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Hi All,
My parents had a visitor visa scheduled on 23rd Aug in mumbia consulate. This was their second attempt after being rejected in June under section 214(b).
Questions asked for the 1st interview when visa was rejected.
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1> How many children do you have and how many of them are in US
2> How much is your income -
Answer: XYZ (How can one expect Retired parents to have a big income??)
Officer's response: Your income is less as per US standards.
3>How long do you intend to stay in US?
Answer:6 months
Officer's response: Officer menat to say, we will decide how long you want to stay there. Not you.(This was one of the negative point on our side. Never mention 6 months)
None of the documents were looked at.
Result : Rejected(214B)
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We applied immediately. Interview was in next 2 months.
Our preparation before interview:
----------------------------------
1.DS 156- Mentioned just 3 months instead of 6 months.
2.In terms of income couldn't correct anything, as we just wanted to follow the right ways no matter what happens.
3. But we had forgotten to display 1 bank account , jewellery and the share certificates for the 1st time (Fact is old parents were already tired of collecting many documentation, and were kind of tired to collect anything more. I also did not force them).
4.We included forgotten items as the delta (Change) for the second interview.
5. I Wrote a detailed letter to the consulate. I was doubtful whether any one will dare to read it.(was 2+ pages) - This was the key letter.
6.Consulted the senator in US, presented the same documents in US, 4 days before the interview was to take place in Bombay.
7. Prepared dad to take the interview in English. Most risky and challenging task. Risky bcoz Dad doesn't know english that well. what if dad doesn't understad the american accent of the officer. It may also happen that consulate officer may say " I do not understand what you are talking about ,reapply again and come with a translator.(Dad was instructed that in case if such things happen, immediately request for the translator else go ahead for english only)We just wanted to present ourselves in a very different way.
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2nd interview: Visa was issued.(How long i do not know yet)
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Interview on 23rd Aug
Got delayed due to technical issues at consulate)
----------------------
Finger printing machine stopped functioning and parents were told that machine needs to be fixed by the folks in Washington and will take time. They were asked to wait for 4 hours and finally were asked to go back and come on 26th August. Outstation candidates who were not abel to make it for Friday were asked to take the new appointments all over.
Parents again went on 26th Aug:
--------------------------------
Dad started interview with a request to officer, to read the letter to consulate(Letter that i had sent) and then ask as many questions as he wants.
Officer was a nice person and asked for the letter , at this time dad gave him a bunch, this bunch included:
1>letter to consulate
2>Invitation letter to parents
3>I-134 that i sent.
4> Copy of Supporting document of missing asset from the 1st interview.
5>Tabular format of the property description and value by the Chartered accountant.
All these docuemtns were crucial to be seen by the offier so Instead of giving 1 letter dad gavce him the bunch.( We had used U clip and clubbed the set of above mentioned documtns)
Officer read letter to consulate ....took him 5-10 minutes.
Flipped through rest of the bunch given.
Officer: Show me your daughter's documents. (Dad presented rest of my docuemnts, pay stubs, bank balanace etc)
Officer: why did u asked for 3 months this time , last time u asked for 6 months.
Dad: Daughter can get vacation in Thanks Giving and Christmas holiday. That's the most conveneient time for her to take us around places in US. As this time christmas is just 3 -4 months away we asked 3 months.
Officer: When did you see your daughter last time.
Dad: June , 2004.
Officer: You can go now. You willl receive your passport withing 2 days.
Conclusion:
-----------
Not sure what worked out, senator's recommendation, dad cofidently answering in english, detailed Letter i sent (more than 2 pages long)
Result: Visa is granted.
I wish our investment of time and money helps others. I have spent sleepless nights preparing parents for the interview and used to read immihelp website regularly. Dad also tried all his best. Mom didn't know english but was aware of eevery matter. My friend helped by taking Mock interview. Chartered accountant helped and issues a tabulated details of the property details. Thanks to all those who helped.
All the best!!!
