Mon 4 Dec 2006

Parents Visa Stamping at Chennai

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My parents got their VISA stamped in Chennai this month. The procedure on the day of VISA interview is the same as any other VISA (refer to my previous post about my VISA stamping for details about what happens on that day). The documents they carried were

Documents from Sponsorer

  • Form I-797 + I-129 + LCA Copy
  • Passport Copy + I-94 Copy
  • Form I-134 for Dad
  • Form I-134 for Mom
  • Invitation letter to parents
  • VISA Request letter to Consulate
  • Bank Statements (last 6 months)
  • Bank Account Verification letter
  • Employment Verification Letter - Current Employer
  • Paystubs (last 6)
  • Utility bills (past 3 months)
  • W2 Forms (all until now)
  • Offer Letter Copy
  • Drivers License Copy
  • Rental Agreement Copy
  • Birth Certificate

Common Documents

  • HDFC Receipt Original
  • Ration Card

Documents for Dad

  • Passport Original
  • Affidavit (Notarized)
  • Property & Income Evaluation (from Ch. Acct.)
  • All Degree certificates
  • Proof of experience and pension
  • Property papers (all mentioned) Orig/Copy
  • Bank Statements
  • Voters Id
  • Drivers License

Documents for Mom

  • Passport Original
  • Affidavit (Notarized)
  • Property & Income Evaluation (from Ch. Acct.)
  • All Degree certificates
  • Property papers (all mentioned) Orig/Copy
  • Bank Statements
  • Voters Id
  • Drivers License

Questions they were asked by the interviewer

My mom was not asked any questions. My dad was asked the following questions

  1. How many kids do you have? (He gave a genuine answer and said that both kids are in the US)
  2. Why did you retire early and when was that?
  3. What are you doing now? (Dad takes care of our agriculture business now, so following related questions)
  4. How many acres of land you own?
  5. What crops do you plant?
  6. Do you have any other property besides you agricultural land?

That was it and the VISA was granted.

Note: This happened in Nov 2006. But the list of documents are still the same from what I heard from my friends.

 

Sat 25 Nov 2006

VISA Stamping at Chennai

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I wanted to blog about this ‘cos I spent a lot of time collecting information regarding requirements and process of stamping. I had a successful VISA stamping in Chennai this month. It was really cool and nothing scary.

Following are the documents I took.

  • Original receipt of VISA fee payment
  • Interview appointment letter
  • Photographs (per specs)
  • DD for the specified amount (2400) - VISA Issuance fee
  • Passport
  • DS-156
  • DS-157
  • Form I-797
  • Form I-129, I-129 W
  • LCA (Comes with the H1B packet)
  • Offer Letter - Current Employer
  • Employment Verification Letter - Current Employer
  • Paystubs (last 6)
  • Experience Letter - Previous Employers
  • Bank Statements (last 6 months)
  • Account verification letter from bank
  • Tax Return papers (all until now)
  • W2 Forms (all until now)
  • Cellphone bills (past 3 months)
  • Utility bills (past 3 months)
  • Rental Agreement
  • Birth Certificate (English Version)
  • All certificates (Degree, School)
  • Educational Evaluation Certificate
  • Updated Resume (Include Qualcomm Experience)
  • Photos of the Company + Self Inside the Company
  • SSN Card
  • Driver’s License

But I was not asked for a single document in addition to those we provide initially. Just one question. Did you switch to <my current employer> when you were on your L visa? I said yes. He looked at the H1-B papers (less than a minute). That was it. Then for the sake of asking he asked me the salary. By the time he had decided to give the stamping.

Here’s the typical stamping day

  1. Went to stand in line outside the embassy approx 2 hrs before my appointment (11.45 AM). I was allowed inside 1.5 hrs before my appointment time. (Talking to the security in Tamil really worked)
  2. After entry there was a simple security check and was seated in a hall. (Remember sealed envelopes are not allowed in Chennai)
  3. People were sent to the next line in groups and I was sent in one. That line is to get into to the next building where they get the required documents (Passport, DD, DS-156, DS-157, I-797 packet). Once they accept the document I was sent to the VISA lobby where the interviews happen. (Now I heard the DD has been waived. Not sure though)
  4. I was waiting there for 30 mins for my file to arrive (After collecting the documents, they arrange it in a file, do some data entry and give the file back for the interview)
  5. After 30 mins hounding the assistance staff helped (Thanks to Srilekha for teaching me how tohound people). One guy went and got my file ‘cos I asked him twice. With the file, I went to counter 1 for finger printing.
  6. After finger printing I was waiting to pick a counter and the same assistance staff put me in a counter where there was less crowd.
  7. Interview happened as I mentioned before and I was out of the embassy at 1.00 PM

Collecting the passport

VFS mails passports using BLUEDART. Unfortunately BLUEDART doesnt cover our small village. So I gave a hold location in Chennai. Just to see if I get the passport the next day I waited in Chennai and checked with the VFS folks in vain. I came back after 5 days and collected my passport from the BLUEDART hold location in Egmore.

Hope this helps people trying to get their VISA stamped in Chennai.

Note: This happened on Nov 2006. But still the list of documents seems to be a comprehensive one.