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My parents got 1 year multiple entry VISAs from Chennai. We are from Bangalore. So, after the interview on Tuesday morning, my parents took the late evening Train to Bangalore and arrived (in BLR) early morning (on WED) . By about 9 AM they received a phone call from the TTS saying that the passports had arrived, and they could go and collect them from their local office. This is really unbelievable experience. Everyone had told us that it would normally take about a week's time to get the passports back. What a pleasant surprise!
Here are the details some of you might be interested in knowing:
1. My dad is 70+, but mom just completed 59 (early May) and running 60. However, based on IMMIHELP's suggestion, I had opted for the interview without trying our luck with the Drop Box facility.
2. The web appointment letter is a MUST to carry. Though I had specifically mentioned, my dad mistook my instructions to remove "post-it" notes and had almost removed the document (print out of the appointment) from the file it seems :-). But, Thank God, he decided to carry it anyways in the end.
3. The lady who collected the documents and DD's had almost lost one DD. But, thanks to another colleague of hers they were able to locate it in-time. So, please tell your folks to be extra cautious when they hand over the documents.
4. It is no big surprise that even with appointments the American Consulates tend to be crowded. The demand will always be there for US Visas. So, please tell your folks to be mentally prepared for the long waits once they enter the consulate. They may not get any chairs to sit and wait.
5. Dad took the interview, since he could converse in English. No questions asked to mom
6. Questions asked were on the following lines:
a. What is the purpose of your trip?
b. How long do you plan to stay?
c. Where does your son work?
d. Is he a green card holder?
e. How many children you have?
f. Where do they live?
g. How many children your son has?
h. What is your son's (or grand daughter's.... my daughter's) date of birth? (My dad couldn't recall what the exact question was... I believe he told both :-))
7. The interview itself lasted about 5 minutes it seems.
8. Because of the glass pane, the micro phone system, the anxiety, and of course the accent, it is always a little bit difficult to understand the questions the first time. So, my dad ended up requesting the interviewer to repeat the questions a couple of times it seems.
9. As far as the experience in Chennai itself is concerned, one of my elder brothers had accompanied my parents. Both my dad and my brother can speak Tamil. So, no hassles with lodging, boarding, etc.
Thanks to IMMIHELP for maintaining this very useful site.
Regards,
Anil
Here are the details some of you might be interested in knowing:
1. My dad is 70+, but mom just completed 59 (early May) and running 60. However, based on IMMIHELP's suggestion, I had opted for the interview without trying our luck with the Drop Box facility.
2. The web appointment letter is a MUST to carry. Though I had specifically mentioned, my dad mistook my instructions to remove "post-it" notes and had almost removed the document (print out of the appointment) from the file it seems :-). But, Thank God, he decided to carry it anyways in the end.
3. The lady who collected the documents and DD's had almost lost one DD. But, thanks to another colleague of hers they were able to locate it in-time. So, please tell your folks to be extra cautious when they hand over the documents.
4. It is no big surprise that even with appointments the American Consulates tend to be crowded. The demand will always be there for US Visas. So, please tell your folks to be mentally prepared for the long waits once they enter the consulate. They may not get any chairs to sit and wait.
5. Dad took the interview, since he could converse in English. No questions asked to mom
6. Questions asked were on the following lines:
a. What is the purpose of your trip?
b. How long do you plan to stay?
c. Where does your son work?
d. Is he a green card holder?
e. How many children you have?
f. Where do they live?
g. How many children your son has?
h. What is your son's (or grand daughter's.... my daughter's) date of birth? (My dad couldn't recall what the exact question was... I believe he told both :-))
7. The interview itself lasted about 5 minutes it seems.
8. Because of the glass pane, the micro phone system, the anxiety, and of course the accent, it is always a little bit difficult to understand the questions the first time. So, my dad ended up requesting the interviewer to repeat the questions a couple of times it seems.
9. As far as the experience in Chennai itself is concerned, one of my elder brothers had accompanied my parents. Both my dad and my brother can speak Tamil. So, no hassles with lodging, boarding, etc.
Thanks to IMMIHELP for maintaining this very useful site.
Regards,
Anil
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