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Mother got 10 year visa 2nd time
My mother (widow), my sister (married) and her daughter (5 years) went together to the Calcutta embassy in March to apply for 3 month visitor visa and got refused. They kept asking my mother if she had a pension (which she did not) and refused her flat out. Reason 214b. They refused my sister and niece also without really asking anything - they asked my sister to show the bank balance sufficient for the trip (even though I had clearly stated that I would cover all expenses)
My mother tried again alone on Nov 8. No real change in circumstances. The passport arrived yesterday and she got a 10 year multiple entry visa. She used an interpreter as she cannot realy follow the American accent.
Some questions asked:
Q. Why do you want to go?
A. To visit my son as I have not seen him in more than 3 yrs
Q. Why has your son not come to India to visit you?
A. He had planned twice but in each case he had to change jobs, so he lost all his vacation. Now he will have to wait another 18 months to get enough vacation to come here.
Q. How long do you wan to go?
A. 1-2 months
Q. But you have written 4 months in your application
A. If you give me 4 months, that will be very good. But I want to go for at least 1 month, so even if you give me one month, that is still fine.
Q. What are your sources of income? Do you have pension?
A. I do not have any pension. However I have some monthly income scheme and I get Rs. YYYY from there. I also have some ancestral property from my husband's side and they give me my share since his death, which is another Rs. YYY. That is enough to sustain me here.
Q. Who do you stay?
A. I have a flat in Ranchi which my son bought me before he went to the US. Plus, my daughter and her husband both work and they have a little kid, so I stay with them also for about 4-6 months a year and help them out when their schedules get hectic.
That is all. They said, very good, give your passport and we will give you visa. My mother asked for the duration. They said, do not worry, it will be sufficient for your needs. Go and plan your trp.
When passport came yesterday, they returned the $50 draft also (because the rule change came on 9th Nov effective Nov 8)
Some observations made by my mother for Calcutta embassy:
1. If more than one person wants a visa, as far as possible, try and go separately. If you go together, it is a problem. She did see some more group cases rejected.
2. Avoid the "two fat American ladies" at the counter. You can't miss them - they shout a lot and are very rude. They almost never give visas and frustate you. The first time she went to them. This time also, she was scheduled to go to one of those two counters but then she was in the line, she said "I am having stomach ache, need to sit for a few minutes" and let one person ahead of her. She went to the counter where an old-ish lady was there. She was very polite and was refusing very few people.
3. Never be desperate. Say I would like to get X months visa but if you think less amount is sufficient, that is also fine.
4. Try to get early morining appointments at Calcutta. You would rather be 4-5 days late and get an appointment before 10 am rather than take a 12:00 pm appointment. The schedules run behind and in the afternoon, they either hurry up or are cranky because they are hungry. This might increase your rejection chances for no good reason. (this may not be true anymore because of the increased staffing levels, but still better be safe)
I now need to plan for the trip. I guess getting a 10 year visa was worth all the trouble she had to go through.
My mother tried again alone on Nov 8. No real change in circumstances. The passport arrived yesterday and she got a 10 year multiple entry visa. She used an interpreter as she cannot realy follow the American accent.
Some questions asked:
Q. Why do you want to go?
A. To visit my son as I have not seen him in more than 3 yrs
Q. Why has your son not come to India to visit you?
A. He had planned twice but in each case he had to change jobs, so he lost all his vacation. Now he will have to wait another 18 months to get enough vacation to come here.
Q. How long do you wan to go?
A. 1-2 months
Q. But you have written 4 months in your application
A. If you give me 4 months, that will be very good. But I want to go for at least 1 month, so even if you give me one month, that is still fine.
Q. What are your sources of income? Do you have pension?
A. I do not have any pension. However I have some monthly income scheme and I get Rs. YYYY from there. I also have some ancestral property from my husband's side and they give me my share since his death, which is another Rs. YYY. That is enough to sustain me here.
Q. Who do you stay?
A. I have a flat in Ranchi which my son bought me before he went to the US. Plus, my daughter and her husband both work and they have a little kid, so I stay with them also for about 4-6 months a year and help them out when their schedules get hectic.
That is all. They said, very good, give your passport and we will give you visa. My mother asked for the duration. They said, do not worry, it will be sufficient for your needs. Go and plan your trp.
When passport came yesterday, they returned the $50 draft also (because the rule change came on 9th Nov effective Nov 8)
Some observations made by my mother for Calcutta embassy:
1. If more than one person wants a visa, as far as possible, try and go separately. If you go together, it is a problem. She did see some more group cases rejected.
2. Avoid the "two fat American ladies" at the counter. You can't miss them - they shout a lot and are very rude. They almost never give visas and frustate you. The first time she went to them. This time also, she was scheduled to go to one of those two counters but then she was in the line, she said "I am having stomach ache, need to sit for a few minutes" and let one person ahead of her. She went to the counter where an old-ish lady was there. She was very polite and was refusing very few people.
3. Never be desperate. Say I would like to get X months visa but if you think less amount is sufficient, that is also fine.
4. Try to get early morining appointments at Calcutta. You would rather be 4-5 days late and get an appointment before 10 am rather than take a 12:00 pm appointment. The schedules run behind and in the afternoon, they either hurry up or are cranky because they are hungry. This might increase your rejection chances for no good reason. (this may not be true anymore because of the increased staffing levels, but still better be safe)
I now need to plan for the trip. I guess getting a 10 year visa was worth all the trouble she had to go through.
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