650 for each cover. All within 52 hours precisely...

[asg1957]

It's not always possible to get the NABC (non-availability of birth certificate) due to our great bureaucracy. For my mom, we only submitted two affidavits from relatives and that's all was showed at the interview as well (when requested by the officer). The relatives were 8 and 10 years older than my mom. Depending on your parents' ages, it's not always possible to find relatives who are more than 10 years older. However, the older the better!

Dear Nakubo,
You are absolutely right that a "Non-availabilty certificate" from the Registrar of Births and Deaths is not required at all. Even the ustraveldocs.com website nor ceac do not mention this.
The docs required IF you do not have a birth certificate are:-
1.) School Certificate of 10th/12th class on which your date of birth is clearly mentioned.
OR
2.) Affidavit by any close relative at least 10 years older than the applicant stating that he knows your date of birth, parents etc.
OR
3.) A Baptism Certificate from a Church.
Let us not complicate this simple issue by adding docs not mentioned in any USCIS portal.
Thanks and best wishes.

[Forparents96]

Dear Forparents96
there is no harm if you can upload. However the hard copies have to be carried. Officer may or may not see the uploaded documents. Uploading is not essential. Best wishes

Thanks Alien Kanpur!!!

[nakubo]

AlienKanpur

Hello sir.. my parents visa got approved and passport is in possession. I was trying to pay their immigration fees via https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/ however the case ID as per the document has only 10 digits and their case id is BMB followed by 12 digit numbers. The case ID field in the online form wouldnt let me enter the last digit, it only takes 11 digits... have you or anyone faced this situation? Appreciate any help. Thanks in advance

I faced the same issue. I ignored the last two digits from the Case ID mentioned in the I-551 (i.e. the visa stamped in the passport). This was essentially the same as the Case ID that came from NVC with "01" appended at the end. Then I was able to submit the fee.

It appears that the Mumbai consulate is no longer giving a letter with the actual Case ID and A# for the interviewee in the letter they provide after the interview. Instead they are giving a generic letter with instructions on where to find the Case ID and A#.

[ramanans_27]

I faced the same issue. I ignored the last two digits from the Case ID mentioned in the I-551 (i.e. the visa stamped in the passport). This was essentially the same as the Case ID that came from NVC with "01" appended at the end. Then I was able to submit the fee.

It appears that the Mumbai consulate is no longer giving a letter with the actual Case ID and A# for the interviewee in the letter they provide after the interview. Instead they are giving a generic letter with instructions on where to find the Case ID and A#.

That makes sense i will try the same. Thank you so much... also the A# on the visa page just had numbers there was no Alphabet A prefixed, is this true in ur case?

[nakubo]

That makes sense i will try the same. Thank you so much... also the A# on the visa page just had numbers there was no Alphabet A prefixed, is this true in ur case?

Yes, it is just numbers, there is no A prefixed. What I realized is that the interview email also has the A# with a 0 in the front but matching the "Registration Number" on the visa stamp.

[vidya80]

Hi

My parents received IL yesterday. DQ is Jun 22 2021, interview date is 23rd August. I have a question about biometrics.

1. Do the biometrics have to be done within 4 weeks of the interview or can it be done earlier also? Since their interview is on 23rd August can it be done in the first or second week of July or wait till July 23rd?

2. Similarly for medical exams too ?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Vidya

[AlienKanpur]

Hi

My parents received IL yesterday. DQ is Jun 22 2021, interview date is 23rd August. I have a question about biometrics.

1. Do the biometrics have to be done within 4 weeks of the interview or can it be done earlier also? Since their interview is on 23rd August can it be done in the first or second week of July or wait till July 23rd?

2. Similarly for medical exams too ?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Vidya

Dear Vidya,
heartiest Congratulations for getting the IL.
You have two months available. Biometrics can be done anytime. Medical, on the other hand should be done as close as possible to the interview date. Provided there are no medical issues. Medical is valid for six months from the date you appear for the medical. You must enter USA before the expiry of the validity date. If you are certain that there will be no issues with the lungs X-ray, you may delay the medical upto August 16. Medical must be taken at least one week before the interview. If I were you I would do my biometrics in Mumbai itself, two days before the interview so that the travel can be minimised. You are the best judge. Best wishes.

[AlienKanpur]

Hello,
We completed our interview on 14th June and got our passports delivered today at 11.00 am, in Chennai, through Premium delivery option i..e courier. Paid Rs.650 for each cover. All within 52 hours precisely...

Heartiest Congratulations.

[AlienKanpur]

Dear Members of the forum,
This question goes to all those who have received their Passports back with the VISA sticker. Please check that alongside the word Annotation does any one have Asterisk * or ** marked. Any one has any idea, what does this mean. I was checking the internet to find something, but nothing seems to be available. I did find some info but that was for asterisks, below the photographs. Best wishes.

[nakubo]

Dear Members of the forum,
This question goes to all those who have received their Passports back with the VISA sticker. Please check that alongside the word Annotation does any one have Asterisk * or ** marked. Any one has any idea, what does this mean. I was checking the internet to find something, but nothing seems to be available. I did find some info but that was for asterisks, below the photographs. Best wishes.

My mom's visa stamp also has a * next to the Annotation field. I have no idea what it means. My greencard from many years ago also has a *. I wonder if it's just meant to indicate a blank value.

[Lobby57]

Can anyone who has reached USA with a * or ** on annotation in the visa stamp, guide us that what is the role or meaning of this * at the time of entry to US. If it's just to ignore, even then please help all members.

[Lobby57]

Hello everyone,Can anyone who has reached USA with a * or ** on annotation in the visa stamp, guide us that what is the role or meaning of this * at the time of entry to US. If it's just to ignore, even then please help all members. Thanks.

[AlienKanpur]

Hello everyone,Can anyone who has reached USA with a * or ** on annotation in the visa stamp, guide us that what is the role or meaning of this * at the time of entry to US. If it's just to ignore, even then please help all members. Thanks.

Dear Lobby57,
I just spoke to my sister and her husband in USA. They got their VISA approved on Jan 14 and entered USA on Feb 23. Both of them had ** marked alongside Annotation. They had absolutely no issues at the time of entry. No questions were asked.
let others please share their experiences.