Been asked to return for Visa interview with Medical Insurance document

[hasika]

Parents had interview at Mumbai yesterday for visitor visa.
Interviewers: an american gent and an american lady.
They were quite cordial and asked very many questions (about me, my job, how long in US, my kids, my marriage, my sisters's marriage, kids, my dad's profession, when he retired etc). Finally handed a paper to my parents saying they should come back any working day between 9:30 and 11:30am with the overseas medical insurance document. And the visa is kept in "pending" status.

Not sure what this means. I was wondering if anyone else has come across such a situation.

Thanks.

[waitin_toolong]

this is a rare request but what you need to do is get quotes for medical insurance for the period your parents plan to be there. I dont think they they need to but it outright and just submit those documents.

[insubuy]

It does not mean anything to just get the quotes. I can get the quotes for Mercedes Benz and $5 million house does not mean I will buy or can afford it.

You actually need to purchase the insurance. And you can buy instantly at https://www.insubuy.com Once you buy the insurance, you will get the documents by email right away that you can use for the visa.

You can get the quotes for insurance instantly at https://www.insubuy.com, but again, it has no meaning for visa purposes.

[waitin_toolong]

why would you purchase an insurance that you will not be able to use if the visa is denied. You will not bu the flights nor would book hotels till the visa is granted. even the consulate says so on the website.

Mr Narendra, I know you are an insurance broker, would you sell this guy an insurance policy that will be refundable if the visa is denied??

[insubuy]

I am not asking this person to buy insurance just because I am the insurance broker. I would make money only if the person keeps the insurance and he would do that only if he gets visa. We have seen this type of requests from consulate before and people have called us just giving them quotes. People ask us to prepare some kind of document with their parents name on it with the quotes. It has no meaning and therefore no such thing exists. When consulate asks for insurance document, they are really asking for the proof of purchase of insurance.

Yes, if the person's visa is denied and he submits a written request for the cancellation before the effective date of the policy, we will get him full refund (in almost all the products we sell), provided he submits the proof of visa denial to us.

Of course, the consulate is asking for buying insurance for a very good reason as the medical expenses are very high in the US. Therefore, the visitor should be buying the insurance for getting protected and not try to misuse our service just for the sake of getting visa. We have seen that before and therefore we and the insurance companies have all the protective measures in place in case a person tries to abuse the refund rule.

[waitin_toolong]

many consulates require such purchases in advance and some even require tkts and hotel reservations. US consulate has specifically mentioned not doing any of these things on websites. Their denial rate is pretty high

Most of the insurance companies I have dealt with on behalf of my parents do not issue a refund if visa is denied and for the amount of money involved in the process take too long to refund it. Plus you have to finalize the itinerary before you get the policy( you have to specify dates of travel).

The way the US-consulate works and issues visas and often denies them this is a gamble as to when you might be able to fly, plus the air tickets would not be booked yet.

And this way they can enforce for only one visit. if they want to ensure the compliance they would ask for insurance at POE not at the time of application. This is a case of VO being overy zealous.

[insubuy]

In that case, you have been working with the wrong insurance companies.

Look at the refund policies of various products at https://www.insubuy.com/clients/

many consulates require such purchases in advance and some even require tkts and hotel reservations. US consulate has specifically mentioned not doing any of these things on websites. Their denial rate is pretty high

Most of the insurance companies I have dealt with on behalf of my parents do not issue a refund if visa is denied and for the amount of money involved in the process take too long to refund it. Plus you have to finalize the itinerary before you get the policy( you have to specify dates of travel).

The way the US-consulate works and issues visas and often denies them this is a gamble as to when you might be able to fly, plus the air tickets would not be booked yet.

And this way they can enforce for only one visit. if they want to ensure the compliance they would ask for insurance at POE not at the time of application. This is a case of VO being overy zealous.

[hasika]

Thanks for the responses. Following much confusion, my parents bought the insurance from Bajaj and are going to the consulate again in a day. Will keep you guys posted on what happened.

[insubuy]

It is certainly better to buy insurance from US company.

Read

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24053

https://www.insubuy.com/visitor-medical-insurance-overview/

[hasika]

They returned with insurance document. The lady at the entrance (is she from VFS?) was surprised that a visa was kept as pending for lack of insurance. In fact she said it is the first time she has seen such a case.

Anyway, inside, another 1/2 hour of interviewing. And then they took the passport and asked them to go back home. And a day later, got passport with 10 years, multiple entry visa.

Narendra, very useful info you are providing. And I do understand that it is better to take insurance from USA. In the confusion and lack of lots of data and lack of time, we went with one from India. You could come up with more info on why we should have taken it from USA, and why it would not take time etc, but at that time we just decided to go with that. For their previous trip we took insurance from India (this was 6 years back). Had one semi-serious visit to doctor, but we were able to get the claims sorted out without much hassles. Does that mean, it is good? I don't know. But I think we will have to take that chance now!
Again, thanks for the info.

thanks.

[insubuy]

We have already described why to buy from USA at https://www.insubuy.com/visitor-medi...ance-overview/

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30335

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24053

And we have already described that it is quick process at
https://www.insubuy.com/visitor-medi...ance-overview/ Look under 'Purchase Process' section.