My parents had a visitor visa scheduled on 23rd Aug in mumbia consulate. This was their second attempt after being rejected in June under section 214(b).
Questions asked for the 1st interview when visa was rejected.
------------------------------------------------------------
1> How many children do you have and how many of them are in US
2> How much is your income -
Answer: XYZ (How can one expect Retired parents to have a big income??)
Officer's response: Your income is less as per US standards.
3>How long do you intend to stay in US?
Answer:6 months
Officer's response: Officer menat to say, we will decide how long you want to stay there. Not you.(This was one of the negative point on our side. Never mention 6 months)
None of the documents were looked at.
Result : Rejected(214B)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
We applied immediately. Interview was in next 2 months.
Our preparation before interview:
----------------------------------
1.DS 156- Mentioned just 3 months instead of 6 months.
2.In terms of income couldn't correct anything, as we just wanted to follow the right ways no matter what happens.
3. But we had forgotten to display 1 bank account , jewellery and the share certificates for the 1st time (Fact is old parents were already tired of collecting many documentation, and were kind of tired to collect anything more. I also did not force them).
4.We included forgotten items as the delta (Change) for the second interview.
5. I Wrote a detailed letter to the consulate. I was doubtful whether any one will dare to read it.(was 2+ pages) - This was the key letter.
6.Consulted the senator in US, presented the same documents in US, 4 days before the interview was to take place in Bombay.
7. Prepared dad to take the interview in English. Most risky and challenging task. Risky bcoz Dad doesn't know english that well. what if dad doesn't understad the american accent of the officer. It may also happen that consulate officer may say " I do not understand what you are talking about ,reapply again and come with a translator.(Dad was instructed that in case if such things happen, immediately request for the translator else go ahead for english only)We just wanted to present ourselves in a very different way.
-----------------------------------------------------------
2nd interview: Visa was issued.(How long i do not know yet)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Interview on 23rd Aug
Got delayed due to technical issues at consulate)----------------------
Finger printing machine stopped functioning and parents were told that machine needs to be fixed by the folks in Washington and will take time. They were asked to wait for 4 hours and finally were asked to go back and come on 26th August. Outstation candidates who were not abel to make it for Friday were asked to take the new appointments all over.
Parents again went on 26th Aug:
--------------------------------
Dad started interview with a request to officer, to read the letter to consulate(Letter that i had sent) and then ask as many questions as he wants.
Officer was a nice person and asked for the letter , at this time dad gave him a bunch, this bunch included:
1>letter to consulate
2>Invitation letter to parents
3>I-134 that i sent.
4> Copy of Supporting document of missing asset from the 1st interview.
5>Tabular format of the property description and value by the Chartered accountant.
All these docuemtns were crucial to be seen by the offier so Instead of giving 1 letter dad gavce him the bunch.( We had used U clip and clubbed the set of above mentioned documtns)
Officer read letter to consulate ....took him 5-10 minutes.
Flipped through rest of the bunch given.
Officer: Show me your daughter's documents. (Dad presented rest of my docuemnts, pay stubs, bank balanace etc)
Officer: why did u asked for 3 months this time , last time u asked for 6 months.
Dad: Daughter can get vacation in Thanks Giving and Christmas holiday. That's the most conveneient time for her to take us around places in US. As this time christmas is just 3 -4 months away we asked 3 months.
Officer: When did you see your daughter last time.
Dad: June , 2004.
Officer: You can go now. You willl receive your passport withing 2 days.
Conclusion:
-----------
Not sure what worked out, senator's recommendation, dad cofidently answering in english, detailed Letter i sent (more than 2 pages long)
Result: Visa is granted.
I wish our investment of time and money helps others. I have spent sleepless nights preparing parents for the interview and used to read immihelp website regularly. Dad also tried all his best. Mom didn't know english but was aware of eevery matter. My friend helped by taking Mock interview. Chartered accountant helped and issues a tabulated details of the property details. Thanks to all those who helped.
All the best!!!
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